Agenda and minutes

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

The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 23^rd February 2023 were confirmed by the Members present.

Hard-copy minutes were signed by the Chair

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies received from Councillor Hollinghurst

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.

 The order of applications were changed to allow for anyone wanting to speak on an application to be heard.

5d

5a

5b

5c

5e

Councillor Riddick declared a personal interest in the item, as he knew the applicant. He took no part in the debate or voting.

The Case Officer, Sally Robbins introduced the report to Members and said that the application had been referred to the Committee due to contrary view of Chipperfield Parish Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Tindall and seconded by Councillor Hobson to GRANT the application in line with officer’s recommendations.

Vote:

For:      9          Against:           0          Abstained: 1

Resolved: That planning permission be GRANTED.

RECOMMENDATION

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to conditions.

Condition(s) and Reason(s):

 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 (excluding demolition/ground works) shall take place until details of the materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the development hereby permitted have been submitted and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

            Reason: To ensure satisfactory appearance to the development and to safeguard the visual character of the area in accordance with Policies CS11 and CS12 of the Dacorum Borough Core Strategy (2013).

 3.        Prior to the commencement of development hereby approved, an Arboricultural Method Statement and Tree Protection Plan prepared in accordance with BS5837:2012 (Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction) setting out how trees shown for retention shall be protected during the construction process, shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. No equipment, machinery or materials for the development shall be taken onto the site until these details have been approved.  The works must then be carried out according to the approved details and thereafter retained until competition of the development.

            Reason: In order to ensure that damage does not occur to trees and hedges during building operations in accordance with saved Policy 99 of the Dacorum Borough Local Plan (2004), Policy CS12 of the Dacorum Borough Core Strategy (2013) and Paragraph 174 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021).

 4.        No development (other than demolition and ground works) shall take place until full details of both hard and soft landscape works have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. These details shall include:

            - All external hard surfaces within the site

            - Other surfacing materials

            - Means of enclosure

            - Soft landscape works including a planting scheme with the number, size, species and position of trees, plants and shrubs

            - Refuse and recycling storage units.

            The planting must be carried out within one planting season of completing the development.

            Any tree or shrub which forms part of the approved landscaping scheme which within a period of 5 years from planting fails to become  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Item 5b was removed from the agenda prior to the meeting as Little Gaddesden Parish Council (LGPC) withdrew their objection. The reason for the withdrawal is that Savills have advised LGPC that they are happy with the Officers report. LGPC will not be sending any Councillors to the meeting is discuss this.

Item 5c was removed from the agenda prior to the meeting as Little Gaddesden Parish Council (LGPC) withdrew their objection. The reason for the withdrawal is that Savills have advised LGPC that they are happy with the Officers report. LGPC will not be sending any Councillors to the meeting is discuss this.

The Case Officer, Briony Curtain introduced the report to Members on behalf of Nicole Quinn and said that the application had been referred to the Committee as it was called in by Cllr Allen who has concerns about the adverse impact on adjacent properties.

Briony informed the committee of the additional comments and photos from the Ward Councillor which were included in the addendum.

Philip Owen spoke in objection to the application.

It was proposed by Councillor Riddick and seconded by Councillor Williams to GRANT the application in line with Officer’s recommendations.

Vote:

For:      2          Against:           6          Abstained:     3

Having there been no majority to grant the application it was proposed by Councillor Stevens and seconded by Councillor Beauchamp to overturn the Officer’s recommendation and REFUSE the application.

For:      7          Against:           1          Abstained:     3

Resolved: That planning permission be REFUSED, for the following reasons:

By virtue of the levels difference, and its bulk, scale and height, the proposed two-storey rear extension would be visually intrusive on the neighbour at No.29 Cemetery Hill and would result in a loss of daylight and overshadowing. The development therefore fails to accord with Policy CS12(c) of the Dacorum Core Strategy (September 2013).

The Chair informed the committee that Berkhamsted Town Council had withdrawn there objection prior to the meeting and that the application has been determined under delegated powers.