Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 16th March 2009.

Subject to it being clarified that Councillor P L E Bucknell had declared a personal interest in Minute No. 68 (d) and not 68 (a) as recorded in Minute No. 67, the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 16th March 2009 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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.

No interests were declared.

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) regarding the action taken by the Head of Legal, Property and Governance to obtain an injunction to prevent unauthorised occupation of a site for residential development off the A1123, Needingworth Road, Bluntisham.

Members were advised that the Order, served on the land owner on 3rd March 2009, restricted use of the land for the occupation of caravans and mobile homes, the storage of vehicles, caravans and residential paraphernalia, the laying of hard core and the creation of a hardstanding or access road.  It was further reported that no further development had subsequently taken place on site.

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 four floodlight columns and floodlights, informal open space, north-east of 46 High Street, Little Paxton - 08/03557/FUL

  (Councillor P Hagger, Little Paxton Parish Council and Mr Dean, objector, 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 02003 - time limit (3 years) and one non-standard condition relating to time limit and months of use.

  [Whilst approving the application, the Panel had regard to the representations received and requested that Little Paxton Parish Council be encouraged to provide for the lighting columns to fade out gradually when turned off].

  (b)  Permanent change of use of agricultural land to a travellers site with six pitches including new vehicular access roadway and hardstanding, land north of The Paddock, Chatteris Road, Somersham - 08/03522 FUL

  (Councillors S J Criswell, Ward Councillor and Mrs J Bullard, Somersham Parish Council, Ms T Osborne, objector and Mr F Adams, applicant, addressed the Panel on the application).

  that the application be refused for the following reasons:-

  (i)  the site is not sufficiently accessible to services and facilities by means of travel other than by private motor vehicles to justify granting permanent planning permission in advance of the consideration of alternative sites as part of the preparation of the Council's Gypsy and Traveller Sites Development Plan Document and the proposal would thereby be contrary to policy CS6 of the Huntingdonshire Local Development Framework Submission Core Strategy, 2008 and advice contained in Circular 1/2006 - Planning for Gypsy and Traveller  Caravan Sites;

  (ii)  the impact on views and the character of the countryside is such that the site does not perform well enough to justify granting permanent planning permission in advance of the detailed consideration of a range of sites that will take place in the DPD and thereby the proposal would be contrary to the provisions of policy CS6 of the Huntingdonshire Local Development Framework Submission Core Strategy, 2008;

  (iii)  the development of the site as proposed, if permitted in conjunction with the development of application site 08/03523/FUL for a temporary period or permanently, would result in a number and extent of pitches that would be detrimental to the amenities and nearby residential properties because it would not respect the scale of, and would dominate the nearest part of the settled community contrary to policy CS6 of the Huntingdonshire Local Development Framework Submission Core Strategy, 2008 and to advice contained in Paragraph 54 of ODPM Circular 1/2006; and

  (iv)  the proposal would be contrary to the provisions of policy CS6 of the Huntingdonshire Local Development Framework Submission Core  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

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 five appeals against refusal of planning permission by the District Council.

To consider a report by the Development Control Manager.

The Panel received a report by the Development Control Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding the activities of the Development Control Service for the quarter 1st October - 31st December 2008.

Members were pleased to note that Government performance targets for the determination of major, minor and other applications within the prescribed timescales all had been exceeded.  The Panel conveyed their congratulations to the Development Control Manager and his team on their achievement.