Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 19th March 2012.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 19th March 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

As Councillor Swales and Ward had indicated their intention to retire as District Councillors at the forthcoming elections, the Chairman took the opportunity to thank both Councillors for their contributions to the Panel over many years and to extend his best wishes to them for their future.  Personal tributes to both Members were made by Councillors Mrs B E Boddington and P L E Bucknell.

In response, Councillor Swales thanked Members for their kind words and added that it had been a privilege and pleasure to serve on the Panel.

The Planning Service Manager (Development Management) announced that the final National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) had been published at the end of March.  This had replaced all former Planning Policy Guidance and Statements.  In addition to the Framework, technical policy guidance had been issued on flood risk, minerals and traveller sites.  Members noted that the NPPF was now considered to be a material consideration in the determination of future development applications and had been taken into account in the recommendations made to the Panel on the applications submitted.

To receive from Members, declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda Item.  Please see Notes 1 and 2 below.

Councillor P L E Bucknell declared a personal interest in Minute No. 69 (d) by virtue of his membership of the Middle Level Commissioners. 

Councillor P D Reeve declared a personal interest in Minute Nos. 69 (d) and (e) by virtue of his membership of Ramsey Town Council.

Councillor R G Tuplin declared a personal interest in Minute Nos. 69 (f) and (g) by virtue of his membership of Sawtry Parish Council.

Councillor N J Guyatt declared a personal interest in Minute No. 69 (h) by virtue of his residency of Stibbington Village.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services.

By way of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel considered the response received to consultation on a draft statement of community involvement which was undertaken over the period 3rd February to 10th March 2012.

Members noted that the Statement (SCI) was the requirement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 which clearly sets out how the District Council intended to undertake public consultation on planning matters.  It would be the role of the Inspector who examined the Council’s new local plan to consider whether a Plan had been prepared in accordance with the SCI.

Having been advised that the draft SCI was considered to be fit for purpose and that no amendments had been required as a result of the consultation, the Panel

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to authorise the Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing and the Chairman of the Panel to finalise and approve a new Statement of Community Involvement. 

Hemingford Grey

Demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of the site to provide 72 bedroom care home, together with associated landscaping and parking with access from London Road – St. Ives Motel, London Road.

To consider a report by the Planning Service Manager (Development Management).

The Planning Service Manager (Development Management) submitted reports (copies of which are appended in the Minute Book) on applications for development to be determined by the Panel and advised Members of further representations (details of which also are appended in the Minute Book) which had been received in connection therewith since the reports had been prepared.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  (a)  Demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of the site to provide 72 bedroom care home, together with associated landscaping and parking with access from London Road, St. Ives Motel, London Road, St. Ives – 11/02099/FUL

  (Councillor I C Bates, Ward Councillor, Mrs J Turney, objector and Mr A Kearley, agent addressed the Panel on the application.)

  that, on the understanding that six of the eight first floor windows in the projecting element of the northern elevation are fixed with obscure glazing, the application be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Head of Planning Services to include those listed in paragraph 8 of the report now submitted and in addition to require the applicants to submit a travel plan.

  (b)  Retrospective approval for siting of green house, container and small touring caravan, 2 Hoots Farm, Sawtry Way, Wyton – 12/00356/FUL

  that the application be approved with permission for the touring caravan and container limited to a temporary period of five years only in the interests of maintaining the visual appearance of the container subject to conditions to be determined by the Head of Planning Services to include two non-standard conditions listed in paragraph 8 of the report now submitted.

  (c)  Variation of condition 2.1 of planning permission 09/01530/FUL to retain existing access on a permanent basis.  Variation of condition 10 of planning permission 100720REP to provide alternative access via adjacent temporary car park, redundant Hinchingbrooke Water Tower, Brampton Road, Huntingdon – 11/02112/S73

  (Mr J Dadge, agent addressed the Panel on the application.)

  that the application be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Head of Planning Services to include those listed in paragraph 8 of the report now submitted.

  (d)  Replacement dwelling, Sherwood House, Chapel Road, Ramsey Heights, Huntingdon – 11/02140/FUL

  (See Minute No. 67 for Members’ interests.)

  (Mr M Woolcott, applicant addressed the Panel on the application.)

  that the application be refused for the following reason:-

  the proposed development would be contrary to the provisions of policies ENV7 of the East of England Plan 2008, policies H27 and En25 of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan 1995 and policies E1 and H5 of the Development Management DPD Proposed Submission 2010 in that the development by reason of its form, bulk and massing would not adequately respect or reflect the scale and nature of the dwelling it is intended to replace and it would, thereby, result in an over-dominant feature which would be detrimental to and have an adverse impact on the open character and rural appearance of the site and the area in general.  The proposed dwelling is unduly uniform in terms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

To consider a report by the Planning Service Manager (Development Management).

By reference to a report by the Planning Service Manager (Development Management), the Panel noted the outcome of four appeals against refusal of planning permission by the District Council and the reasons for refusal in respect of the appeal against the Panel’s decision to refuse permission for the erection of four wind turbines, crane pads, access tracks and ancillary works, on a site west of Bicton Industrial Estate, Kimbolton.

The Planning Service Manager (Development Management) reported that the Planning Inspectorate had decided to allow the appeal in respect of the application for 4 wind turbines at Woolley Hill, Ellington and the reasons for this decision would be reported to the next meeting.

The Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing, Councillor N J Guyatt indicated that it was his intention to request that the Head of Planning Services to commence work on updating the supplementary planning document on wind power. 

Chairman of the Advisory Group, Councillor R G Tuplin and Head of Planning Services to report.

As Chairman of the Section 106 Agreement Advisory Group, Councillor R G Tuplin reported that, at a recent meeting, the Advisory Group had been informed that due to a lack of resources, the Group would no longer be able to continue to monitor income and expenditure arising from Section 106 Agreements on a quarterly basis.  Councillor Ursell added that this information also had been of benefit to Town and Parish Councils.

Councillor Guyatt assured the Panel that arrangements were being made for Members to continue to monitor the progress of Section 106 income and expenditure.  However, given the introduction of CIL and the requirement similarly to monitor those resources, he would request the Head of Planning Services to consider how best this could be achieved and to report accordingly to a future meeting.