Agenda and minutes

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

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 April 2017 were confirmed by the Members present and were then signed by the Chairman.

An addendum to the agenda was circulated before the meeting.  A copy of the addendum can be found on the DBC website on the following link:

https://democracy.dacorum.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=159&MId=515

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies of absence were received from Councillor Guest.

Councillor C Wyatt-Lowe chaired the meeting in her absence.

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 C Wyatt-Lowe 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 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 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.

Councillor C Wyatt-Lowe reminded the members and the public about the rules regarding public participation.

Councillor Riddick declared an interest in this application as he had called it in. He took no part in the discussion of this item.

M Heron introduced the item to members and said it had been referred to committee due to the contrary views of Bovingdon Parish Council and it had been called in by Councillor Riddick.

Malcolm Leach spoke in support of the application.

Colin Little and Alex Drake spoke in objection to the application.

Members were concerned about parking, overlooking and floorspace.

It was proposed by Councillor Birnie and seconded by Councillor Maddern to defer this application to allow for further information regarding parking, overlooking and the floorspace.

Vote

For: 9               Against: 1                    Abstained: 1

Resolved

That the application be DEFERRED to allow for further information regarding parking, overlooking and the floorspace.

R Herbert introduced the item to members and said it had been referred to committee due to the contrary views of Berkhamsted Town Council.

Chris Watts spoke in support of the application.

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

Vote

For: 6               Against: 2                    Abstained: 3

Resolved

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

Councillor C Wyatt-Lowe declared an interest in this application as she had a conversation with residents at number 10. However, she did not express an opinion so reserved her right to speak and vote.

N Gibbs introduced the item and said it had been referred to the committee as it had been called in by Councillor Bhinder.

Members were concerned that they had not had enough time to properly consider the late additional information for this application.

It was proposed by Councillor Birnie and seconded by Councillor Tindall to defer the application.

Vote

For: 10             Against: 0                    Abstained: 1

Resolved

That the application be DEFERRED to allow members to consider late submitted information.

E Palmer introduced the application and said it had been referred to committee due to the contrary views of Berkhamsted Town Council.

Daniel Parry spoke in support of the application.

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

Vote

For: 10             Against: 0                    Abstained: 1

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

Councillor Whitman left the chamber at 8.20pm so took no part in the discussion or voting of this item

N Gibbs introduced the item and said it had been referred to committee due to the contrary views of Bovingdon Parish Council.

Mrs Hunt spoke in support of the application.

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

Vote

For: 9               Against: 0                    Abstained: 1

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

B Curtain introduced the item and said it had been referred to the committee due to contrary views of Bovingdon Parish Council.

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

Vote

For: 10             Against: 0                    Abstained: 1

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

B Curtain introduced the item and said it had been referred to the committee due to contrary views of Bovingdon Parish Council.

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

Vote

For: 10             Against: 0                    Abstained: 1

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

B Curtain introduced the report to members and said it had been referred to the committee due to contrary views of Berkhamsted Town Council.

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

Vote

For: 9               Against: 0                    Abstained: 2

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

This application was deferred from the agenda prior to the meeting.

B Curtain introduced the report and said it had been referred to committee due to the contrary views of Berkhamsted Town Council.

Members were concerned that the sign could obstruct the public from locating the police station. Officers said an informative could be added to ensure these discussions take place.

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

Vote

For: 9               Against: 1                    Abstained: 1

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

1. This consent is granted for a period of five years commencing on the date of this notice.

Reason: To comply with the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007.

2. No advertisement is to be displayed without the permission of the owner of the site or any other person with an interest in the site entitled to grant permission.

Reason: To comply with the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007.

3. No advertisement shall be sited or displayed so as to: -

            (a)        endanger persons using any highway, railway, waterway, dock, harbour or aerodrome (civil or military);

            (b)       obscure, or hinder the ready interpretation of, any traffic sign, railway signal or aid to navigation by water or air; or

            (c)        hinder the operation of any device used for the purpose of security or surveillance or for measuring the speed of any vehicle.

Reason: To comply with the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007.

4. Any advertisement displayed, and any site used for the display of advertisement, shall be maintained in a condition that does not impair the visual amenity of the site.

Reason: To comply with the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations (England) 2007.

5. Any structure or hoarding erected or used principally for the purpose of displaying advertisements shall be maintained in a condition that does not endanger the public.

Reason: To comply with the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations (England) 2007.

6. Where an advertisement is required under these Regulations to be removed, the site shall be left in a condition that does not endanger the public or impair visual amenity.

Reason: To comply with the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements)  Regulations (England) 2007.

7. The intensity of illumination shall be controlled at the level as illustrated and described on the submitted plans/ application form and is to be retained such that it will not cause glare beyond the site boundaries.

Reason: In the interest of public safety and visual amenity, in accordance with policies CS11 and CS12 of the Dacorum Core Strategy (2013) and saved policies 56 and 112 of the Dacorum Local Plan (2004).

8. The development hereby approved shall not be carried out other than in accordance with the following  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

The following appeals were noted:

1. Lodged
2. Withdrawn
3. Forthcoming inquiries
4. Dismissed
5. Allowed

C Gaunt introduced the report and said a pr3evious draft had come to this committee last year. This planning code of conduct was a revised version, taking into account members comments and suggestions. The code of conduct hasn’t been updated for a while and this brings it into line with new legislation.
C Gaunt said he was happy to take any further comments and the recommendation was to refer this report to Council.

Councillor Birnie said he thought officers had done a good job and taken on board suggestions.

Councillor C Wyatt-Lowe agreed with his comments and said she thought the code follows the spirit in which this committee is conducted. The changes and rewording of certain paragraphs has been useful.

Members welcomed the revised draft code and recommended that it be referred to Council for adoption.