Agenda, decisions and draft minutes
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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: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ruth Brown.
Having given due notice, Councillor Bryony May substituted for Councillor Brown. Minutes: Audio recording – 03 minutes 20 seconds
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ruth Brown.
Having given due notice, Councillor Bryony May substituted for Councillor Brown. |
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MINUTES - 23 JULY 2026 To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 23 July 2026. Decision: RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 23 July 2026 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair. Minutes: Audio Recording – 03 minutes 34 seconds
Councillor Nigel Mason as Chair, proposed and Councillor Emma Fernandes seconded, and following a vote, it was:
RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 23 July 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. Minutes: Audio recording – 04 minutes 44 seconds
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
Minutes: Audio recording – 04 minutes 48 seconds
(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. Minutes: Audio recording – 07 minutes 11 seconds
The Chair confirmed that the registered speakers were in attendance. |
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25/02064/OP Land Adjacent To 10, Hambridge Way, Pirton, Hertfordshire REPORT OF THE
DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED: That application 25/02064/OP be GRANTED planning permission subject to:
A) The completion of a satisfactory legal agreement and the applicant agreeing to extend the statutory period in order to complete the agreement. 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. C) That authority be delegated to the Development and Conservation Manager to finalise the planning obligations relating to sports facilities and playing-pitch provision, including determining whether any contribution or provision should be secured for Pirton Sports and Social Club, following consultation with Sport England and Pirton Sports and Social Club. D) That authority be delegated to the Development and Conservation Manager to require the applicant to submit a Ball Trajectory Risk Assessment or similar, undertaken by a suitably qualified person, and, following consultation with Sport England, to address this requirement before outline planning permission is issued. E) The conditions as set out in the report with an amendment to Condition 30 and an additional condition 33 as follows:
‘Condition 33
No development shall commence until a Market Housing Mix Schedule has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The schedule shall set out the number, type, and size of market dwellings proposed across the site and how this would complement the affordable housing mix agreed by planning obligation. The schedule shall take into account the requirements of Policy HS3 of the Local Plan and the most recent Strategic Housing Market Assessment. Any reserved matters application pursuant to this outline planning permission shall be in accordance with the approved schedule.
Reason: To inform the layout, scale and density of the development to be submitted at reserved matters stage and to secure an appropriate range of house types and sizes in accordable with Policies SP8 and HS3 of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011-2031.
Condition 30
Prior to the commencement of development, an updated Noise Impact Assessment shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The assessment shall review the findings and recommendations of the Cass Allen Ltd report (Ref: RP01-25395-R0) dated 12 August 2025, taking account of the development layout and all relevant noise sources, and shall identify any necessary mitigation measures to protect the residential amenity of future occupants. No dwelling shall be occupied until the scheme providing protection for those dwellings has been implemented in accordance with the approved details. The approved scheme shall be retained in accordance with those details thereafter.
Reason: To ensure that the potential noise impacts of the development are properly assessed and appropriately mitigated, and to protect the residential amenity of future occupants, in accordance with Policy D3 of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011–2031.’ Minutes: Audio recording – 07 minutes 34 seconds
The Senior Planning Officer provided a verbal update on matters relating to Application 25/02064/OP and advised that:
· Pirton Sports and Social Club had submitted several objections not directly covered within the officer report, and these were available online. · Key issues raised included deficiencies in the noise survey, drainage report and mitigation, proposed planning conditions, and the setting back of the site from the recreation ground to protect sporting activities. · The objection also requested merging the Cotman End access with the recreation ground access and safeguarding land within the application site for future expansion of the recreation ground. · The original objection included a request for £365,000 towards pavilion and recreational improvements. · The recreation ground and its access were outside the red-line boundary, and there was no requirement for the applicant to merge access roads. · Highways had raised no objection to the proposed access arrangements. · The site exceeded Fields in Trust requirements for open space for a development of this scale. · The Lead Local Flood Authority and Environmental Health had raised no objections. · The applicant had agreed planning obligations towards sports facilities and pitches within the district, but not directly to Pirton Sports and Social Club. · Sports England and the England and Wales Cricket Board enforce an 80m strike zone from the cricket square, and the illustrative layout showed development within that zone. · Approval was recommended subject to additional conditions delegating authority to the Development and Conservation Manager.
The Senior Planning Officer then presented the report in respect of application 25/02064/OP accompanied by a visual presentation consisting of plans and photographs.
The following Members asked questions:
· Councillor Val Bryant · Councillor Tom Tyson · Councillor Louise Peace
In response to questions, the Senior Planning Officer advised that:
· Green arrows shown on the framework plan were indicative access principles for pedestrian and cycle movement, to be detailed at Reserved Matters stage. · Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) contributions would be secured by condition and delivered at district or county level. · The hedgerow habitat unit increase of 23% would be safeguarded through the biodiversity net gain plan required under Condition 25. · The BNG plan would be submitted to and approved by the Planning Authority before commencement. · Boundary hedgerows were expected to be retained and reinforced as part of achieving net gain. · Affordable housing mix would be secured through the Section 106 agreement. · Market housing mix would be submitted prior to commencement and assessed against policy and the Strategic Housing Market Assessment. · Detailed housing mix was not required at outline stage. · Construction traffic management would be determined by the Highway Authority.
The Chair invited the first Public Objector, Parish Councillor Diane Burleigh to speak against the application. Parish Councillor Burleigh thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, and highlighted the following:
· Pirton valued its natural environment, and a 19% biodiversity net loss on a single greenfield site was unacceptable. · The central hedgerow was proposed for removal despite supporting bat species, including the rare Bechstein bat. ... view the full minutes text for item 52. |
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26/01373/S73 Site Of Former Greenside, London Road, Langley, Hertfordshire, SG4 7PP REPORT OF THE
DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER Additional documents:
Decision: RESOLVED: That application 26/01373/S73 be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions as set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager. Minutes: Audio recording – 02 hours 02 minutes 29 seconds
The Senior Planning Officer provided a verbal update on matters relating to Application 26/01373/S73 and advised that:
· Planning permission was granted in 2024 for demolition of the former dwelling, outbuildings and yard buildings, and construction of six detached four-bedroom dwellings. · Development had commenced and the houses were now substantially progressed. · The application sought to vary the approved drawings under Section 73, with the principal change being the addition of carports to each of the six units. · The site lies on the eastern side of London Road, Langley, within the Green Belt, but comprises previously developed land. · The listed Forge building is located north of the entrance, with a public footpath along the western boundary. · The position of all six units remain unchanged from the approved scheme. · Plots 1 and 2 would have double-bay carports; plots 3-6 would have single-bay carports. · Carports are lightweight timber structures positioned within previously approved parking areas.
The Senior Planning Officer then presented the report in respect of Application 26/01373/S73 accompanied by a visual presentation consisting of plans and photographs.
The following Members asked questions:
· Councillor Clare Billing · Councillor Louise Peace · Councillor Martin Prescott
In response to questions, the Senior Planning Officer advised that:
· A condition had been imposed to prevent the carports from being enclosed, ensuring they remain open and retained for vehicle parking. · Although the carports were slightly smaller than the standard as outlined in the Design Code due to separate bin and cycle storage. However, they were still capable of accommodating a car. · Parking provision had already been established under the previous permission, and the carports did not raise any substantive concerns regarding size or impact.
Councillor Martin Presccott proposed to grant permission and this was seconded by Councillor Tom Tyson and, following a vote, it was:
RESOLVED: That application 26/01373/S73 be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions as set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager. |
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EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC To consider passing the following: 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 tat the following report will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended). Minutes: Audio recording – 02 hours 13 minutes 10 seconds
Councillor Nigel Mason proposed and Councillor Ian Mantle seconded and, following a vote, it was:
RESOLVED: That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds tat the following report will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended). |
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PLANNING ENFORCEMENT UPDATE - PART 2 INFORMATION NOTE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER
To provide Members with an update on planning enforcement. Decision: The Conservation and Planning Enforcement Team Leader presented the Information Note entitled ‘Planning Enforcement Quarterly Report – Part 2’. Minutes: N.B. This item was considered in restriction session and therefore no recording was available.
Details of minutes taken on this item are restricted due to the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of Section 200A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). |
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PLANNING ENFORCEMENT UPDATE - PART 1 INFORMATION NOTE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER
To provide Members with an update on planning enforcement. Decision: The Conservation and Planning Enforcement Team Leader presented the Information Note entitled ‘Planning Enforcement Quarterly Report – Part 1’. Minutes: Audio recording – 02 hours 44 minutes 52 seconds
The Conservation and Planning Enforcement Team Leader presented the Information Note entitled ‘Planning Enforcement Quarterly Report – Part 1’ and advised that:
· The quarterly enforcement report had been circulated and was for noting. · Since the last update, two enforcement notices had been served. · One notice had been appealed, and the Council was awaiting the Planning Inspector decision. |