Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 19th January 2009 - to follow.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 19th January 2009 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Councillor P L E Bucknell declared a personal interest in Minute No. 64 (e) and (f) by virtue of his appointment as Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport. 

Councillor W T Clough declared a personal interest in Minute No. 64 (g) by virtue of his membership of Buckden Parish Council.

To consider a report by the Development Control Manager.

A report by the Head of Planning Services was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding a proposal to formally transform the development control function to development management.

It was explained that the nature of the Local Development Framework had prompted a change in emphasis with focus now being placed on the importance of a sustainable and deliverable vision for development in the District as opposed to the negative and reactive reputation held formerly in some quarters about the development control function.  It was accepted that the transformation would require cultural change and a wider range of skills with the process described as a "journey" rather than a "sudden event". 

The Panel welcomed the elements of development management which the service already was taking forward as referred to in points 3, 4 and 5 of Appendix B to the report now submitted and requested Officers to present a session on the changes at a training event being arranged for the Panel in May.

Whilst commending the transformation, Members did express some concern over the suggested resource implications of the new pro-active approach required by development management and were anxious that their decision to endorse the proposal was not considered to represent support for any additional financial implications that might be forthcoming.  Subject to this reservation, the Panel

RESOLVED

  that the proposed transformation from Development Control to Development Management be endorsed and the Head of Planning Services authorised to implement the necessary administrative and procedural changes required. 

Applications Requiring Reference to Development Control Panel

(a)  St. Ives  Erection of a pair of semi-detached town houses, 9 Merryland

(b)  St. Neots  Erection of 3 townhouses and 5 apartments, land rear of 12-22 Mill Hill Road, Eaton Ford

(c)  Somersham  Erection of two-storey residential care home with associated access road, parking and landscaping, land east of West Newlands

(d)  Toseland  Alterations and change of use of chapel to a dwelling, Toseland Methodist Church, High Street

(e)  Abbotsley  Erection of dwelling and garage, land adjacent 5 Harbins Lane

(f)  Alconbury  Erection of Post Office with flat over.  Erection of two houses, 1 Bell Lane

(g)  Buckden  Demolition of existing buildings and erection of four flats, 21 High Street

(h)  Fenstanton  Erection of single storey dwelling, store at 11 High Street

(i)  Hemingford Abbots  Erection of dormer windows to form accommodation at first floor and part demolition of existing dwelling.  Erection of new dwelling, land at and including 34 Common Lane

(j)  Hemingford Grey  Alterations and sub-division of dwelling into two dwellings, 45 High Street

(k)  Holywell-cum-  Removal of Condition No. 9 of

  Needingworth  Reserved Matters Approval 0702174REM to allow floodlighting, land at Giffords Farm, Needingworth Road, St. Ives

(l)  The Offords  Retention of use of land as a caravan site for gypsy and traveller residential purposes, Pumping Station, Paxton Road, Offord D'Arcy

To consider reports by the Development Control Manager.

The Development Control Manager 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)  Erection of a pair of semi-detached town houses, 9 Merryland, St. Ives - 08/01352/FUL

  (Councillor D B Dew, Ward Councillor, Councillor M Clark, St. Ives Town Council and Mr T Reynolds, objector addressed the Panel on the application).

  that the application be refused for the following reasons -

¨  the proposed development would be contrary to the provisions of policies ENV7 the East of England Plan - Revision to the Regional Spatial Strategy 2008, policy HL5 of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan Alteration, 2002, policies En2, En5 and En6 of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan 1995, and policies B1, B7 and B8 of the Huntingdonshire Interim Planning Policy Statement, 2007 in that the development, by reason of its scale, location and design would not be sympathetic to the historical development of the site nor the locality and would therefore be detrimental to the character and appearance of the site and the Conservation Area and the setting of the adjacent listed building;

¨  the proposed development would be contrary to the provisions of policy H31 of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan, 1995 and policy B4 of the Huntingdonshire Interim Planning Policy Statement 2007 in that the development would result in an unacceptable loss of amenity to the adjoining properties by reason of loss of light, loss of privacy and over-bearing impact;

¨  the proposal would be contrary to the provisions of policy CS8 of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan, 1995, policy P10 of the Huntingdonshire Interim Planning Policy Statement, 2007 and Planning Policy Statement No. 25 in that the application does not adequately demonstrate that due regard has been taken of the potential flood risk to the site during the likely lifetime of the building nor has assessed the flood risk resulting from climate change; and

¨  the proposed development would be contrary to the provisions of policy H37 of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan, 1995 and policy B4 of the Huntingdonshire Interim Planning Policy Statement, 2007 in that it does not demonstrate how the development would incorporate measures to adequately protect the amenities of the inhabitants of the dwellings from noise, disturbance and odours emanating from adjacent properties. 

  (b)  Erection of three town houses and five apartments, land rear of 12 to 22 Mill Hill Road, Eaton Ford, St. Neots - 08/03231/FUL

  (Mr S Richardson, 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.

  (c)  Erection of 2 storey residential care home with associated access road, parking and landscaping, land east of West Newlands  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

To consider a report by the Development Control Manager.

The Panel received and noted a report by the Development Control Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) in respect of four appeals against refusal of planning permission by the District Council.