Council and democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6SL.

Contact: Lottie Raper, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Email: Direct.Democracy@thurrock.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

48.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 88 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 2 November 2017.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Churchman referred to page 9.  The determination process for application 17/01171/FUL: Smurfit Kappa Lokfast Site, London Road, Purfleet, RM19 1QY stated “It was proposed by Councillor Jones and seconded by Councillor Jones that…” which clearly was an error.  The Democratic Services Officer would correct this information as Councillor Churchman had, in fact, seconded the motion.

 

The minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 2 November 2017 were approved as a correct record, subject to this amendment.

 

49.

Item of Urgent Business

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

50.

Declaration of Interests

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interests.

51.

Declarations of receipt of correspondence and/or any meetings/discussions held relevant to determination of any planning application or enforcement action to be resolved at this meeting

Minutes:

The Chair decalred receipt, on behalf of the whole Committee, of an email in support of application 17/00990/OUT: Land Adjacent Martin Farmhouse, Church Lane, Bulphan, Essex, which was item 8 on the agenda.

 

Councillor Hamilton declared receipt of texts and phone correspondence, also in support of application 17/00990/OUT: Land Adjacent Martin Farmhouse, Church Lane, Bulphan, Essex.

52.

Planning Appeals pdf icon PDF 68 KB

Minutes:

The Development Manager Team Leader presented the report which provided Members with information regarding planning appeal performance.  He highlighted the fact that recent figures had been very good.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Planning Committee noted the report.

53.

17/00990/OUT: Land Adjacent Martin Farmhouse, Church Lane, Bulphan, Essex pdf icon PDF 396 KB

Minutes:

The Principal Planner advised the Committee that the application was an outline application, with all matters reserved.  Since the agenda had been published a petition had been received in support with 184 signatures. A draft S106 agreement had been also received at 5pm that day, although there were no details included as to education contributions or affordable housing. 

 

The application sought outline planning permission for the development of the site for 31 residential dwellings for occupation by ex-servicemen consisting of 3 and 4 bed houses and 2 bed bungalows suitable for wheelchair users.  The applicant had submitted Very Special Circumstances though these were not considered to clearly outweigh the identified harm to the Green Belt.  This, along with objections in terms of highways, flood risk and the lack of affordable housing or contribution to education led officers to recommend the application be refused.

 

Councillor Rice queried whether the Government target for more housing, alongside the medical needs of ex-servicemen which would be best suited to quiet and peaceful surroundings would go towards outweighing the harm to the Green Belt, if the lack of 5-year housing supply could not be considered sufficient alone.  He recalled the Council had a Charter for ex-service personnel.  The Principal Planner advised that Government guidance outlined that the lack of a 5-year housing supply was insufficient as a reason on its own to outweigh the harm to the Green Belt.  The Health and Wellbeing Board had also objected to this site as it was too isolated, they recommended a site with better access to facilities would be more suited to the needs of ex-servicemen.  The need for peace and quiet could be taken into account but would still not outweigh the harm to the Green Belt.

 

Councillor Redsell noted that the Council Charter applied to Council properties rather than private developments.  She failed to see how it could be ensured that properties that formed part of private developments could be guaranteed for a specific group.  She felt there was insufficient information provided on the matter.

 

Councillor Piccolo continued with this thought and asked, even if they could be guaranteed for ex-servicemen, whether it would be possible to ensure they were reserved for injured veterans, and whether this would be legally enforceable.  Members were advised that it would be possible within the S106 agreement; however this did not form part of the application as submitted.  Members continued to clarify whether if the application were to go ahead with this caveat it would be legally binding and were reminded that nothing had been submitted.

 

Councillor Hamilton expressed the view that although the quiet and tranquillity might be a positive it could conversely work against the needs of the intended residents, particularly in cases of medical emergency.  Given the rural and isolated nature of the site emergency vehicles would face issues around access and this would not be ideal.

 

The Vice-Chair sought further information around flood risk.  He recalled the site flooding 5 years previously.  The principal planner advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.