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.

Councillor Owen declared a personal interest in Item 6, planning application 19/0241 Former Bispham High School site. The nature of the interest being he was a member of Fylde Coast Ramblers a consultee on the application.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 15 December 2020 as a true and correct record.

The Planning Committee received an update on planning and enforcement lodged and determined since its last meeting.

The report included the details of three planning appeals lodged: two appeals lodged in respect of the refusal of retrospective planning approval for installation of an automated telling machine and signage at 150 Lytham Road and one in respect of the extension of a property at 51 Shaftesbury Avenue.

The Committee received details of the appeal allowed in respect of the refusal of planning permission in respect of 40 Abingdon Street. While accepting the decision of the Planning Inspectorate, the Committee noted that the Planning Inspector had agreed that the Committee had accepted reasonably and refused the applicant’s costs request.

The Committee received details of the appeal upheld in respect of 100 Bond Street. It noted that the Council’s decision had been upheld and that the aim of protecting locally listed buildings enforced.

Resolved:

To note the report.

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

The Committee is considered the summary of planning enforcement activity within Blackpool, between 1  December 2020 and 31 December 2020.

The report stated that 26 new cases had been registered for investigation with 518 complaints outstanding. A total of seven cases had been resolved by negotiation without recourse to formal action and 17cases had been closed as there was either no breach of planning control found, no action was appropriate or it had not been considered expedient to take action.

The report also stated that no enforcement notices and no Section 215 notices had been authorised in December 2020. In the same period one enforcement notice, no Section 215 notice and no Community Protection Notices had been issued.

Resolved: To note the outcome of the cases set out in the report and to support the actions of the Service Manager, Public Protection Department.

The Committee to consider an update on the Council’s performance in determining planning applications in relation to Government targets.  The report reflects performance in the fourth quarter of the 2020/21 financial year.

The Committee considered the Planning Application and Appeals Performance Report that provided an update on the Council’s performance in relation to Government targets. 

The report outlined the performance for the quarter period from October 2020 to December 2020 as 100% for major development decisions determined within 13 weeks or an agreed extension of time against a target of 60% and 96% for non-major development decisions determined within eight weeks or an agreed extension of time against a target of 70%.  It was noted that this exceeded the statutory targets for the period.

Resolved:  To note the report.

To consider planning application 19/0241 a hybrid application comprising

a full application for the erection of a cadet hut (relocation of existing building)

and an outline planning application for the erection of up to 176 dwellings with associated open space and infrastructure( all matters reserved for subsequent approval) at the former Bispham High School site, Bispham Road.

The Planning Committee considered planning application 19/0421 a hybrid application comprised of a full application for the erection of a cadet hut (relocation of existing building and an outline planning application for the erection of up to 176 dwellings with associated open space and infrastructure( all matters reserved for subsequent approval).

Miss Susan Parker, Head of Development Management, introduced the item. She highlighted that the application had previously been considered by the Planning Committee in October 2019 where the application had been deferred enable issues raised by Sport England to be addressed, and to enable further investigation of the different options for highway access. The application had been amended so that now the majority of housing (120 dwellings) would be accessed from Bispham Road with a smaller number (56 dwellings) from Regency Gardens. This amended layout had been considered acceptable in highways terms. There remained the issue identified in the objection by Sport England as to the loss of the playing field. However, the recent publication of a revised Playing Pitch Strategy and the proposed amended to address the issue by the creation of a replacement 3g pitch at Stanley Park was considered an acceptable way forward. Miss Parker concluded by reminding members that the proposed development would protect the existing public open space and providing additional public open space for the development.

Councillor Rick Scott, Ward Councillor for Greenlands ward spoke in objection to the application. He highlighted local residents concerns about highways and access issues.

Mr Alexis de Pol, Applicant’s agent, had registered to speak but declined and was available for questions.

Mr Latif Patel, Highways Officers, responded to the concerns raised. He emphasised his opinion that the proposed development would be suitable in highways terms. The access via Regency Gardens had always been intended to serve a larger development and so was suitable for access. In terms of Bispham Road, there would be space to address via means of the construction of a mini-roundabout.

Members considered the issue and balanced

To note the date of the next meeting as the 9 February 2021.