Planning Committee – 7 November 2007

Chairman: Councillor Collinson
Venue: Council Chamber, Pittwood House, Scunthorpe
Time: 2 pm

AGENDA

1. Substitutions.

2. Declarations of Personal and Personal and Prejudicial Interests, significant contact with applicants, objectors or third parties (Lobbying) and Whipping Arrangements (if any).

3. To take the minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2007  as a correct record and authorise the chair to sign.

4. Applications deferred from previous meeting for site visit

5. Planning and other applications for determination by the committee.

6. Enforcement Update.

7. Any other items, which the chairman decides are urgent, by reasons of
special circumstances which must be specified.

Note : Reports are by the Service Director Highways and Planning unless otherwise stated.

MINUTES

PRESENT: Councillor Collinson (Chair).

Councillors Armitage, Bainbridge, Barker, Briggs, Bunyan, Ellerby, England, Glover, Grant, C Sherwood, Wardle, and Whiteley.

Councillors Smith and Poole attended the meeting in accordance with Procedure Rule 37(b).

The committee met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.

972 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS, SIGNIFICANT CONTACT WITH APPLICANTS OR THIRD PARTIES (LOBBYING) AND WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY)

The following members declared personal interests : –

Members
Minute
Applications
Nature of Interest
Cllr Armitage 975 (vi) 07/1383 Vice-Chairman of Gunness Parish Council
Cllr Bunyan 975 (i) 07/1130 Member of Broughton Town Council
Cllr Ellerby 974 (iii) 07/1141 Member of Kirton-in-Lindsey Town Council
Cllr England 975 (x) 07/1544 Knew applicant and objector
Member of Messingham Parish Council
Cllr Glover 975 (i) 07/1130 Member of Broughton Town Council

The following member attending the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 37 (b) declared the following personal interests

Members
Minute
Applications
Nature of Interest
Cllr Poole 974 (iii) 07/1141 Ward Member
Cllr Poole 975 (x) 07/1544 Knew applicant and lived on the same street

The following members declared that they had been lobbied: –

Members
Applications
Cllr Armitage 07/1341
Cllr Bunyan 07/1130
Cllr Collinson 07/1341
Cllr Glover 07/1130
Cllr Grant 07/1341

973 MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the meetings held on 10 October and 26 October (Policy Meeting) 2007 having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the chair.

974 (46) APPLICATIONS DEFERRED FROM PREVIOUS MEETING – In accordance with the decisions at the previous meeting, members had undertaken site visits on the morning of the meeting. The Service Director Highways and Planning submitted reports and updated them orally.

(i) 07/1247 by Mr R Murphy and Mrs P Barthorpe for the erection of a detached house and a detached domestic garage on land adjacent to The Old Post Office, Church Street, Amcotts.

Resolved – That permission be granted in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report.

(ii) 07/1199 by Mr G McDaid for the retention of fencing and decking, erection of new fencing and increase in height of an existing fence by 300mm at Ballakallin, Back Street, Alkborough

Prior to consideration of this application an objector addressed the committee.

The objector stated that he had no objection to a small wall on the boundary at the front of the properties. However he objected to the proposed eight foot high fence. There was no need for this as the applicant did not use that part of the garden. The fence at the rear would have an adverse impact on the conservation area. With the Alkborough Flats scheme progressing there would be a need for greater control over the appearance of the area from that site. The concrete gravel boards would be out of place in a conservation area. There was no need for additional privacy. The objector had happily lived in his property with no screening between it and the applicant’s property for many years when the applicant’s house had been occupied by the previous owner.

The Head of Planning informed members that the application had originally involved a fence at the front. This would now be a wall made of brick or stone. Regarding the view from the Flats, the proposal would not “puncture the skyline”.

Resolved – That permission be granted in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report subject to Condition 2 to be reworded as follows –

“The development shall be carried out in accordance with the amended details received by the Local Planning Authority on 13 August 2007 in that the new fence between the footpath and the outbuilding to the ‘Old Library’ shall be omitted and replaced by a wall constructed in either natural stone or red/brown reclaimed facing brick which at no time shall exceed 1.2m high above ground level. No development shall take place until details, including samples, of the materials to be used in the wall to be erected have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and only the approved materials shall be used.”

(iii) 07/1141 by Havelok Homes for the erection of 10 mixed affordable housing units at end of Mill Lane, Kirton–in–Lindsey.

Prior to consideration of this application an objector and a representative of the applicant addressed the committee.

The objector lived immediately adjacent to the site. He believed that the development would lead to a loss of view and sunlight and a reduction in the value of his property. Alternative sites for affordable housing were available nearby. Drainage was inadequate and surface water and sewage would have to flow uphill to the main sewer. If the development was to go ahead there should be a separate access for construction traffic.

The applicant’s representative stated that the application followed on from partnership work. A Housing Needs Survey had been carried out in 2006 which identified the need for 28 affordable homes in Kirton. A more recent survey had identified the need for 89 units of affordable housing. If the scheme was not carried out there would be no affordable housing available for local people. Other sites had been found to be unavailable or unaffordable.

Resolved – That permission be granted in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report

975 (47) PLANNING APPLICATIONS – The Service Director Highways and Planning submitted a report incorporating a schedule containing details of applications for determination by the committee including summaries of policy context, representations arising from consultation and publicity and assessment of the applications.

(i) 07/1130 by O2 (UK) Ltd for the erection of a 30m high lattice tower with 4 antennas located at the top together with equipment cabin and ancillary equipment enclosed by a 1.2 m timber fence at Ermine Street, Broughton.

Prior to consideration of this application an objector addressed the committee. She had two main reasons for objecting. The first reason was the visual impact on the landscape. The site was in an area designated in the local plan as being of high landscape value. It was on the edge of woodland. All 30metres of the mast would be visible from two nearby properties. If the mast were to be moved a few metres into the wood it would not be visible. The second reason for her objection was the effect on bats. There were four species of bat present in the vicinity. The bat survey had been carried out on the evening of the recent floods. Bats would not have emerged in such conditions. The survey was therefore unreliable.

The council’s ecologist informed members that the Bat Conservation Trust took the view that phone masts had no adverse effects on bats.

Moved by Councillor Glover, seconded by Councillor Bunyan –That consideration of this application be deferred and that members undertake a site visit.

Motion Lost

(There being an equality of votes on the above motion, the chair used his second and casting vote against it)

Moved by Councillor England and seconded by Councillor Wardle – That consideration of this application be deferred to enable officers to investigate the possibility of moving the mast into the woodland.

Motion Carried

(ii) 07/1148 by Mr and Mrs Athwal for the erection of a two-storey motel, including parking facilities, and demolition of an existing disused dwelling at 108 Scotter Road, Scunthorpe.

Resolved – That it be noted that this application has been withdrawn.

(iii) 07/1315 by Education, Learning and Achievement Service, North Lincolnshire for outline planning permission for the erection of a new school building with layout, scale and access not reserved for subsequent approval at Thomas Sumpter Comprehensive School, Chandos Road, Scunthorpe.

Prior to consideration of this application an objector addressed the committee. He stated that the proposal would lead to a loss of natural sunlight and views to properties to the north. There would be an increase in traffic on Chandos Road causing danger and nuisance. There were inadequate access arrangements. Nearby streets would be congested. There had been major problems with vandalism by school children including damage to an electricity sub-station which had resulted in a loss of supply.

Resolved – That permission be granted in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report .

(iv) 07/1339 by Shirecare Property Developments Ltd for the erection of a residential nursing care home (resubmission of 2007/0411) at 1-23 Almond Grove, Brigg.

Resolved – That permission be granted in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report.

(v) 07/1341 by Mr R Murgatroyd for the change of use of land to form an extension to an existing caravan park, creation of a new vehicular access and visitor car parking, siting of an additional mobile unit for use as a reception/administration office, and erection of a 1.8 metre high fence at Brookside Caravan Park, Stather Road, Burton–upon-Stather.

Prior to consideration of this application an objector and the applicant addressed the committee. The objector was concerned that the proposal would lead to traffic congestion. There was no local support for the application.The application site was uncultivated pasture land that was important for local wildlife.

The applicant stated that the existing caravan park was a successful business which had been awarded a five star rating. No complaints had been received about the park in the 13 years that it had been operating.

Councillor Smith, attending the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 37 (b) spoke on this application.

Resolved – That consideration of this application be deferred and that members undertake a site visit.

(vi) 07/1383 by Mr P Ellis for the erection of a new workshop to be used as an MOT testing station, on the site of an existing garage, and resiting of prefabricated garage in a new location at Keadby Bridge Filling Station, Station Road, Gunness.

Prior to consideration of this application an objector addressed the committee. He had concerns regarding the access to a loading bay. A gated road access needed to be maintained for adjacent businesses. The development would compromise road safety.

The Head of Planning advised that there was an existing permission for a workshop on the site. Planning permission was only required for the use for MOT testing.

Resolved – That permission be granted in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report.

(vii) 07/1425 by Mr J Thompson for the erection of a pair of semi – detached dwellings with associated access and car parking on land rear of 56 High Street, Burringham.

Resolved – That permission be granted in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report.

(viii) 07/1427 by Mr and Mrs P Corridan for the erection of a new porch, domestic garage, two – storey extension and a sun room, demolition of existing porch, conservatory and timber garage at 11 Park Lane, Saxby–All-Saints.

Resolved – That permission be granted in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report.

(ix) 07/1439 by J Smith for the construction of a multi – sport tarmac area with 2 sports walls at Appleby Village Hall Playing Field, Beck Lane, Appleby.

Resolved – That permission be granted in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report

(x) 07/1544 by Mr L Harris for the retention of a single – storey rear extension at 7 Well Street, Messingham.

Councillor Poole, attending the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 37 (b) spoke on this application.

Resolved – That consideration of this application be deferred and that members undertake a site visit

(xi) 07/1572 by Mr and Mrs Smith for the change of use of a dwelling to provide a cattery with associated alterations (resubmission of 2007/1108) at 26 Abbey View, Mill Lane, East Halton.

Resolved – That consideration of this application be deferred and that members undertake a site visit

(xii) 07/1588 by Mr and Mrs Murray for the erection of a single-storey extension to a cattery for the provision of 24 hour staff accommodation at Axholme Cattery, Field Road, Crowle.

Resolved – That permission be granted in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report , subject to an addition to condition 3 to read “Should the cattery cease to operate at any time in the future, the staff facilities shall immediately cease to be occupied and shall not be used for accommodation unrelated to the use of the premises as a cattery”.

(xiii) 07/1590 by Mr J Fowler for the demolition of a derelict building and erection of a replacement dwelling (re-submission of 2007/0012) on site south of Samantha, Main Street, Howsham.

Prior to consideration of this application a representative of the applicant addressed the committee. He stated that the site was in the middle of the hamlet. The proposal would benefit the street scene. The officer’s report was contradictory. Rates had been paid on the property up until 1983 and possibly later. The site was brownfield. Neighbours supported the application.

Councillor Poole, attending the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 37(b) spoke on this application.

Members considered that the proposal was acceptable as the site was brownfield and derelict and the application would benefit the street scene.

Resolved – That permission be granted subject to conditions limiting the development to one dwelling and in relation to landscaping, highways and contaminated land investigation.

976 (48) ENFORCEMENT UPDATE – The Service Director Highways and Planning submitted a schedule giving details of progress in respect of matters on which he had taken enforcement action under delegated authority.

Resolved – That the report be noted.