Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned either

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 19 December 2017 as a true and correct record.

The Planning Committee considered the minutes of the last meeting held on 19 December 2017.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 December 2017 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The Committee received the report of the Head of Development Management to provide an update on planning and enforcement lodged and determined.

The decision of the Planning Inspectorate to dismiss an appeal by Mr Anthony Brocklebank against the Council’s decision to refuse planning permission to extend the existing day nursery to the upper floor and formation of a new vehicular access at 21 Devonshire Road as summarised in the decision of the Inspector on 14 December 2017 was presented to the Committee.

The two recent planning appeals lodged in respect of Planning Application 17/0011: Windmill Service Station and Advertisement Consent  17/0429 Harry Feeney, Vicarage Lane were also reported to the Committee.

Resolved:

To note the report on planning and enforcement appeals lodged and determined.

The Committee will be asked to note the outcomes of the cases and support the actions of the Service Manager – Public Protection.

The Committee received a report from the Service Manager, Public Protection giving a summary of planning enforcement action during December 2017 within Blackpool.

The report stated that 20 new cases have been registered for investigation, 12 cases had been resolved by negotiation without recourse to formal action and 33 cases were closed. There had also been no enforcement notices, s215 notices or Community Protection Notices served during the  month of December 2017.

The report provided for members comparative figures for the same period in 2016.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

To update Members of the Planning Committee on the Council’s peformance in relation to Government targets.

The Committee received an update on the Council’s performance in relation to determined planning applications and in relation to government targets. The performance statistics were noted and it was considered that it was particularly positive that during period of the report that 100% of both major and minor applications were dealt with within the specified government target time limits.

Resolved:

To note the report.

The Committee is requested to consider an application for planning permission, details of which are set out in the accompanying report.

The Planning Committee considered application 17/0466 for the erection of 86 dwellings with associated open space and landscaping and formation of new access to Warren Drive at Land at Warren Drive.

Mr G Johnston, Head of Development Management, introduced the planning application and provided an update to the Committee. He reminded members that the application had been deferred at the last meeting to enable further consultation with United Utilities and the Lead Local Flood Authority in response to the recent flooding event on 22 November 2017 . Following the further consultation it remained the case that neither organisation had an objection to the application. He expressed his view as an officer that on balance the application should be approved.

Mr Leary and Mr Kennaugh, local residents, both spoke in objection to the application and highlighted concerns regarding the recent flooding event, concerns as to the capacity for the local roads to deal with the additional car journeys generated and concerns at the removal of open space and any associated impact on

Mr Paul Sedgwick, Applicant’s agent, accompanied by Mr Phil Wooliscroft, Highways Engineer, spoke in support of the application and explained that the applicant had worked with the Council’s planning officers to bring a suitable application and felt that this was the case.

The ward Councillors, Councillors Callow and Mrs Callow from Bispham ward and Councillors Galley and T Williams of Anchorsholme ward all spoke in objection to the application. They highlighted concerns regarding the potential for flooding especially given local residents’ recent experiences and there would be significant additional pressure on the transport network.

In response to questions from the Committee, Mr Latif Patel from Traffic and Highways highlighted that while a number of issues had been resolved it remained the Traffic and Highways department view that the application would still have significant negative impact on traffic in the areas. 

The Committee considered carefully all the evidence before it. It considered that there were significant concerns regarding the application. Namely that it would be detrimental to highway and pedestrian safety in that it would generate additional traffic movements on a busy distributor road and in particular it would cause congestion and be detrimental to safe pedestrian movements at the roundabout junction of Warren Drive and North Drive.

The Committee also considered notwithstanding the representations received from United Utilities that the application and notably the introduction of additional hard surfacing would exacerbate the existing problems of flooding in the locality to the detriment of existing local residents.

The Committee noted that the Council had a five year supply of housing land, relevant housing policies could be considered up to date and the proposed development would be detrimental to wildlife through the loss of an area of natural scrub that is connected to a wider area of open space.

The Committee felt that these concerns would not be mitigated by the imposition of the proposed conditions nor could they be addressed by the imposition of further conditions. It therefore agreed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Committee is requested to consider an application for planning permission, details of which are set out in the accompanying report.

The Planning Committee considered application 17/0640 for the single storey side extension to form sports bar at 44-46 Queens Promenade.

Mr Nigel Seddon and Mr Ian White both spoke in objection to the application. They highlighted concerns with noise nuisance and the impact of smoking outside the premises on occupants of the neighbouring Elgin Hotel.  

Mr Chris Hermolle, Applicant’s Agent, spoke in support of the application.

The Committee considered the evidence put before it and concluded that the proposed side extension would have a significantly detrimental impact on the visitor amenities of the adjoining Elgin Hotel and on the character and amenities of the wider area by virtue of its size, design, layout, cumulative width relative to the plot size, close proximity to the common boundary and associated activity, including noise levels, externally in and around the premises late into the evening/ early hours of the morning.

The Committee felt that these concerns would not be mitigated by the imposition of the proposed conditions nor could they be addressed by the imposition of further conditions. It therefore agreed that the application should be refused.

Resolved:

That the application be refused for the reasons set out in Appendix to the minutes.