Agenda and draft minutes

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting (these are circulated separately)

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2015 were confirmed by the Members present and were then signed by the Chairman

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies were received from Councillor Matthews, Tindall and C Wyatt-Lowe

Councillor Mrs Bassadone substituted for Councillor C Wyatt-Lowe and Councillor P Hearn substituted for Councillor Matthews

To receive any declarations of interest

A member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a personal interest in a matter who attends

a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered -

(i)            must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest

becomes apparent and, if the interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest, or a personal
interest which is also prejudicial

(ii)           may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter (and must withdraw

to the public seating area) unless they have been granted a dispensation.

A member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Members’ Register of Interests, or is not the subject of a pending notification, must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal and prejudicial interests are defined in Part 2 of the Code of Conduct For Members

[If a member is in any doubt as to whether they have an interest which should be declared they

should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer before the start of the meeting]

It is requested that Members complete the pink interest sheet which will be made available at the meeting and then hand this to the Committee Clerk at the meeting

An opportunity for members of the public to make statements or ask questions in accordance with the rules as to public participation.

You need to inform the council in advance if you wish to speak by contacting Member Support on Tel: 01442 228221 or by email: Member.support@dacorum.gov.uk

There are limits on how much of each meeting can be taken up with people having their say and how long each person can speak for.  The permitted times are specified in the table above and are allocated for each of the following on a 'first come, first served basis':

·         Town/Parish Council and Neighbourhood Associations;

·         Objectors to an application;

·         Supporters of the application.

Every person must, when invited to do so, address their statement or question to the Chairman of the Committee.

Every person must after making a statement or asking a question take their seat to listen to the reply or if they wish join the public for the rest of the meeting or leave the meeting.

The questioner may not ask the same or a similar question within a six month period except for the following circumstances:

(a)       deferred planning applications which have foregone a significant or material change since originally being considered

(b)       resubmitted planning applications which have foregone a significant or material change

(c)       any issues which are resubmitted to Committee in view of further facts or information to be considered.

At a meeting of the Development Control Committee, a person, or their representative, may speak on a particular planning application, provided that it is on the agenda to be considered at the meeting.

The item was introduced by B Curtain as the relevant case officer. She advised that the application had come in front of the committee because of an objection by Nash Mills Parish Council on grounds of loss of privacyto a neighbouring site.

Nicola Broderick spoke in support of the application. The modifications to the application allows for some views from the terrace that were previously being obscured.

It was proposed by Councillor Whitman and seconded by Councillor Clark to grant the application in line with the officer’s recommendation.

Voting:

For: 12   Against: 0     Abstentions: 1

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

DECISION

Chair has agreed to defer to the next DCC in order to provide more information regarding the previous consideration of the tree at the TPO committee and to provide further details regarding potential compensation.

DECISION

Chair has agreed to defer to the next DCC in order to provide more information regarding the previous consideration of the tree at the TPO committee and to provide further details regarding potential compensation.

B Curtain introduced the report as the relevant case officer. She advised that the application had come before the committee because of an objection by Northchurch Parish Council. Whilst the Parish Council do not object to the dwelling itself, they object to the retention of the vehicular access onto New Road.

Members raised points concerning the access point and the frequency of children using this bridge as a route to the local school. Members were advised by the case officer that Herts Highways have not objected to the access of this property and this was already an existing problem, not one that would be caused by the new dwelling.

Mr Stephen Blowers spoke in support of this application and raised the following points:

·         The applicants had made every effort to produce a building that was appropriate for the area and one that could enhance the surrounding area.

·         There is a level parking space to address future mobility issues which is why the access is not on South Bank Road.

It was proposed by Councillor Birnie and seconded by Councillor Mrs Bassadone to grant the application in line with the officer’s recommendation.

Voting:

For: 12    Against: 0      Abstentions: 1

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

The item was introduced by E Whittredge as the relevant case officer. She advised that the applicant was referred to the committee because it had been called in by a ward councillor. A previous application was rejected because of its negative impact on the street scene and it is considered that these issues have now been addressed in the new application.

Members raised their concerns about not being able to see any significant changes between the plans that were refused last time and the ones proposed on this item.

Councillor Whitman left the room at 7.35pm and took no part in the voting of this item

Mr Doug Stanley spoke in support of this application. He raised the following points:

·         There was a similar development in the street

·         Adequate parking facilities will be provided so it should not exacerbate the problems already experienced by residents.

·         Marlins Turn has a sufficient variation of house designs so the development proposed would have no significant impact on the street scene.

·         There is a shortage of affordable housing and this development satisfies this need.

Councillor Roger Taylor in his role as a Dacorum Borough Councillor addressed the meeting objecting to the application. Councillor Taylor raised concerns over the distance between properties, the paving over of the front garden to create a parking facility and issues regarding the size of the planned parking space.

Councillor Whitman returned at 7.37pm

It was proposed by Councillor Guest and seconded by Councillor P Hearn to grant the application in line with the officer’s recommendation.

Voting:

For: 6     Against: 5       Abstentions: 1

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

P Newton introduced the report on behalf of the relevant case officer stating the application had come to the committee because of an objection by the Berkhamsted Town Council.

Members were advised to delete “4/02762/15/FHA- Two storey side extension. Granted 16/09/15“ from the bottom of page 56. The above relates to 38 Meadow Road, Hemel Hempstead.

Mr Gary Cooper spoke in support of this application. He raised the following points:

·         Planned to restore a currently neglected property

·         Will remain a three bed house which does not involve any loss of light or privacy to neighbours.

·         Mr Cooper hoped that the professionalism of the contractors employed will reassure the concerned neighbour at number 40.

Ms Patricia Hearne spoke in objection to this application. She raised the following points:

·         Understood that the applicant has responded fully to all objections raised and that the construction of a basement is not a planning issue under current legislation.

·         Ms Hearne wished to record her serious concerns about possible damage and structural impact on her own property and had concerns about the foundations being recorded at 2.7m deep.

It was proposed by Councillor Birnie and seconded by Councillor Fisher to grant this application in line with the officer’s recommendation.

Voting:

For: 11   Against: 0     Abstentions: 2

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

The Chair of the Committee decided to hear items 5.08 and 5.11 first due to the presence of public speakers.

J Reid introduced the report and stated that the officer’s recommendation was to refuse the application. She stated the main consideration for members was the principle of replacing the dwelling in the Green Belt when it is larger than that the original dwelling. It is considering an inappropriate development within Green Belt land and the applicant must demonstrate special circumstances for planning permission.

Mr Andre Leigh spoke in support of this application. He raised the following points:

·         The new dwelling was granted planning permission in June and the new addition of a small basement is supported by neighbours and Flamsted Parish Council.

·         The use of the new basement will be to provide storage for water tanks and if planning permission was refused then there would be a negative impact on water supply for himself and also his neighbours. 

Having there been no proposer to grant this application in line with the officer’s recommendation, it was proposed by Councillor Birnie and seconded by Councillor Whitman that the officer’s decision be overturned and the application be granted.

Voting:

For: 11    Against: 0      Abstentions: 2

Resolved:

Officer’s recommendation overturned – application GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

4          All trees and hedging shown for retention on approved plan D1354.3 M shall be retained and new planting shown on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

B Curtain introduced the report on behalf of the case officer. Members were advised that this was a retrospective planning application and had come before the committee because Tring Town Council consider the trellis to be dominant and the fencing out of keeping of the surrounding area.

Ms Ramirez spoke in support of the application stating the purpose of the fencing was to enclose the front garden so the family dog could play safely.

It was proposed by Councillor Whitman and seconded by Councillor Birnie to grant the application in line with the officer’s recommendation.

Voting:

For: 12     Against: 0   Abstentions: 1

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

The Chair then returned to the remaining agenda items in order.

J Reid introduced the report on behalf of the relevant case officer and advised members that this had been brought to the committee because of objections raised by Potten End Parish Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Whitman and seconded by Councillor Conway to grant the application in line with the officer’s recommendation.

Voting:

For: 11   Against: 0   Abstentions: 2

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

The report was introduced by P Newton on behalf of the relevant case officer. The application has been referred to the Development Control Committee as Dacorum Borough Council own the site, although the operational use of the site complex is on a long lease.

It was proposed by Councillor Ritchie and seconded by Councillor Mrs Bassadone to grant the application in line with the officer’s recommendation.

Voting:

For: 12     Against: 0    Abstentions: 1

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

The application was introduced by B Curtain as the relevant case officer. It has been referred to the committee as the buildings are council owned.

It was proposed by Councillor Maddern and seconded by Councillor Whitman to grant the application in line with the officer’s recommendation.

Voting:

For: 12     Against: 0     Abstentions: 1

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

The following appeals were noted

1.         Lodged

2.         Forthcoming enquiries

3.         Allowed

7. EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

To consider passing a resolution in the following terms: That, under s.100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 Schedule 12A Part 1, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, the public be excluded during the items in Part II of the Agenda for this meeting, because it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the public were present during these items there would be disclosure to them of exempt information relating to: