Planning Committee – 4 March 2009

Chair:  Councillor Collinson
Venue:  The 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 4 February 2009 as a correct record and authorise the chair to sign.

4.  Applications deferred from previous meeting for site visits.

5.  Major Planning Application for determination by the committee.

6.  Planning and other Applications for determination by the committee.

7.  Enforcement Update.

8.  Statistics of Planning Applications – January to December 2008.

9. Annual Monitoring Report 2008 – Report of the Head of Strategic Regeneration, Housing and Development.

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

Note: All reports are by the Head of Planning unless otherwise stated.

Minutes

PRESENT: Councillor Collinson (Chair).

Councillors Armitage, Barker, Carlile, B Briggs, Bunyan, Eckhardt, Ellerby, England, Grant, C Sherwood, Wardle and Whiteley.

Councillors Barkworth, J Briggs, Poole, and Smith attended the meeting in accordance with Procedure Rule 1.37 (b).

The committee met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.

1115 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 Barker 1119 (viii) 08/1688 Member of Crowle Town Council
Cllr Barker 1119 (x) 08/1722 Member of Crowle Town Council
Cllr B Briggs 1119 (v) 08/1582 Knew applicant
Cllr B Briggs 1119 (ix) 08/1718 Knew applicant

The following members attending the meeting in accordance with Procedure Rule 1.37(b).declared a personal interest: –

Members
Minute
Applications
Nature of Interest
Cllr Barkworth 1118 08/1583 Ward member
Cllr J Briggs 1117 (i) 08/1300 Member of Board of North Lincolnshire homes

The following members declared that they had been lobbied:

Members
Minute
Application/Item
Cllr Barker 1117 (i) 08/1300
Cllr B Briggs 1119 (ix) 08/1718
Cllr Bunyan 1118 08/1583
Cllr J England 1118 08/1583
Cllr C Sherwood 1118 081583
Cllr J Wardle 1118 08/1583

1116 MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the meeting held on 4 February 2009 having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the chair.

1117 (60) 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) 08/1300 by North Lincolnshire Homes Ltd for the erection of a block of three houses (re-submission of 08/0910) on site between 26 and 87 Parklands, West Butterwick.

The Head of Planning reported that it had come to his attention that the report contained some potentially misleading information in relation to the consultation exercise carried out by the applicants.

Resolved – That consideration of this application be deferred.

(ii) 08/1363 by Northcroft Boarding Kennels and Cattery for the retention of kennels (amended design), four cat pens and owner’s dog run at Northcroft Boarding Kennels and Cattery, Belton Fields Lane, Westgate, Belton.

Prior to consideration of this application the applicant addressed the committee. He stated that a complaint alleging noise nuisance arising from the site had been investigated and proved to be unfounded. He asked the committee to consider a condition that windows in the kennel block be fixed rather than replaced.

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

1118 (61) MAJOR PLANNING APPLICATIONS – The Head of Planning submitted a report incorporating a schedule containing details of major applications for determination by the committee including summaries of policy context, representations arising from consultation and publicity and assessment of the applications.

08/1583 by North Lincolnshire Council for the erection of an entertainment and conference venue, retention of part of existing building and associated offices at Baths Hall and former youth centre, Doncaster Road, Scunthorpe.

The Service Director Legal and Democratic reminded members that they should only consider relevant planning matters. The Head of Planning outlined what these were.

Councillors Barkworth, Poole and Smith, attending the meeting in accordance with Procedure Rule 1.37 (b) addressed the committee.

Moved by Councillor Grant and seconded by Councillor Barker –

That permission be granted in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report, subject to an amendment to condition 10 6(b) to read ” …town centre public off – street car parks… “.

Moved by Councillor England and seconded by Councillor Bunyan as an amendment –

That the application be referred to the Secretary of State as being contrary to Policy T19 and car parking standards contained in the North Lincolnshire Local Plan.

At the request of members and in accordance with Procedure Rule 23 (d) the names of members voting for, against and abstaining from the amendment are as follows –

FOR: Councillors Bunyan, Eckhardt, England, C Sherwood and Wardle.

AGAINST: Councillors, Armitage, Barker, Carlile, Collinson, Ellerby, Grant, and Whiteley.

ABSTAINING: Councillor B Briggs

Amendment Lost

At the request of members and in accordance with Procedure Rule 23 (d) the names of members voting for, against and abstaining from the motion are as follows –

FOR: Councillors Armitage, Barker, B Briggs Carlile, Collinson, Ellerby, Grant, and Whiteley.

AGAINST: Councillors Bunyan, Eckhardt, England, C Sherwood and Wardle.

ABSTAINING: Nil

Motion Carried

1119 (62) PLANNING 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.

(i) 08/1332 by Mr and Mrs M Moody for the erection of an agricultural worker’s dwelling, including retention of a residential caravan for a temporary period at White Rose Farm, Ferry Road, Goxhill.

Prior to consideration of this application the applicant addressed the committee. He stated that his chicken farm was well established. It was essential for him to live on site. With regard to flooding the dwelling would be on the highest part of the site. The site would be landscaped with small trees and shrubs.

Resolved – That permission be granted in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report, subject to the replacement of Condition 4 with a condition requiring the flood mitigation measures contained in the Flood Risk Assessment now submitted to be implemented and to an additional condition requiring the removal of the caravan within one month of occupation of the dwelling.

(ii) 08/1503 by Ravenstock MSG Ltd for the erection of two buildings for the repair and refurbishment of containers/cabins and the siting of three linked office cabins and one mess cabin with associated storage areas and car parking at Immingham Transport, Eastfield Road, South Killingholme.

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

(iii) 08/1512 by Mr H Ward-Drummond and Mrs J Bowland for the retention of use of part of a barn for the manufacture of wooden poultry housing/sheds; part of a barn, former stables and land for the production of worms, and part of a garage as an office at 146 Westgate Road, Westgate, Belton.

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

(iv) 09/1541 by Mr and Mrs Wiepcke for the erection of a detached bungalow with garage on plot north of Longfield, Ferry Road, Goxhill.

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

(v) 08/1582 by North Lincs Property Holdings Ltd for the change of use from retail sales of HGVs and trailers and use as a haulage yard/ operating centre to retail sales of HGVs, spares, trailers and use as a haulage, salvage yard and operating centre at European Vehicle Sales Ltd, Road 1, Sandtoft Industrial Estate, Belton.

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

(vi) 08/1650 by Mr M Haywood for erection of a detached house with Garage (including demolition of an existing garage/store) on land adjacent to White Cottage, 2 West Street, Hibaldstow.

Prior to consideration of this application an objector addressed the committee. He was concerned that the house would have an oppressive impact on the neighbouring property and would be only 9.8 metres from it. It would exacerbate existing car parking problems caused by visitors to a nearby chip shop.

Resolved – That consideration of this application be deferred until the next meeting and that members visit the site prior to that meeting. The reasons for the site visit being to enable members to assess (a) the impact that the development would have on the dwelling to the north, and (b) highway issues.

(vii) 08/1687 by Ms K Lewis for the erection of a two-storey extension at Oak House, Main Street, Whitton

Prior to consideration of this application an objector and a representative of the applicant addressed the committee. The objector stated that the extension would be out of character with its setting and would overpower the neighbouring property. The plan did not offer a true reflection of the actual development. The neighbour’s garden would be overlooked. The extension would extend beyond the footprint of the existing garage. She was concerned that the extension was proposed to be painted black.

The applicant’s representative stated that the extension would be on the same footprint as the existing garage. The first floor would be timber cladded, whilst the ground floor would be painted charcoal grey.

Resolved – That consideration of this application be deferred until the next meeting and that members visit the site prior to that meeting. The reasons for the site visit being to enable members to assess the impact that the development would have on the immediate neighbour.

(viii) 08/1688 by Mr A Kitson for the erection of a two-storey extension and a single-storey rear link extension at 1 Mulberry Drive, Crowle.

Prior to consideration of this application a representative of the applicant addressed the committee. He stated that a two-storey extension would not be out of context as the area had a mix of one and two – storey buildings. It would be built more than 20 metres from the footpath and would have a minimal impact on the street scene. It would not create any loss of privacy for neighbours.

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

(ix) 08/1718 by Mrs M Fish for the erection of 24 sheds to serve proposed allotments at Long Mare and Foal Allotment Association, Burnham Road, Epworth.

Prior to consideration of this application the applicant addressed the committee. She stated that the association was responding to a local need for allotments. The sheds were vital to collect water, to store tools and for shelter during bad weather. The old strips were not visible on the ground and in fact the proposed use as allotments would continue the tradition of farming small areas of land and contributing a living and working landscape.

Resolved – That permission be granted in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report subject to an additional condition relating to the finish on the sheds.

(x) 08/1722 by Mr and Mrs M Lee for the retention of a domestic double garage at 12 Wyvern Close, Crowle.

Prior to consideration of this application the applicant addressed the committee. He stated that the proposed garage was only marginally over the size that could be built as Permitted Development.

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

1120 (63) 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.

1121 (64) STATISTICS OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS – JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2008 – The Head of Planning submitted a report informing members of the council’s performance in handling planning applications during 2008, together with a comparison between the annual performance of 2007 and 2008.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

1122 (65) ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT 2008 – The Head of Strategic Regeneration, Housing and Development submitted a report informing members of the content of the Local Development Report 2008.

All councils were required to produce Annual Monitoring Reports (AMRs) to assess the Local Development Framework’s (LDF’s) performance and its effects. This aligned with the Government’s ‘plan, monitor and manage’ approach to planning, where monitoring directly influenced the review and amendment of policy.

AMRs should assess the implementation of the Local Development Scheme (LDS) and the extent to which policies in Local Development Documents (LDDs) were achieving their aims. Where targets were not being achieved it should suggest reasons why this was the case and establish what action would be taken to either make sure the policy was implemented or to amend/replace the policy. It also enabled councils to define the characteristics of their area, determine current trends, and understand local social, economic and environmental issues.

This was North Lincolnshire’s fourth AMR and looked at the period from April 2007 to March 2008. There was a standard format for AMRs set out in DCLG’s ‘Local Development Framework Monitoring: A Good Practice Guide’. It was required that AMRs be submitted to the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber by the end of December each year.

The report set out progress on key milestones and indicators and the background to each of them.

Resolved – That the report be noted.