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.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 16 November 2021 as a true and correct record.

The Committee noted that Mr Holt, who had been a speaker at the November meeting had contacted the Committee members to propose changes to the minutes of the meeting. Councillor Owen reminded that approval of the minutes was a matter solely for the Committee to determine.

Councillor Farrell read a summary of the changes the changes proposed by Mr Holt.

Councillor Stansfield emphasised his view that the minutes were an accurate record and should be accepted as such in doing so he further noted that this planning application had been deferred at the last meeting and would return to a future meeting of the Planning Committee. The Committee expressed a united agreement with Councillor Stansfield’s view.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Planning Committee be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The Planning Committee considered a report on planning and enforcement appeals lodged since the last meeting. One appeal had been lodged and one appeal had been dismissed.

Resolved: To note the update.

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

The Planning Committee considered a report on planning enforcement activity in Blackpool between 1 November 2021 and 30 November 2021. Two enforcement notices had been authorised, once enforcement notice had been issued and two Section 215 notices had been issued.

Resolved: To note the update.

To consider planning application 21/0247 for the erection of a single storey rear extension and extension of existing hard surfacing to the front and side of property to create replacement parking.

The Planning Committee considered application 21/0247 for the erection of a single storey rear extension and extension of existing hard surfacing to the front and side of property to create replacement parking at Arnold Medical Centre, 204 St Anne’s Road, Blackpool.

Miss Susan Parker, Head of Development Management, outlined the report and provided a summary of the application, site details and the planning history. The application had been brought before the Committee as it was a community facility and of general public interest.

Miss Parker outlined the dimensions of the proposed extension and noted that the applicant intended to provide seven parking spaces at the front and thirteen to the rear and side. The surgery had been created from a former house in 1991 and had been extended since then. It stood in an area with residential character and the site adjoined a residential property.

Concerns had been expressed by the Head of Transport and Traffic Management Services regarding the proposal and an objection had been received from a nearby neighbour regarding over-development, lack of parking and hazardous waste.

Miss Parker stated that whilst Planning Officers noted that the surgery was a community facility that played an important role for local residents, the site had not been originally designed to accommodate a community medical facility and there were concerns that the surgery had been extended a number of times over the years and was now attempting to extend beyond what the site could reasonably accommodate.

The Council’s ‘Extending your Home’ Supplementary Planning Document was referred to and whilst this was not strictly applicable, its principles relating to the impact of extensions on residential amenity were still relevant.

Miss Parker outlined the Council’s Highways Officer’s concerns regarding the proposed car parking for the site which could result in cars reversing onto the footway and carriageway to the detriment of highway safety.

The proposal had been considered and balanced against the public benefits of expanding and improving a community facility, however it was considered to constitute overdevelopment and would have unacceptable impacts on residential amenity, public amenity and highway safety and the Committee was recommended to refuse planning permission as stated in the officer report.

Mr Richard Maudsley, Agent for the Applicant, spoke in favour of the application. He informed the committee that the surgery intended to provide four new consulting rooms to complement the existing overstretched practice and outlined the services that the surgery already provided. If the surgery did not expand then it may be forced to stop taking on new patients or close. The extension would provide new facilities that would enhance patient access and reduce pressure on hospitals. The surgery was a successful training practice that trained additional GPs, which was beneficial to the Blackpool area, given the national GP shortage.

Mr Maudsley noted that the objection had been received from a resident to the south east of Lennox Gate and not directly adjacent to the property. He stated that the application was sustainable in terms of car  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To note the date of the next meeting as 25 January 2022.

Resolved: To note the date of the next meeting as 25 January 2022.