Agenda, decisions and minutes

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 Nigel Mason, Phil Weeder and Terry Tyler.

Having given due notice, Councillor Ian Mantle substituted for Councillor Mason.

Audio recording – 1:23

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Nigel Mason.

Having given due notice, Councillor Ian Mantle substituted for Councillor Mason.

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 – 1:54

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 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 the speaking process for public participants.

(4)  The Chair advised that Section 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution applied to the meeting.

Audio recording – 1:58

(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 the speaking process for public participants.

(4)  The Chair advised that Section 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution applied to the meeting.

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

The Chair confirmed that the registered speakers were in attendance.

Audio recording – 3:09

The Chair confirmed that the registered speakers were in attendance.

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Creation of access from Lower Innings to Land South of Oughtonhead Lane

RESOLVED: That application 23/00555/FP be GRANTED planning permission due to the reasons outlined in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

Audio recording – 3:26

The Senior Planning Officer gave a verbal update and advised:

·         Members had received a map which showed the wider context of the application.

·         For the purposes of clarification, paragraph 4.31 was reference to the development of the proposed access.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report in respect of application 23/00555/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

In response to the question from Councillor Daniel Allen, the Senior Planning Officer advised that the map on slide 7 of the presentation showed vehicles leaving the site on the left and vehicles entering the site on the right.

The Chair invited Hugh Love to speak in objection of the application. Mr Love thanked the Chair, gave a verbal presentation and advised:

·         The only communication that the applicant had with residents of Lower Innings was a letter in 2021 which asked for comments online on the proposed development.

·         The map given to residents showed that there were no crossings on Oughtonhead Lane.

·         At the time, the applicant advised that the access to the site would be via Bowlers End. The access had since changed, and the original access point was deemed unviable due to the way cars were parked.

·         Section 3.1 of the document pack advised that the access via Lower Innings was most suitable but was not in the original proposals.

·         The Lower Innings access involved Bedford Road and Redhill Road, which was a busy interchange with cars parked on both sides. This caused several pinch points and congestion on the road.

·         Section 4.3.20 of the document pack stated that the Planning Officer accepted that there would be increased traffic in the vicinity but not unusually high in a residential area. This increase would be caused by construction and through traffic.

·         The noise assessment of the area advised that the noise levels of the proposed development would be excessive.

·         The Planning and Public Rights of Way Officers had advised that Oughtonhead Lane was a restricted by way used for walking, cycling and horse-riding. It was also the main access from Hitchin town centre to Oughtonhead Common.

·         Section 6.1.5 stated that the surface of Oughtonhead Lane must be protected, but the proposed access would damage it.

In response to a point of clarification from Councillor Sean Nolan regarding the noise assessment, Mr Love advised that the expert advised that noise was likely to be excessive and exceed normal limits.

The Chair invited Councillor Nigel Mason to speak in objection as Ward Member of Hitchin Oughton. Councillor Mason thanked the Chair, gave a verbal presentation and advised:

·         Access via Oughtonhead Lane was the third attempt to address access to the proposed development. Past potential accesses were via Oughtonhead Way, Lavender Way, Bowler’s End and Westbury Close.

·         Parked vehicles made the road single lane most of the time. There were junctions near each other, which made the bridleway busy.

·         Redhill Road was already a busy road with speeding issues and vehicles parked on both sides. Shops and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 100.

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the report.

Audio recording – 58:47

The Development and Conservation Manager presented the report entitled ‘Planning Appeals’ and advised:

·         There had been one appeal decision and one appeal lodged since the last meeting.

·         The appeal was allowed and related to prior approval for a taller telecommunications mast, which would replace a smaller existing mast in Priory Memorial Gardens, Royston.

·         The application had been refused first due to the mast being located within a conservation area, however the inspector found that the mast location was not inappropriate and should be allowed.

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the report.