Agenda and minutes

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

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 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

It was noted that Cllr Maddern would be joining the meeting late.  Cllr Maddern joined the meeting at 7.36pm.

Cllr Oguchi joined the meeting at 7.48pm.

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.

Cllr Guest declared a personal interest, in that Nick Burls approached the Cllr prior to submission of application with an invitation to attend a site visit.  Cllr Guest referred Nick Burls to SWhelan.  Cllr Guest further declared that Nick Burls contacted her by telephone today and she confirmed that she would consider all discussions and comes to this item with an open mind. 

Cllr McDowell declared a personal interest in that he sits on the board for the Chilterns AONB.

The Case Officer, Nigel Gibbs, introduced the report to Members

Nick Burles & Nick Cave spoke in objection to the officer recommendation

Parish Councillor J Clarke spoke in objection of the officer recommendation.

Ward Councillor Lara Pringle spoke in objection of the officer recommendation.

It was proposed by Councillor McDowell and seconded by Councillor Riddick that the application be refused.

Vote:

For:      1          against:           9          Abstained:       1

It was then proposed by Councillor Hobson and seconded by Councillor Wyatt Lowe that the application be delegated with a view to approval with the delegation of final conditions to the Group Manager, Development Management & Planning, for the following reason:

The development would provide a required sports facility for Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead Hockey Club and for the community. These very special circumstances outweigh the development’s harm to both the Green Belt and to the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Vote:

For:       8         against:             1        Abstained:       2

Resolved: That planning permission be DELEGATED WITH A VIEW TO APPROVAL, with the delegation of final conditions to the Group Manager, Development Management & Planning

Cllr Uttley declared an interest and advised that she would be speaking as Ward Councillor in objection of this application and will therefore not be taking part in the discussion or voting on this item.

The Case Officer, Robert Freeman, introduced the report to Members.

Neil Burton & Kris Goodwin spoke in objection of the application.

Ward Councillor Liz Uttley spoke in objection of the application.

Paul Thomas spoke in support of the application.

It was proposed by Councillor Riddick and seconded by Councillor Wyatt Lowe that the application be approved.

Vote:

For:       1         against:           10       Abstained:       1

It was then proposed by Councillor Beauchamp and seconded by Councillor Hobson that the application be refused on grounds of CS11a,b & c and CS12c.

Vote:

For:                  against:           10       Abstained:       2

Resolved: That planning permission REFUSAL on the grounds that; The proposed development in view of its design, site coverage, layout, scale, height, bulk and inadequate amenity space would result in a cramped, overbearing and incongruous form of development detrimental to the character and appearance of the street and the wider area in which it is located and harmful to the amenity of neighbouring properties. As such the proposals would be contrary to Policies CS11 and CS12 of the Core Strategy and Saved Appendix 3 of the Local Plan 1991-2011

The Case Officer, Colin Lecart, introduced the report to Members.

Stuart Rouse spoke in objection of the application.

Simon Booth spoke in support of the application.

It was proposed by Councillor Riddick and seconded by Councillor Durrant that the application be approved.

Vote:

For:        9        against:            0         Abstained:       2

Resolved: That planning permission GRANTED

The Case Officer, Jane Miller, introduced the report to Members.

James Milne spoke in objection of the application.

It was proposed by Councillor Wyatt Lowe and seconded by Councillor Uttley that the application be approved.

Vote:

For:      0          against:           9          Abstained:       4

It was then proposed by Councillor Beauchamp and seconded by Councillor McDowell that the application be refused on grounds of CS11b, CS12g 4, 5 & 6.

Vote:

For:      9                     against:            0                      Abstained:       4

Resolved: That planning permission REFUSED on the following grounds;

By reason of its scale, height and use of materials the fencing would appear an intrusive feature, failing to integrate with the streetscape character. The development would therefore be contrary to Policies CS11 and CS12 of the Core Strategy (2013)

The Case Officer, James Gardner, introduced the report to Members.

Parish Councillor Berkeley spoke in objection of the application.

It was proposed by Councillor Wyatt Lowe and seconded by Councillor Durrant that the application be approved.

Vote:

For:       8         against:           4          Abstained:       1

Resolved: That planning permission is approved

The Case Officer, Natasha Vernal, introduced the report to Members.

Frank Klimaszewski spoke in objection of the application.

Town Councillor Armytage spoke in objection of the application.

Dean Goodman spoke in support of the application.

It was proposed by Councillor Riddick and seconded by Councillor Uttley that the application be approved.

Vote:

For:        8        against:            4         Abstained:       1

Resolved: That planning permission GRANTED

The item was deferred to the next meeting due to time limitations.