Agenda and minutes

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

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 March were confirmed by the Members present.

Hard-copy minutes will be signed by the Chair when restrictions are lifted.

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies were received from Cllr Tindall (Substitute Cllr Stevens) & Cllr Sutton

As it was Cllr Graham Suttons Funeral today a minutes silence was held, their thoughts and condolences were with Cllr Rosie Sutton

Cllr Oguchi was not present, no apologies received

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 declare their interest at the beginning of the relevant agenda item and it will be noted by the Committee Clerk for inclusion in the minutes.

Councillor Guest asked Members to remember to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary or other Interests at the beginning of the relevant planning application.

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 228209 or by email: Member.support@dacorum.gov.uk

The Development Management Committee will finish at 10.30pm and any unheard applications will be deferred to the next meeting.

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 Management 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.

Please note: If an application is recommended for approval, only objectors can invoke public speaking and then supporters will have the right to reply. Applicants can only invoke speaking rights where the application recommended for refusal.

Councillor Guest advised that members of public have registered to speak at this meeting and reminded any members of the public viewing the meeting about the rules of doing so.

Philip Stanley explained that this was removed as Berkhamstead town council removed their objection

The report was introduced by the case officer Martin Stickley

It was proposed by Councillor Woolner and seconded by Councillor Riddick that the application be Granted

Vote:

For:      7          against:  2                   Abstained: 1             

Resolved:  Granted

1.         The development hereby permitted shall begin before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

            Reason:  To comply with the requirements of Section 91 (1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended by Section 51 (1) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

 2.        No development shall take place until the final design of the drainage scheme is completed and sent to the LPA for approval. The surface water drainage system will be based on the submitted Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy reference M03001-04_DG04 dated December 2020 prepared by McCloy Consulting. The scheme shall also include:

            1. Limiting the surface water run-off rates to a maximum of 2l/s for all rainfall events up to and including the 1 in 100 year + climate change event with discharge into the Thames surface Water sewer.

            2. Provide attenuation to ensure no increase in surface water run-off volumes for all rainfall events up to and including the 1 in 100 year + climate change event.

            3. Implement drainage strategy to include permeable paving and attenuation tank.

            4. Detailed engineered drawings of the proposed SuDS features including their location, size, volume, depth and any inlet and outlet features including any connecting pipe runs and all corresponding calculations/modelling to ensure the scheme caters for all rainfall events up to and including the 1 in 100 year + 40% allowance for climate change event, with a supporting contributing area plan.

            5. Demonstrate appropriate SuDS management and treatment for the entire site including the access road. To include exploration of source control measures and to include above ground features such as permeable paving.

            6. Maintenance and management plan for the SuDS features

Reason: To prevent flooding by ensuring the satisfactory storage of and disposal of surface water from the site in accordance with Policy CS31 of the Dacorum Borough Core Strategy (2013) and Paragraphs 163 and 165 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2019).

 3.        (a) The Local Planning Authority is of the opinion that the Preliminary Investigation Report submitted at the planning application stage (Document Reference: RSK Preliminary Risk Assessment 1921152-06(00) March 2020) indicates a reasonable likelihood of harmful contamination and so no development approved by this permission shall be commenced until a Site Investigation (Phase II environmental risk assessment) report has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority which includes:

            (i)         A full identification of the location and concentration of all pollutants on this site and the presence of relevant receptors, and;

            (ii)        The results from the application of an appropriate risk assessment methodology.

            (b)       No development approved by this permission (other than that necessary for the discharge of this condition) shall be commenced until a Remediation Method Statement report; if required as a result of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5b

The report was introduced by the case officer Robert Freeman

It was proposed by councillor Uttley and seconded by Councillor McDowell that the application be Granted with added conditions relating to a traffic management plan and the list of approved plans.

Vote:

For:      6          against:  2                   Abstained:       2

Resolved:  GRANTED

Condition(s) and Reason(s):

1)  Details of the appearance and landscaping (hereinafter called "the reserved matters") shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority before any development takes place and the development shall be carried out as approved. Application for approval of the reserved matters shall be made to the local planning authority not later than 3 years from the date of this permission.

Reason: To comply with the provisions of Section 92 (2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2) The development hereby permitted shall begin no later than 2 years from the date of approval of the last of the reserved matters to be approved.

Reason: To comply with the provisions of Section 92 (2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

3) The development hereby approved shall not exceed the overall ridge and eaves height parameters identified on drawing VER.H.M.P.ELEV.R1 dated 01/20 and revised 20.06.20.

Reason: To ensure a satisfactory appearance to the development and an appropriate relationship to neighbouring properties in accordance with Policy CS 12 of the Core Strategy.

4) The details of appearance to be submitted for the approval of the local planning authority in accordance with Condition (1) above shall include:

- Full elevation details for the proposed building

- Details of the materials to be used on the external appearance of the building hereby approved,

- Details of the slab, ridge and eaves height of the proposed building in relation to existing ground levels.

- Details of any lighting to be provided to the exterior of the building together with isolux diagrams demonstrating the extent and intensity of illumination,

- Details of bin storage provision including recycling facilities;

- Details of secure cycle storage;

- Details of any security and crime prevention measures incorporated in the building fabric or upon the site; and

- Any gates, rails or other means of enclosure upon the site.

The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To ensure a satisfactory appearance and functioning of the development in accordance with Policies CS11, CS12, CS26 and CS29 of the Core Strategy and Saved Appendix 4 of the Local Plan 1991-2011.

5) Details of landscaping to be submitted for the approval of the local planning authority in accordance with Condition 1 above shall include:

- means of enclosure;

- soft landscape works which shall include planting plans; written specifications (including cultivation and other operations associated with plant and grass establishment); schedules of plants, noting species, plant sizes and proposed numbers/densities where appropriate;

- tree protection measures,

- proposed finished levels or contours;

- external lighting;

- minor artefacts and structures (e.g. furniture, storage units, signs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5c

Cllr Hobson declared an interest as she is the applicant and will excuse herself from the vote and discussion

The report was introduced by the case officer Aneeka Shah

It was proposed by councillor Maddern and seconded by Councillor Durrant that the application be Granted

Vote:

For:  8             against:  0                   Abstained: 2

Resolved:  GRANTED

1.         This permission is for a limited period expiring 24 months from the date on the decision notice by which time the use of the temporary pergola structure shall cease and it shall be permanently removed in its entirety from the site.

            Reason: This proposal is only considered to be acceptable due to the current circumstances around COVID-19. To make sure that any less than substantial harm to the heritage assets is temporary in accordance with Policy CS27 of the Dacorum Borough Core Strategy (2006-2031) and the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

2.         The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans/documents:

            Location Plan

            Planning Drawings – 01 Rev B

            Reason:  For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

 3.        The development hereby permitted shall be constructed in accordance with the materials specified on the approved Drawing 01 Rev. B. For the avoidance of doubt the proposed PVC curtain walls shall be of a transparent material.

            Reason:  To make sure that the appearance of the building is suitable and that it contributes to the character of the area in accordance with Policies CS11 and CS12 of the Dacorum Borough Core Strategy (2006-2031).

Informatives:

 1.        Planning permission has been granted for this proposal. Discussion with the applicant to seek an acceptable solution was not necessary in this instance. The Council has therefore acted pro-actively in line with the requirements of the Framework (paragraph 38) and in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2015.

PStanley shared the key points from the update and took questions from the committee.

Cllr Riddick said he noticed on Appeals lodged there was an appeal for Laurel Bank Hemel Hempstead, and wondered how many times this appeal would be made for this grass verge as to his knowledge there had been around 3 that have been rejected.

PStanley said that he doesn’t know too much about this particular appeal however in general the time to stop an application is when the application is received, they do have powers to reject an application if there is not a material difference compared to previous refusals. Once an application has been validated and determined they cannot stop the appeals process.

Cllr Beauchamp asked if he could have any background to the appeal to 29 the high street, was this an additional staircase or fire escape.

PStanley said that he was not the case officer and would like to give Cllr Beauchamp a full answer outside of this meeting.

Cllr Riddick refereed to the upcoming Inquiries and the site at Featherbed lane, he is asked if that was the site where they had travellers.

PStanley confirmed that was correct.

Cllr Riddick asked if it was going to be a public inquiry would it be over 2 or3 days.

PStanley said it would be over 4 days and was planned for the 11^th to the 14^th of May, the enquiry itself would be 3 days and the 4^th day would be for site visits. PStanley said that under the current mechanisms this inquiry will proceed as a virtual enquiry