Agenda and decisions
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Contact: Email: Committee.Services@north-herts.gov.uk 01462 474655
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 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. Decision: The Chair advised that under Section 4.8.4(c) of the Constitution, Councillor Tim Johnson had been appointed as a Substitute Member for this meeting only and had substituted for Councillor Ruth Brown, who had provided apologies.
Apologies for absence were also received from Councillors Ruth Brown, Emma Fernandes and Louise Peace.
Having given due notice, Councillor Mick Debenham substituted for Councillor Fernandes. |
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MINUTES - 17 SEPTEMBER 2026 To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 17 September 2026. Decision: RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 17 September 2026 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.
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NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS 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. Decision: There was no other business notified. |
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CHAIR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS 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. Decision: (1) The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be recorded.
(2) 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.
(3) The Chair clarified matters for the registered speakers.
(4) The Chair confirmed the procedure for moving to debate on an item.
(5) The Chair advised that Section 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution applied to the meeting.
(6) The Chair confirmed the cut off procedure should the meeting proceed at length. |
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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public. Decision: The Chair confirmed that the registered speakers were in attendance. |
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REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER
Growing Baldock Development Site: Outline planning application with all matters reserved except for means of highway access into the development from North Road and Clothall Road for: up to 3,200 homes, up to 16ha of employment, waste and leisure infrastructure, a mixed use local centre, up to 1 secondary school, up to 2 x primary schools, nursery/childcare facilities, health hub, green infrastructure (including parks, formal sports provision, play, habitat areas, informal open space and structural planting), internal street network, access junctions and railway crossing, public transport infrastructure, pedestrian/cycle network (including PRoW diversions, active travel routes, mobility hubs and crossing of the railway), utilities and drainage infrastructure (including diversions of existing and provision of new infrastructure, pumping stations, sustainable drainage, primary substations, rising main/strategic sewer and renewable energy infrastructure), ground remodelling/earthworks and any necessary demolitions (as amended).
Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED: That application 25/02571/OP be GRANTED planning permission subject to:
A) The completion of a satisfactory legal agreement (which will provide priority towards increasing affordable housing provision, which should be onsite where possible, before consideration is given to any other planning obligations with the viability review mechanisms) and the applicant agreeing to extend the statutory period in order to complete the agreement; and
B) Providing delegated powers to the Development and Conservation Manager to (i) resolve outstanding matters including financial contributions and (ii) update conditions and informatives with minor amendments as required, including the addition of informatives pertaining to North Herts Council Member representation on the stewardship body for open space, and the expectation for all roads to be constructed to an adoptable standard and adopted by Hertfordshire County Council Highways; and
C) The conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager, with the following additional Conditions 24 and 25, amendments to Definition 2 and Conditions 3, 6, 23, 34 and 36, and the renumbering of Conditions 62 and 63 (previously Conditions 24 and 25):
‘Definition 2
“Enabling Works” shall refer to preparation works to make the site ready for construction. Such works include (but are not exclusively limited to) site or ground clearance and preparation; surveying; environmental and hazardous substance testing and sampling; soil tests; remediation works; pegging out; tree protection; ecological survey and mitigation works; archaeological investigation; site clearance; ground improvement works; construction of boundary fencing or hoardings including for site security, demolition and removal of buildings and other structures; creation of temporary haul roads and enabling works to accesses or other works or operations to enable any of these works to take place including ground and site works.
Condition 3
Development shall not commence, except for Enabling Works, development within BA2 and the approved accesses shown on the approved access plans set out in Condition 5, unless:
· It falls within a Phase and an approved Reserved Matters Area; or · The proposed development is identified as development advanced outside a Phase in accordance with Condition 8.
Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and to secure comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development and to ensure that infrastructure provision and environmental mitigation are provided in time to cater for the needs and impacts arising from development in accordance with Policies SP1 and SP9 of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan (2022).
Condition 6
The development hereby permitted shall be carried out wholly in accordance with the supporting approved documents and plans listed below:
UAC092-001-RevF PC7029-ITP-CE-GB-DR-D-0150-P01 PC7029-ITP-CE-GB-DR-D-0152-P02
Reason: To ensure the development is carried out in accordance with details which form the basis of this grant of permission.
Condition 23
No demolition/development shall take place/commence until an Archaeological Written Scheme of Investigation has been submitted to and approved by the local planning authority in writing. The scheme shall include an assessment of archaeological significance and research questions; and:
1. The programme and methodology of site investigation and recording. 2. The programme and methodology of site investigation and recording, preservation ... view the full decision text for item 6. |
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REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION
MANAGER Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED: That application 26/01125/S73 be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager, and the reimposition of these conditions on planning permission for application 87/01900/1, with the removal of Condition 6 and the following amendments to Conditions 3 and 5:
‘Condition 3
No exercise or fitness activity associated with the Class E(d) use shall take place within the external areas associated with Units 1–4 before 08:00.
The external areas associated with Units 1–4 shall not be used for any Class E(d) activity involving:
a) amplified music or amplified speech; or b) the dropping, throwing or striking of weights or other exercise equipment. All other outdoor exercise and fitness activities associated with the Class E(d) use shall be undertaken in accordance with the approved Noise and Operations Management Statement dated July 2026.
Reason: To safeguard the living conditions of neighbouring residential occupiers from noise and disturbance arising from activities undertaken outside the building, in accordance with Policy D3 of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011–2031.
Condition 5
The acoustic mitigation measures identified in the approved Noise and Operations Management Statement dated July 2026, including the works to the rear fire exit door, air bricks and roof serving Units 1–4, shall be fully implemented within 3 months of the date of this permission. The acoustic mitigation measures shall thereafter be retained and maintained for so long as the Class E(d) use continues.
Reason: To minimise the transmission of noise from the premises and safeguard the living conditions of neighbouring residential occupiers, in accordance with Policy D3 of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011–2031.’ |
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EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC To consider passing the following resolution: That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that the following report will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended). Decision: RESOLVED: That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that the following report will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended). |
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PART 2 MINUTES - 3 SEPTEMBER 2026 To take as read and approve as a true record the Part 2 Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3 September 2026. Decision: RESOLVED: That the Part 2 Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3 September 2026 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair. |
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REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER
To update Members on appeals lodged and any decisions made. Additional documents:
Decision: The Development and Conservation Manager provided an update on Planning Appeals. |