Agenda and draft minutes

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

The minutes of the meeting held on 29^th September 2022 were confirmed by the Members present.

Hard-copy minutes were signed by the Chair.

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies received from Councillor Durrant and Councillor McDowell.

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.

There were no public speakers.

Councillor Douris declared an interest in item 5a as he is an elected member of Herts County Council. He confirmed that he was not aware of any discussions around this application and has taken no part in discussing this planning application so he will be coming to the meeting with an open mind.

Philip Stanley introduced the Hertfordshire County Council Officers to the committee as some had attended virtually.

The Case Officer, Martin Stickley introduced the report to members and said that the application had been referred to the committee as the application is for a major development with a proposed legal agreement.

Martin Stickley reminded the committee of the late supplement items which were distributed earlier in the day:

Flood Risk Assessment

8. The impact of offsite flood risk on the site has not been fully evaluated. The mapped offsite surface water flow route is for the 1000-year event.  However, interaction with the 100-year plus climate change event has not been assessed.  Based on the provided development layout, there remains potentially significant overlap with these natural flow routes.  Additional contributing flow and interactions with attenuation basins have therefore not been fully quantified.

The Flood Risk Assessment needs to take account of all sources of flooding. Residual risk to basins and development plots needs to be quantified and the implications for site drainage confirmed.  There is nowhere for surface water to flow other than to the proposed attenuation areas and this may have substantive impacts on storage required. As such, the proposal fails to provide a satisfactory Flood Risk Assessment, conflicting with Policy CS31 of the Dacorum Borough Core Strategy (2013) and Section 14 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).

Surface water attenuation and infiltration

9. Hertfordshire LLFA’s Summary Guidance for Developers requires ‘Evidence of ground conditions / underlying geology and permeability including BRE Digest 365 infiltration tests (or Falling Head tests for deepbore infiltration)’ at outline planning stage.

The Applicant is proposing to undertake additional testing at detailed design stage. However, this assessment is required prior to the determination of this outline application.  Surface water management is dependent on the provision of suitable and sufficient attenuation and soakaway facilities.  Ground investigation may have substantive impacts on storage requirements and infiltration rates. Taking this into account, it cannot be guaranteed that the proposed surface water attenuation and infiltration facilities would be satisfactory, conflicting with the aims of Policy CS31 of the Dacorum Borough Core Strategy (2013) and Section 14 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).

Martin Stickley informed Members of an update to the reason for reason for refusal number 7 – that saved policy 109 should read saved policy 106.

Martin Stickley informed Members of two additional reasons for refusal (Nos.8 and 9 in the list below) and an additional informative (No.3 in the list below). 

The Chair moved the item to questions and debate.

Councillor Riddick highlighted the Thames Water consultee response that capacity exists within the water network to serve 49 dwellings.

Councillor Hollinghurst discussed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4a