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 23 January 2018 as a true and correct record.

The Planning Committee considered the minutes of the last meeting held on 23 January 2018.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2018 be approved and signed by the Chairman.

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

The decisions of the Planning Inspectorate to allow appeals in respect of 29 Cocker Street and 30 Douglas Avenue were presented to the Committee. Mr Gary Johnston, Head of Development Management highlighted his view that the decisions turned on a disagreement on a technical interpretation of guidance. There were therefore no learning requirements for the Committee in terms of future decision making.

The decisions of the Planning Inspectorate to dismiss appeals in respect of 336 Queens Promenade, 4 Bloomfield Road and Harry Feeney, 251 Vicarage Road were also noted by the Committee.

It was also presented that an appeal had been lodged  with the Planning Inspectorate against the decision made by the Planning Committee at its last meeting to refuse planning permission for the erection of a single storey side extension to form a sports bar at 44-48 Queens Promenade.

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 during January 2018.

The Committee considered the report of the Service Manager (Public Protection) which summarised the planning enforcement activity during January 2018.

The report outlined that in January 2018; 33 new enforcement cases had been registered for investigation compared with 89 in January 2017. A total of 14 cases had been resolved by negotiation without recourse to formal action and 37 cases closed as either no action had been required or it had been more effective to use other means to address the issue. One enforcement notice had been authorised during the period and one enforcement notice served.

Resolved:

To note the outcomes of the cases and support the actions of the Service Manager (Public Protection) as outlined in the report on planning enforcement activity during January 2018.

The Committee will be asked to note the outcomes of the cases and support the actions of the Service Manager - Public Protection during February 2018.

The Committee considered the report of the Service Manager (Public Protection) which summarised the planning enforcement activity during February 2018.

The report outlined that in February 2018, 49 new enforcement cases had been registered for investigation compared with 66 in January 2017. A total of 16 cases had been resolved by negotiation without recourse to formal action and 54 cases closed either no action had been required or it had been more effective to use other means to address the issue. No enforcement notice had been authorised or served during the period and two Section 215 notices authorised which required action to improve the poor condition of a property.

Resolved:

To note the outcomes of the cases and support the actions of the Service Manager (Public Protection) as outlined in the report on planning enforcement activity during February 2018.

To update the Planning Committee of the Council’s performance in relation to Government targets.

The Committee received a report of the Head of Development Management on the Council’s performance in relation to Government targets on planning applications and appeals. The report outlined performance in the 3^rd quarter of the year (October to December 2017), and January and February 2018.

Mr Gary Johnston, Head of Development Management, briefly presented the figures and emphasised that in terms of the timeliness of decisions performance had dipped from previous quarters but remained above the target. The quality of decision making had been affected by the two lost decisions reported in Agenda Item 3 but overall performance remained satisfactory  for the year.

Resolved:

To note the report.

The Committee considered application 17/0406 for the erection of single storey rear extensions to form orangery and 6 bedrooms and internal alterations to increase overall number of bedrooms from 17 to 25 at 502 Devonshire Road.

Mr Gary Johnston, Head of Development Management, presented the report to the Committee. He reminded members that the application had been deferred at the meeting of the Committee held on 21 November 2017 due to concerns regarding the positioning, length of the proposed extension and its proximity to the neighbouring property particularly as a result of the objections raised by the resident of 504 Devonshire Road. Mr Johnston explained that since the November Committee meeting, the applicant had discussed the application with their neighbour and submitted an amended application. The Planning Department had notified local residents of the amended application on 26 February 2018 and it now appeared that the neighbour at 504 Devonshire Road had no objection to the revised application.

Mr James McLoughney, applicant, spoke in support of the application. He emphasised to the Committee that since the last meeting he had engaged in discussions with his neighbour so that the amendments to the application met the needs of the rest home but also balanced his neighbour’s previously stated concerns.

The Committee considered it positive that constructive dialogue between the applicant and local residents had taken place since the application had been deferred.

Resolved:

That the application be approved subject to the condition as set out in the Appendix.

The Committee considered application 17/0443 for the change of use of the first floor of 340 Waterloo Road as a beauty therapy centre.

Mr Gary Johnston, Head of Development Management, presented the application.  Mr Johnston  reminded members that application had been deferred at the meeting of the Committee held on 30 August 2017 to enable the completion of a Section 106 mandating that the use not commence until the provision of suitable off street car parking. The applicant had previously had the intention to sign an agreement for car parking with the owner of the former Waterloo Methodist Church but had indicated that they had been notified that this would no longer be available. Mr Johnston explained that the officers’ view had been that notwithstanding the issue of additional parking demand that the amount of floorspace the impact of the change of use would not be sufficient to justify refusal. Mr Johnston also highlighted the further representation received from Mr Shaw and circulated in the update note.

Mr John Shaw, public objector, spoke in opposition to the change of use. Mr Shaw highlighted local residents’ concerns regarding car parking in the area and that in his view the applicant had not acted to address the concerns.

The Committee expressed concern about the issues of car parking in the area and that the applicant had not been able to reach an agreement for the provision of off-site car parking

The Committee considered that without suitable provision of additional car parking off street for customers and staff that the change would add unacceptably to the parking issues already experienced by local residents. It therefore resolved to refuse the application.

Resolved:

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