Agenda and minutes

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

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2016 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=509

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies were received from Councillors Conway, Fisher and C Wyatt-Lowe

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

Councillor D Collins 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 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.

Councillor D Collins reminded the members and the public about the rules regarding public participation.

Councillor Riddick declared an interest in this application so left the discussion of this item and did not vote.

E Palmer introduced the report to members and said it had been referred to committee due to the contrary views of Flaunden Parish Council. The conditions in the report will be renumbered due to an error.

Abel Bunu spoke in support of the application.

Parish Councillor Pam Esom spoke in objection to the application.

Ian McAleer spoke in objection to the application.

Councillor Maddern arrived at 7.41pm so did not take part in the discussion or voting of this item

Members were concerned about the viability of the equestrian business and the inadequate size of the tack room.

It was proposed by Councillor Guest and seconded by Councillor Birnie to defer the application to allow for clarification of the viability of the equestrian centre in light of the proposed changes to the buildings.

Vote

For: 6               Against: 1                    Abstained: 2

Resolved:

That the application be DEFERRED to allow for clarification of the viability of the equestrian centre in light of the proposed changes to the buildings.

B Curtain introduced the report and said it had been referred to committee due to the contrary views of Bovingdon Parish Council. There was a slight change to page 36 where it should say “this is a material consideration that should be afforded significant weight in the current considerations” not “this is a material consideration that must be afforded significant weight in the current considerations”

It was proposed by Councillor Guest and seconded by Councillor Maddern 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 Riddick had already expressed an opinion on this application so did not take part in the discussion or voting of this item

R Marber introduced the report and said it had been referred to committee due to the contrary views of Chipperfield Parish Council. A late representation had been received from Herts Highways who had no objections.

Robert Shala spoke in support of the application.

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

Vote

For: 9               Against: 0                    Abstained: 1

Resolved

That planning permission be DELEGATED to the Senior Manager, Development Management, following the expiry of the consultation period and no additional material considerations being raised, with a view to grant subject to the following conditions:

3          Details of the means of lighting including full details of the level of illumination of the car washing area shall be submitted and approved in writing six months before the date of this submission.

Reason: In the interests of the visual amenities of the Green Belt, in accordance with policy CS5 of the Core Strategy (2013).

Article 35

Planning permission has been granted for this proposal. The Council acted pro-actively through positive engagement with the applicant during the determination process which led to improvements to the scheme. The Council has therefore acted pro-actively in line with the requirements of the Framework (paragraphs 186 and 187) and in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2015.  

P Stanley introduced the report and said it had been bought to committee as the site was owned by Dacorum Borough Council.

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

Vote

For: 11             Against: 0                    Abstained: 0

Resolved

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

I Keen introduced the report and said it had been referred to committee due to the contrary views of Chipperfield Parish Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Matthews and seconded by Councillor Imarni to grant the application in line with the officers’ recommendation.

Vote

For: 11             Against: 0                    Abstained: 0

Resolved

That planning permission be DELEGATED to the Senior Manager, Development Management, following the expiry of the consultation period and no additional material considerations being raised, with a view to grant subject to the following conditions:

I Keen introduced the report and said it had been referred to committee due to the 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: 11             Against: 0                    Abstained: 0

Resolved

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

A Parrish introduced the report and said it had been referred to committee due to the site being owned by Dacorum Borough Council. There has been a late representation from Herts Highways who objected on the basis that there was not sufficient room for a refuse truck to manoeuvre out.

Members suggested it might be an idea for a refuse driver from Cupid Green to attend the meeting as they would be the best people to ask if they could reverse a truck out.

It was proposed by Councillor Tindall and seconded by Councillor Birnie to defer the application until a driver can advise the committee on the refuse truck issue.

Vote

For: 11             Against: 0                    Abstained: 0   

Resolved

That the application be DEFERRED to a future meeting.

That the following appeals be noted:

1. Lodged
2. Forthcoming inquiries

C Gaunt introduced the report to members. The amendments to the code of practice are highlighted in red. The planning code of practice was adopted in 2008 and the Localism Act in 2011 brought changes and the code of practice has not been reviewed since. On page 96 of the agenda, paragraph 5.8 deals with pre-meetings and states that there should be no discussion of planning merits before the committee meeting. The report went to the Standards Committee in December 2016 and their comments and suggestions have been included in the report.

Councillor Birnie said he felt some of the amendments, especially paragraph 5.8, could be construed as treating members as incompetent. He said he had a duty of care to his electors and he was not happy with the suggestion that members must report a site visit.

C Gaunt said that was not the intention. The code of practice formalises what is and is not expected of members and officers in a public document

Councillor Matthews referred to point 10.1.5 where it says members should not enter a site unless on a formal site visit. He said he often drives by sites that are before committee and feels this does not need to be reported to officers. He said he felt that the document needs greater clarification as a lot of the language is open to interpretation.

Councillor Tindall said he was a member of the Standards Committee and was at the meeting this was discussed. He said this document appears critical but it is a way of protecting members and referring to Councillor Matthews’s comment, the paragraph above states that drive byes are acceptable. The point about entering sites is that if you meet the site owner or the developer, then members are at risk and are not protected currently.

Councillor Matthews said he agreed but it is not always possible to avoid developers on the site as he has had previous experience of this. He felt the code of practice was a little bit over the top.

Councillor Birnie asked what the definition of a formal site visit was.

Councillor D Collins said from the comments he had heard from the committee, he felt that some aspects of the document need more definition and clarity before the committee were happy to refer the report to Council.

Councillor Ritchie pointed out that paragraph 10.5 could be for members to advise officers not for members to ask permission and then it is put on record. However, he says it is not very clear.

Councillor Tindall said that if he meets residents of his ward and then a planning application comes to committee, he removes himself from the discussion and the vote and therefore protects himself, the committee and the council. He suggested that members defer the report and submit their comments and amendments to the Chair so that the report can be changed.

Resolved

That members of the committee submit their amendments to the Chair by 1^st February  ...  view the full minutes text for item 132.

Resolved:

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 item 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 this item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information relating to an ongoing enforcement investigation and proposed action by the Council in connection with the investigation into an alleged breach in planning control, being also a criminal offence under Section 224 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. (LGA 1972 Schedule 12A Part 1 Paragraph 7 as amended by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006

Full details in the Part 2 minutes