Issue - meetings

Councillor Woolner declared her interest in this item. She, therefore, did not vote on this item.

Councillor Oguchi declared that she had visited the site and heard concerns but that she had an open mind and was not pre-determined.

Councillor Guest said that she had been contacted by one of the registered speakers, David Di Cello, and she had told him how to register to speak.

The Case Officer, Jason Seed, introduced the report to Members and said that the application had been referred to the Committee due to the contrary views of Berkhamsted Town Council.

Charlotte Di Cello and David Jarrett spoke in objection to the application.

Town Councillor Garrick Stevens spoke in objection to the application.

Berkhamsted West Borough Councillor Nicky Woolner spoke in objection to the application.

Donald Shearer spoke in support of the application.

Councillor Guest asked for a proposer for the officer recommendation to GRANT planning permission.

There was no proposer for the officer recommendation.

Councillor Guest noted that the recommendation fell. She asked for a motion to REFUSE planning permission.

It was proposed by Councillor Maddern and seconded by Councillor Hobson to REFUSE the application on the grounds that the proposed development does not provide any amenity space, provides insufficient cycle storage and vehicle parking and results in an overdevelopment of the site. The proposed development is also of a scale and density which is not respectful of neighbouring properties, is overbearing on the street scene and is out of character with the surrounding area. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policies CS10, CS12, CS17, CS25 and CS27 of the Dacorum Borough Core Strategy (2013), Saved Appendix 3 and 5 of the Dacorum Borough Local Plan (2004) and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Vote:

For: 9                          Against: 0                    Abstained: 1     

Resolved: That planning permission be REFUSED.

The meeting adjourned at 8:53pm.

The meeting reconvened at 9pm.