northlincs.gov.uk

PRESENT: Councillor Collinson (in the chair).

Councillors Whiteley (Vice-Chair), Ali, Barkworth, Carlile, B. Briggs, Eckhardt, England, N Sherwood, C Sherwood, Mrs Simpson, Swift and K Vickers.

Councillors J Briggs and Mrs Redfern attended the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.37 (b).

The committee met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.

1273 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS, SIGNIFICANT CONTACT WITH APPLICANTS OR THIRD PARTIES (LOBBYING) AND WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY)

The following member declared a personal interest: –

The following members declared that they had been lobbied: –

The following member, attending the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.37 (b) declared personal interests: –

1274 MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the meeting held on 25 August 2010, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the chair.

1275 (21) 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 Head of Planning submitted reports and updated them orally

(i) 10/0492 by Miss S Nothard for the change of use of a former Methodist chapel to a dwelling(re-submission of PA/2008/1577) at The Moorings, Jacques Bank, Medge Hall, Crowle.

Prior to consideration of this application the applicant addressed the committee. She referred to the Environment Agency’s objection on the basis of Byelaw 18 under which she claimed that no consent would be required for development which had the benefit of planning permission. The Environment Agency rented a large area of the drain bank to a neighbouring property as a garden. There were other properties closer to the drain. The proposed development met the requirements of the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment.

Councillor J Briggs, attending the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.37 (b), spoke on this application.

Resolved – That permission be granted subject to conditions relating to highways, landscaping, a flood risk assessment, archaeology, materials, bats and the removal of permitted development rights.

1276 (22) MAJOR PLANNING APPLICATION – The Head of Planning submitted a report on a major application for determination by the committee including a summary of policy context, representations arising from consultation and publicity and assessment of the application. The Head of Planning updated the reports orally where appropriate. Other officers attending gave advice and answered members’ questions as requested.

(i) 10/0635 by Waste Recycling Group for the erection of a waste treatment and recycling facility with associated visitor centre and infrastructure on land at junction of Normanby Road and Ramsden Road, Normanby Enterprise Park, Flixborough.

Resolved – (a) That the committee is mindful to grant permission for the development; (b) that the Head of Planning be authorised to grant permission subject to the completion of a formal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 providing for a commuted sum to provide off-site habitat for birds to mitigate for loss of on-site habitat; (c) that if the obligation is not completed by 22 December 2010 the Head of Planning be authorised to refuse the application on the grounds that loss of habitat for breeding waders identified within the supporting environmental impact assessment have not been adequately mitigated and therefore the proposal fails to comply with PPS9 (Biodiversity and Geological Conservation), and that the permission so granted be subject to the conditions contained in the report.

1277 (23) PLANNING AND OTHER APPLICATIONS – The Head of 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. The Head of Planning updated the reports orally where appropriate. Other officers attending gave advice and answered members’ questions as requested.

(i) 09/0325 by Barton Cliff Quarry Limited for the use of land for the recovery and recycling of materials brought onto the site for landfill at Barton Cliff Quarry, Far Ings Lane, Barton-upon-Humber.

Prior to consideration of this application an objector addressed the committee. He stated that the landfill operation had ceased in 2006. Due to changes in regulations there was less material available for landfill, therefore unless the current application was approved there was unlikely to be any further activity of this kind on the site. Far Ings Nature Reserve had been upgraded to a National Nature Reserve since the site had last been used for landfilling. The proposal would harm the character of the area.

Moved by Councillor K Vickers and seconded by Cllr N Sherwood –

That consideration of this application be deferred until a future meeting and that members visit the site prior to that meeting.

Motion Lost

Moved by Councillor Ali and seconded by Councillor Whiteley –

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

Motion Carried

(ii) 10/0338 by Mr J Raby for the erection of a detached dwelling and new access on land adjacent to Sunny Bank, North End, Goxhill.

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

(iii) 10/0648 by Mrs J Jackson for outline permission to erect a detached dwelling and garage with all matters reserved for subsequent approval on land adjacent to 19 Newbigg, Westwoodside, Haxey.

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

(iv) 10/0674 by Mr and Mrs C & D Bennett for the erection of three storage units (resubmission of PA/2010/0276) at rear of 42/44 High Street, Epworth.

Prior to consideration of this application the applicant’s agent addressed the committee. He stated that the only objection was from the town council. The Highways engineer did not object in principle to the proposal. There was an extant permission for a restaurant to the rear of the site which would generate more traffic than the present proposal.

Moved by Councillor B Briggs and seconded by Councillor Eckhardt –

That consideration of this application be deferred until a future meeting and that members visit the site prior to that meeting.

Motion Lost

Moved by Councillor Ali and seconded by Councillor Whiteley –

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

Motion Carried

(Councillor B Briggs wished to be recorded as dissenting from the above decision, Minute 1277 (iv)).

(v) 10/0762 by Delta Salvage for change of use of land for vehicle storage and provision of hardstanding (re-submission of PA/2010/0327)

Councillor Mrs Redfern, attending the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.37 (b) spoke on this application.

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

(vi) 10/0876 by Villecom Ltd for a change of use and extension of a barn to form two self-contained dwellings at Northfield Farm, Main Street, Thornton Curtis.

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

1278 (24) ENFORCEMENT UPDATE – The Head of 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.

1279 (25) IMPLEMENTATION OF AN AGENTS ACCREDITATION SCHEME – Further to Minute 1219, the Head of Planning submitted a report informing members of the outcome of consultationswith agents in order to assess the level of interest in an accreditation scheme and seeking approval to adopt an amended scheme.

The earlier report had set out the basis and background to an agents accreditation scheme where, in order to acquire accreditation, agents would have to sign up to a code of practice based on the quality of information submitted with a planning application.

Members were in agreement with the principle of the scheme providing consultation with agents was carried out and the level of interest expressedjustified the viability and implementation of such a scheme.

The response to the above proposal had been disappointingly low and following discussion with agents at the Customer Forum on 27 May 2010 it had been evident that some had felt disadvantaged due to several of the requirements in the draft code of practice.

A further consultation letter to a wider range of agents, taking into account agents’ suggestions, had been sent on 8 July 2010. The draft code of practice had been re-drafted and was set out in the report.

The outcome of this consultation had been much more positive with a total number of 11 agents expressing serious interest in taking part although a high proportion of these still had one major concern, namely that payment must accompany the application.

Resolved – (a) That the amended code of practice as set out in paragraph 2.5 of the report be adopted subject to a further amendment to allow fee payment to be made no later than 24 hours following submission of the application, and (b) that agents who have expressed an interest to be invited to attend a training event prior to the scheme going ‘live’ on 1 January 2011.