Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are requested to ensure that they are familiar with the attached summary of the Remote/Partly Remote Meetings Protocol. The full Remote/Partly Remote Meetings Protocol has been published and is available here: https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/home/council-and-democracy/council-and-committee-meetings.

The Chair welcomed everyone to this virtual Planning Control Committee meeting that was being conducted with Members and Officers at various locations, communicating via audio/video and online.

There was also the opportunity for the public and press to listen to and view proceedings.

The Chair invited the Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer to explain how proceedings would work and to confirm that Members and Officers were in attendance.

The Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer undertook a roll call to ensure that all Members,Officers and registered speakers could hear and be heard and gave advice regarding the following:

The meeting was being streamed live onto YouTube and recorded via Zoom.

Extracts from the Remote/Partly Remote Meetings Protocol were included with the agenda and the full version was available on the Council’s website which included information regarding:

·                Live Streaming;

·                Noise Interference;

·                Rules of Debate;

·                Part 2 Items.

Members were requested to ensure that they were familiar with the Protocol.

The Chair of the Planning Control Committee, Councillor Ruth Brown, started the meeting proper.

Audio Recording – 10 Seconds

The Chair welcomed everyone to this virtual Planning Control Committee meeting that was being conducted with Members and Officers at various locations, communicating via audio/video and online.

There was also the opportunity for the public and press to listen to and view proceedings.

The Chair invited the Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer to explain how proceedings would work and to confirm that Members and Officers were in attendance.

The Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer undertook a roll call to ensure that all Members,Officers and registered speakers could hear and be heard and gave advice regarding the following:

The meeting was being streamed live onto YouTube and recorded via Zoom.

Extracts from the Remote/Partly Remote Meetings Protocol were included with the agenda and the full version was available on the Council’s website which included information regarding:

·                Live Streaming;

·                Noise Interference;

·                Rules of Debate;

·                Part 2 Items.

Members were requested to ensure that they were familiar with the Protocol.

The Chair of the Planning Control Committee, Councillor Ruth Brown, started the meeting proper.

Members are required to notify any substitutions by midday on the day of the meeting.

Late substitutions will not be accepted and Members attending as a substitute without having given the due notice will not be able to take part in the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ian Moody and Sean Prendergast.

Having given due notice, Councillor Sam Collins advised that he would be substituing for Councillor Sean Prendergast.

Audio Recording – 2 Minutes 52 Seconds

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ian Moody and Sean Prendergast.

Having given due notice, Councillor Sam Collins advised that he would be substituing for Councillor Sean Prendergast.

Members should notify the Chair of other business which they wish to be discussed at the end of either Part I or Part II business set out in the agenda. They must state the circumstances which they consider justify the business being considered as a matter of urgency.

The Chair will decide whether any item(s) raised will be considered.

There was no other business notified.

Audio Recording – 3 Minutes 6 Seconds

There was no other business notified.

Members are reminded that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda, should be declared as either a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Declarable Interest and are required to notify the Chair of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda.  Members declaring a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest must withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item. Members declaring a Declarable Interest, wishing to exercise a ‘Councillor Speaking Right’, must declare this at the same time as the interest, move to the public area before speaking to the item and then must leave the room before the debate and vote.

(1)       The Chair welcomed those present at the meeting, especially those who had attended to give a presentation;

(2)       The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be audio recorded;

(3)       The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question;

(4)       To clarify matters for the registered speakers the Chair advised that members of the public had 5 minutes for each group of speakers i.e. 5 minutes for objectors and 5 minutes for supporters. This 5 minute time limit also applied to Member Advocates.

Audio Recording – 3 Minutes 12 Seconds

(1)       The Chair welcomed those present at the meeting, especially those who had attended to give a presentation;

(2)       The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be audio recorded;

(3)       The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question;

(4)       To clarify matters for the registered speakers the Chair advised that members of the public had 5 minutes for each group of speakers i.e. 5 minutes for objectors and 5 minutes for supporters. This 5 minute time limit also applied to Member Advocates.

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

The Chair confirmed that the registered speakers and Member Advocate were in attendance.

Audio Recording – 5 Minutes 20 Seconds

The Chair confirmed that the registered speakers and Member Advocate were in attendance.

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Erection of 57 dwellings comprising of 18 x 1-bed apartments and 39 x 2-bed apartments including provision of car parking with all associated ancillary and landscaping works following demolition of existing office building (Amended by plan received 17.09.20).

Councillor Sue Ngwala declared that this application was within her ward. However, she had not predetermined it and would therefore take part in the debate and vote.

RESOLVED: That application 20/01714/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions and reasons contained in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager, and that the S106 in respect of County Council Youth contributions be amended to contribute towards Youth Services in Letchworth.

Audio Recording – 5 Minutes 36 Seconds

Erection of 57 dwellings comprising of 18 x 1-bed apartments and 39 x 2-bed apartments including provision of car parking with all associated ancillary and landscaping works following demolition of existing office building (Amended by plan received 17.09.20.

Councillor Sue Ngwala declared that this application was within her ward. However, she had not predetermined it and would therefore take part in the debate and vote.

Before presenting the report, the Principal Planning Officer advised that the (J) before the s106 contributions in the table at paragraph 4.3.42 needed to be corrected to pound-signs (£).

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report in respect of application 20/01714/FP supported by a visual presentation in consisting of photographs and plans.

The following Members asked questions of the Principal Planning Officer:

·                Councillor Sue Ngwala.

In response to the Member’s question, the Principal Planning Officer advised that there was site provision of 23 affordable dwellings based on 65% rented tenure (10 x 1 bed flats, 5 x 2 bed flats) and 35% shared ownership (8 x 1 bed flats).

Mr John Welch, First Garden Cities Homes, thanked the Chair for the opportunity to address the Committee in support of the application, including:

·                The aim of the organisation was to provide homes to those in need;

·                The application was for 57 well-designed apartments;

·                16 apartments were for sale and the other 41 were shared ownership; and

·                The 41 apartments would go to local people with a connection to Letchworth.

The following Members asked questions of Mr Welch:

·                Councillor David Levett; and

·                Councillor Sue Ngwala.

In response to questions, Mr Welch advised that:

·                Having 61 EV charging points was important as the organisation recognised the world was changing and there was a need for more sustainable schemes/a carbon neutral agenda;

·                Traffic management had been undertaken by the County Council; and

·                Traffic was less of an issue now as more people worked from home.

Once questions had concluded, the Committee moved to debate.

The following Members took part in the debate:

·                Councillor Sam Collins;

·                Councillor David Levett;

·                Councillor Ruth Brown;

·                Councillor Tony Hunter;

·                Councillor Sue Ngwala;

·                Councillor Daniel Allen; and

·                Councillor Morgan Derbyshire.

Points raised by Members included:

·                The number of EV charging points;

·                Car parking spaces under requirement;

·                Bus service provision; and

·                S106 contribution to youth services in Letchworth.

In response to matters raised in the debate, the Principal Planning Officer advised that:

·                The County Council did not recommend s106 contributions towards the bus service;

·                The contribution towards Hitchin Young People’s Centre was requested by the County Council. However, he would investigate as to whether this money could be transferred to youth provision in Letchworth.

The Development and Conservation Manager added that in order to generate funding for bus provision, the development had to be bigger.

Once the debate had concluded, Councillor Daniel Allen proposed and Councillor Sue Ngwala seconded to grant planning permission.

Upon being put to the vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That application 20/01714/FP be GRANTED planning permission  ...  view the full minutes text for item 122.

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Outline planning application (all matters reserved) for the erection of up to 45 dwellings (as amended by plan received 25 February 2020).

Councillor Sue Ngwala declared that this application was within her ward. However, she had not predetermined it and would therefore take part in the debate and vote.

Councillor Morgan Derbyshire declared that he was speaking as Member Advocate on this item and therefore he would not take part in the debate and vote.

RESOLVED: That application 18/02913/OP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions and reasons contained in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager, and the variation of condition 15 and additional informatives.

‘Condition 15 as amended:

Prior to occupation of any of the dwellings hereby approved, a scheme identifying a significant number, as well as distribution, of EV charging points shall be submitted and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The EV charging points agreed by way of this condition shall be implemented prior to the occupation of any dwelling hereby approved.

Reason: To contribute to the objective of providing a sustainable transport network and to provide the necessary infrastructure to help off-set the adverse impact of the operational phase of the development on local air quality.’

Additional informatives:

2. It is expected that the scheme to be submitted in line with condition 15 of this permission will provide a significant number of EV charging points. The Council will consider any details submitted on its merits, however, are of the mind that at least one EV charging point should be provided for each dwelling.

10. The applicant, and future developers, are recommended to review the committee footage which raised some concerns in respect to the ability of the site to accommodate the maximum number of units permissible pursuant to this outline application for UP TO 45 dwellings. Furthermore, concerns were raised as to the date of the Transport Assessment evidence supporting the outline application, and any subsequent reserved matters applications for access should be supplemented by up-to-date transport evidence.

Audio Recording – 35 Minutes 55 Seconds

Outline planning application (all matters reserved) for the erection of up to 45 dwellings (as amended by plan received 25 February 2020).

Councillor Sue Ngwala declared that this application was within her ward. However, she had not predetermined it and would therefore take part in the debate and vote.

Councillor Morgan Derbyshire declared that he was speaking as Member Advocate on this item and therefore he would not take part in the debate and vote.

The Senior Strategic Sites Officer presented the report in respect of application 18/02913/OP supported by a visual presentation in consisting of photographs and plans.

The Officer provided an amendment to Condition 15 and additional informatives, as follows:

Condition 15 as amended:

Prior to occupation of any of the dwellings hereby approved, a scheme identifying a significant number, as well as distribution, of EV charging points shall be submitted and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The EV charging points agreed by way of this condition shall be implemented prior to the occupation of any dwelling hereby approved.

Reason: To contribute to the objective of providing a sustainable transport network and to provide the necessary infrastructure to help off-set the adverse impact of the operational phase of the development on local air quality.’

Additional informatives:

2. It is expected that the scheme to be submitted in line with condition 15 of this permission will provide a significant number of EV charging points. The Council will consider any details submitted on its merits, however, are of the mind that at least one EV charging point should be provided for each dwelling.

10. The applicant, and future developers, are recommended to review the committee footage which raised some concerns in respect to the ability of the site to accommodate the maximum number of units permissible pursuant to this outline application for UP TO 45 dwellings. Furthermore, concerns were raised as to the date of the Transport Assessment evidence supporting the outline application, and any subsequent reserved matters applications for access should be supplemented by up-to-date transport evidence.

Once the Officer’s presentation had concluded, the following Members asked questions of the Senior Strategic Sites Officer:

·                Councillor Daniel Allen;

·                Councillor Sue Ngwala;

·                Councillor Sam Collins;

·                Councillor David Levett;

·                Councillor Tom Tyson; and

·                Councillor Val Bryant.

The Senior Strategic Sites Officer provided further information regarding the pedestrian access in relation to Cashio Lane.

In response to other questions raised, the Officer advised that:

·                Evidence would need to be provided to ascertain if there was a requirement for additional EV charging points;

·                It was important to look at the quality of the EV charging points;

·                A traffic management condition was in place at Condition 20; and

·                The Environment Agency and Environmental Health had requested conditions to mitigate land contamination issues.

Mr David Masters thanked the Chair for the opportunity to address the Committee in objection to application 18/02913/OP, including:

·                There was a drainage ditch that ran along the back of Eastern  ...  view the full minutes text for item 123.

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

There were no Planning Appeals.

Audio Recording – 2 Hours 38 Seconds

There were no Planning Appeals.