Agenda and decisions

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 Councillor Amy Allen.

Having given due notice, Councillor Val Bryant substituted for Councillor Allen.

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 5 September 2024.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 5 September 2024 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

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.

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 matters for the registered speakers.

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

(5)  The Chair advised of a change in the order of the agenda. Agenda Item 9 followed by Item 8 would be considered after Agenda Item 5.

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

The Chair confirmed that the registered speakers were in attendance.

RESOLVED: That application 24/00756/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

RESOLVED: That application 24/00757/LBC be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

RESOLVED: That application 24/01489/FPH be REFUSED planning permission subject to the amended reason set out in the Supplementary document published alongside the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

RESOLVED: That application 24/00482/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager with the following two additional Informatives and amendments to Condition 5:

“Condition 5

None of the trees to be retained on the application site shall be felled, lopped, topped, uprooted, removed or otherwise destroyed or killed without the prior written agreement of the Local Planning Authority. On the tree report these trees are: T2- T11 and H2 Leyland Cypress hedge.

Reason: To safeguard and enhance the appearance of the completed development and the visual amenity of the locality.

Ecology Informative

The applicant is advised to avoid the bird nesting season, or if this cannot be avoided the site should be checked for nesting birds prior to any site clearance taking place.

The applicant is advised if bats are found during the course of any work to buildings or trees where not previously anticipated, then works should immediately stop and Natural England notified for appropriate advice.

Drainage Condition

Prior to the undertaking of works above ground level, details of surface water drainage shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Approved details will be implemented and maintained thereafter.

Reason: To safeguard neighbouring dwellings in accordance with policies D1 and NE8 of the Local Plan.”

RESOLVED: That application 24/00497/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager subject to an additional Condition 13.

“Condition 13

Prior to commencement of above ground works full details of all hard and soft landscaping shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The landscape details to be submitted shall include the following:

a)  which, if any, of the existing vegetation is to be removed and which is to be retained

b)  what new trees, shrubs, hedges and grassed areas are to be planted, together with the species proposed and the size and density of planting

c)  the location and type of any new walls, fences or other means of enclosure and any hardscaping proposed

d)  details of any earthworks proposed

The approved landscape details must be implemented on site prior to the first use of the hereby approved warehouse and retained on site thereafter.

Reason: To ensure the soft and hard landscaping is in accordance with Policy NE2 of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011 to 2031.”

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

To update Members on appeals lodged and any decisions made.

The Development and Conservation Manager provided an update on Planning Appeals.