Planning & Development Policy Committee
Minutes of the Myland Community Council Planning & Development Policy Committee Meeting held on Wednesday 10th August 2016, 7.15 pm @ 101 Nayland Road, Mile End Road, Colchester, CO4 5EN
Present: Cllr John Stewart (Chair)
Cllr Jean Dickinson
Cllr John Dickson
Cllr Adrian Ellis
Cllr Pete Hewitt
The Assistant Clerk
There was one member of the public present.
76-16/17 Apologies
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Gray.
77-16/17 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Dickinson declared a pecuniary interest in application 161754 due to the application site being close to her residence.
Cllrs Dickinson, Dickson, Ellis and Hewitt declared a pecuniary interest in application 161593 due to the application site being close to their residences. All Cllrs had requested dispensation in writing to the Clerk, on the grounds that so many members of the decision-making body (P & DP Committee) have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the matter that it would “impede the transaction of the business”.
With regard to application 161593, as per provisions in the Localism Act and having had regard to all relevant circumstances, the Clerk and Chairman consider that dispensation be granted to all Cllrs on the grounds that so many members of the Committee have disclosable pecuniary interests in the matter that it would “impede the transaction of the business” not to do so.
78-16/17 Have Your Say
Mrs White said she would like to comment on the appeal decision for 4 Leech’s Lane, Colchester CO4 5EP (application 152594) and asked if the Chair would be commenting on this.
She said she would like to thank the Assistant Clerk for the information she had provided about application 161593.
With regard to application 161907, she asked what type of substations would be erected.
Cllr Stewart said they would be electrical substations and a gas governor.
With regard to Item 65-16/17, Mrs White asked if Cllr Stewart had taken her points further.
Cllr Stewart said that the points raised would not be considered as relevant by the Licensing Committee and he would take action as a separate issue.
Mrs White asked if there would be comment on the refusal of application 151885.
Cllr Stewart said there would be no comment at this meeting.
Mrs White mentioned CBC’s current Local Plan consultation and said she had particular concern about how CBC enforced planning conditions. She said in light of what had happened on the Rosewood development she felt residents were justified in saying what should happen. She said conditions had not been enforced on Rosewood and residents were suffering the consequences.
Mrs White said she would be unable to comment on Items 85-16/17 and 86-16/17 on this agenda as she had not had the Terms of Reference. She said she felt deprived of her democratic rights as she was unable to comment on the Terms of Reference until they were agreed. She said all matters discussed were of interest to her and that she made an effort to come to meetings to hear debates and participate if possible. She said she would like on record a critique of what her democratic rights were and whether they had been taken away. She said democracy should not be curtailed because of general apathy in Mile End.
Cllr Stewart said that residents were not entitled to see all papers that were discussed at meetings.
Mrs White asked for a response on her comment on the Turner Road General Store.
Cllr Stewart said he would deal with this in due course.
Mrs White asked for a response to her comment about the Leech’s Lane application.
Cllr Stewart passed her a copy of the Appeal Decision.
79-16/17 Chairman’s Announcements and Correspondence
The Chairman said he had received notice that ECC had issued a traffic order to temporarily close Mile End Road from the junction with North Station roundabout to its junction with Bruff Close overnight between 28th July 2016 and 12 August 2016.
Cllr Stewart said he had been asked by Cllr Hewitt to attend liaison meetings with the consortium responsible for developing the Severalls site. He said he was concerned that this would put him in an invidious position as Chairman of the Planning Committee when dealing with future applications and that it was possible that attending regular meetings with the developers could be viewed as unethical.
Cllr Dickinson said it was important that there was representation at these meetings as Cllrs were responsible for answering to the community on the finer details and an opportunity would be lost if MCC were not at the table.
Cllr Hewitt said that it was important to have continuous input to dialogue and to raise issues as necessary. He said these meetings gave an opportunity to keep an eye on non-material changes that otherwise MCC would not see. He said he felt representatives at these meetings should come from this committee and that another member of the committee could attend.
Cllr Dickson asked if notes from liaison meetings could be circulated at P & DP committee meetings.
Cllr Hewitt said there would be no problem with that and anything contentious would probably come to this committee anyway.
Cllr Ellis said it would be useful to have the Chairman at the liaison meetings. He said if necessary the Chairman could always withdraw from the meeting.
Cllr Stewart said he could see a possible conflict with his role. He said he would like everyone to be aware of his concerns. He said he would be happy to attend liaison meetings but that he would like these concerns and this discussion to be on record. He said that he will make his position as Chair of MCC’s P & DP Committee clear at the start of liaison meetings.
Cllr Dickinson said other members of the committee could attend meetings.
It was agreed that Cllr Stewart and Cllr Hewitt would attend the liaison meetings with other committee members attending if necessary. It was also agreed that this arrangement would be reviewed if required.
80-16/17 Minutes of the meeting held on 13th July 2016 to be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman
The minutes of the meeting held on 13th July 2016 were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman
Proposed: Cllr Dickson Seconded: Cllr Dickinson (4 For; 1 Abstention)
81-16/17 Update of progress of resolutions made at the last meeting
The Chairman referred to Item 70-16/17 and said he had had a quick chat with Cllr Beauchamp, who said he would come back to Cllr Stewart with any thoughts.
The Chairman said he had spoken to Cllr Johnstone about the state of the Tower Lane bridleway. He said that Cllr Johnstone had told him the path was due to be flailed to clear it.
82-16/17 Monitoring
There was no report.
83-16/17 To consider and possibly resolve to respond to CBC’s Local Plan Preferred Options consultation
It was resolved to respond to CBC’s Local Plan Preferred Options consultation
Proposed: Cllr Dickson Seconded: Cllr Hewitt (Unanimous)
84-16/17 If the above is agreed to consider and possibly resolve to whom to delegate the response
It was resolved to delegate the response to Cllrs Hewitt and Dickinson.
Proposed: Cllr Hewitt Seconded: Cllr Dickinson (Unanimous)
The Chairman asked the Assistant Clerk to request an extension to the deadline for response to the end of September.
85-16/17 To discuss amending the Terms of Reference for the P&DP Committee
The Chairman said this issue had been outstanding since May. He said he would like to finalise the Terms of Reference at this meeting so that they could go to the full Council meeting at the end of August.
Cllr Dickinson said she would like to enhance the Policy role of the committee including liaison with CBC and developers.
The Chairman said he had made some amendments to the current Terms and that he had dropped the clause on monitoring as he believed visits to construction sites were no longer appropriate.
Cllr Hewitt said he felt effective monitoring could be done through liaison and watching the discharge of conditions on larger developments.
Cllr Dickinson said she felt an important role was to act as a conduit for residents with issues and point them in the right direction.
Cllr Ellis said it was still important to look at sites.
The Chairman said three members of the P & DP sat on the Planning Liaison Group. He said on occasion they had challenged CBC on enforcement. He said with liaison with Chesterwell and Severalls developers MCC was in a good position to spot potential problems.
Cllr Dickinson said she felt we were now out of the planning stage and into an implementation phase.
The Chairman said he felt we were still in the planning stage. He said implementation issues could be taken up by other MCC committees and Working Groups.
Cllr Dickinson said these could come under the Neighbourhood Plan Group. She said however the information needed to deal with these issues lay within the P & DP committee.
Cllr Hewitt said the role for the P & DP Committee was to make sure that what was promised was delivered. He said other groups could then take issues forward if necessary.
It was agreed that Cllr Stewart’s draft Terms of Reference should go to full Council at the end of August with the addition of the following:
“l. To maintain a ‘review and comment’ role on major developments including on-going liaison with CBC planners and developers and where necessary draw concerns to the attention of full Council”
86-16/17 If amendments to the P&DP Committee Terms of Reference are agreed under 85-16/17 to consider and possibly resolve to make those recommendations to full Council
With the amendments as agreed under Item 85-16/17 it was resolved to make those recommendations to full Council
Proposed: Cllr Hewitt Seconded: Cllr Dickinson (4 For; 1 Against)
87-16/17 Planning matters for review
There were no matters for review.
88-16/17 Planning, Licensing & Highways Applications/Appeals – To make recommendations, including requests for Section 106 money where applicable, on applications received
161593 – Land at Mile End Road, Colchester – Application for approval of reserved matters following outline approval of 121272 – Support
Proposed: Cllr Hewitt Seconded: Cllr Dickson (Unanimous)
161704 – 65 Apprentice Drive, Colchester CO4 5SE – Proposed single storey rear extension – Support
Proposed: Cllr Stewart Seconded: Cllr Dickson (Unanimous)
161774 – 129 Mile End Road, Colchester CO4 5DA – Proposed single storey rear extension – Support
Proposed: Cllr Stewart Seconded: Cllr Hewitt (Unanimous)
161559 – 24 Thornton Drive, Colchester CO4 5WB – Application to vary condition 8 of planning permission COL/91/0887 (to facilitate the conversion of the existing garage to living accommodation) – Comment
The garage conversion is already complete, making this application irrelevant.
Proposed: Cllr Dickson Seconded: Cllr Hewitt (Unanimous)
Cllr Dickinson left the room while the following application was discussed.
161754 – Bluebell Cottage, Leech’s Lane, Colchester CO4 5EP – Rear and side extension including garage – Comment
In view of CBC’s views on the effect on the streetscape on previous applications in this Lane, it would be incongruous for MCC to support this application. MCC is also concerned about the flooding risk to the Lane from water running off the drive of the property.
Proposed: Cllr Dickson Seconded: Cllr Ellis (Unanimous)
Cllr Dickinson rejoined the meeting.
161907 – Former Severalls Hospital Site, Boxted Road, Colchester CO4 5HG – Erection of substations – Support
Proposed: Cllr Stewart Seconded: Cllr Ellis (Unanimous)
161991 – 1 Matchett Drive, Colchester CO4 5AN – Erection of single storey rear conservatory extension – Support
Proposed: Cllr Hewitt Seconded: Cllr Ellis (Unanimous)
161910 – 79 Mile End Road, Colchester CO5 5BU – Proposed single storey rear extension – Support
Proposed: Cllr Hewitt Seconded: Cllr Stewart (Unanimous)
162026 – Nayland Road, Colchester – Installation of 3 x 3m x 3m stack signs, 1 x panel and post sign (comprising 2 x 2440mm x 1220mm panels and 2 x 2440mm x 610mm panels) – Support
Proposed: Cllr Stewart Seconded: Cllr Hewitt (Unanimous)
89-16/17 To receive copies of Planning/Appeal Decisions
Copies of the following Planning/Appeal Decisions were received.
Appeal Ref APP/A1530/W/16/3145614 (Application 152594) – 4 Leechs Lane, Colchester, CO4 5EP – Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of 3no. new dwellings with gardens and parking – Appeal dismissed, 22nd July 2016
161051 – 30 Bedford Road, Colchester CO4 5LS – Application for removal or variation of condition 8 following grant of planning permission 97/0939 – Permission granted, 1 condition, 25th July 2016
150177 – Chapmans Farm, Nayland Road, Mile End, Colchester CO4 5HA – Demolition of all existing buildings and construction and construction of a maximum of 27 houses on the existing site currently occupied by Cants of Colchester – Permission granted, 26 conditions, 22nd October 2015.
90-16/17 Date of next meeting – 7th September 2016, 7.15pm @ 101 Nayland Road
The meeting closed at 9.27pm.