To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 11 February 2016.

The minutes of the Planning Committee held on the 11 February 2016, were approved as a correct record.

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.

There were no items of urgent business.

Councillor Ojetola declared a non-pecuniary interest in the relation to applications 15/01127/FUL, 15/01438/REM, and 15/01455/FUL all relating to Aveley Football Club, Mill Road, Aveley, Essex, RM15 4SR as he was a member of the impulse leisure board.

Councillor B Little had correspondence with application 15/01522/FUL Stables Hatch Farm Fen Lane Bulphan Essex.

Councillor Hipsey had Correspondences with applications 15/01127/FUL, 15/01438/REM, and 15/01455/FUL all relating to Aveley Football Club, Mill Road, Aveley, Essex, RM15 4SR.

The report before Members provided information with regard to appeals performance.

RESOLVED:

The report was noted.

The Planning Officer informed the Committee that the report related to a prominent Oak tree located on land at 60 Derry Avenue, South Ockendon. The report sought confirmation of a provisional Tree Preservation Order to protect the tree from being felled. Members were informed that In July 2015 a request was made by a resident via Estuary Housing to fell the tree due to its large size within the garden and the nuisance that the tree was considered to cause.

Councillor Ojetola queried if the Tree Preservation order would allow a reduction in the size of the tree. Officers explained that the neighbours comments received had been taken into account and the Council’s Tree Advisor agreed that the tree will require a crown reduction to be carried out to ensure that it does not become excessively large for the rear garden.

It was proposed by Councillor Hipsey and seconded by Councillor Kelly that the application be approved subject to conditions and legal agreement.

For:                  Councillors Terry Hipsey, Tom Kelly, Chris Baker, Steve Liddiard, Brian Little, Tunde Ojetola,

Against:           (0)

Abstain:           (0)

RESOLVED:

That the application be approved, subject to conditions and legal agreement.

6.08pm – Councillor Rice arrived at the meeting.

The Committee was informed that the application was deferred at the 11 February 2016 Planning Committee to enable Members to visit the site to assess the impact of the fence in its context. The site visit took place on Wednesday 24 February 2016.

Councillor Liddiard highlighted that on the site visit Members and Officers could not see another 3m fence apart from the fence south to the premises of Harris DAF. Members felt that the 3m fence did not benefit the reduction of crime and fly tipping.

Members discussed painting the fence green to make it less noticeable. The Planning Officer explained that a green fence may be increasingly noticeable.

Councillor Rice proposed and Councillor Liddiard seconded that the fence was painted green. Members went to a vote and proposal was refused.

Councillor Rice informed the Committee that he received an email of correspondence regarding pictures of the fence from Councillor O Gerrish along with other Committee Members before the meeting began. It was questioned by members whether this should have been declared, the legal representative advised that this was not a formal representation therefor did not need to be declared.

Councillor Liddiard questioned if there had been an objections regarding ecology. The Planning Officer confirmed that there were no objections.

Members of the Committee requested that the following Conditions were enforced subject to approval.

·         Within one month of the date of this permission the concrete debris left adjacent to the fencing on the site shall be removed entirely from the site and ground beneath reinstated to grass. Reason: In the interests of the appearance of the immediate locality and amenities of local residents.

·         Approval of the application does not provide any consent to develop the site”, the formation of any hardstanding,” or the change of use of the site which would be subject to separate planning consent.

It was proposed by Councillor Kelly and seconded by Councillor Little that the application be approved subject to conditions.

For:                  Councillors Tom Kelly, Brian Little, Tunde Ojetola, Gerard Rice

Against:           Chris Baker, Steve Liddiard

Abstain:           (0)

RESOLVED:

That the application be approved subject to conditions.

6.38 Councillor Palmer arrived at the meeting.

The Planning Officer introduced the report explaining that the application sought approval of reserved matters, following the grant of outline planning permission for residential development on the Aveley Football Club site.  The application sought approval for the reserved matters of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for a development of 114 dwellings.  The application followed the grant of outline planning permission by the Council in 2015 for demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment comprising up to 114 residential dwellings. The outline planning permission is linked to a full planning permission for the relocation of Aveley Football Club. from the Mill Road site to a site on Belhus Park, a short distance to the north-west of the current site.

The Planning Officer highlighted the following Conditions attached to the outline approval, these referred to a number of parameters to control the development of the site including:

·         Maximum number of dwellings;

·         Maximum storey heights; and

·         The provision of a layout which enables a future vehicular and pedestrian link between the football club site and the adjacent residential development site to the east (currently under construction by Persimmon Homes).

Committee Members were disappointed that there dwellings were not 35% affordable homes. Members were reminded:

·         The application before them was for the approval of reserved matters, not the principle of development;

·         In 2014 Planning Committee considered the outline planning application and agreed with the recommended heads of terms for a s.106 legal agreement, which didn’t include provision of affordable housing;

·         The omission of affordable housing was based upon a viability assessment, which was independently appraised

·         The agreed s.106 agreement secures a financial contribution towards infrastructure (£522,000) and a viability review mechanism;

·         In considering the outline application the Committee took into the benefits of a re-provided football club facility.

Councillor Ojetola queried the agreement between Impulse Leisure and Aveley Football Club. The Planning Officer enlightened the Committee that Council previously owned the land and that there had been negotiations between the Council, Aveley Football Club and Impulse Leisure

The Chair of the Committee invited the Ward Councillor, Councillor R Ray, to make his supporting statement to the Committee.

The Chair of the Committee invited the agent William Vote, to make his supporting statement to the Committee.

Members discussed the main access route of site. Members were informed that the east of the site was the preferred access route due to the roundabout.

Councillor Ojetola and Councillor Little highlighted that the residential development was a good opportunity for Aveley Football Club. Councillor Ojetola expressed that the new dwellings could encourage middle to high end managers in local businesses to reside in Thurrock.

It was proposed by Councillor Hipsey and seconded by Councillor Ojetola that the application be approved.

For:                  Councillors Terry Hipsey, Tom Kelly, Chris Baker, Steve Liddiard, Brian Little, Tunde Ojetola, Barry Palmer and Gerard Rice

Against:           (0)

Abstain:           (0)                                                                                        

RESOLVED:

That the application be approved.

The Committee were informed that the application sought planning permission for the change of use of a narrow strip of land located between the Aveley Football Club site (to the west) and ‘The Village’ residential development, currently being constructed by Persimmon to the east.  The site comprised an open strip of land with tree and shrub planting.  The application proposed a change in the use of the land such that it would be used as rear / side garden and car parking areas for a number of new residential properties to be built on the site of the football club site.

The Chair invited the agent William Vote, to make his supporting statement to the Committee.

It was proposed by Councillor Rice and seconded by Councillor Hipsey that the application be approved.

For:                  Councillors Terry Hipsey, Tom Kelly, Chris Baker, Steve Liddiard, Brian Little, Tunde Ojetola, Barry Palmer and Gerard Rice.

Against:           (0)

Abstain:           (0)

RESOLVED:

That the application be approved.

Members were enlightened that the application sought full planning permission for the formation of a vehicular and pedestrian access between the Aveley Football Club site (to the west) and Belhouse Avenue (to the east).  Belhouse Avenue was a recently constructed residential road within ‘The Village’ development, currently being constructed by Persimmon.

The Chair invited the agent William Vote, to make his supporting statement to the Committee.

It was proposed by Councillor Hipsey and seconded by Councillor Rice that the application be approved.

For:                  Councillors Terry Hipsey, Tom Kelly, Chris Baker, Steve Liddiard, Brian Little, Tunde Ojetola, Barry Palmer and Gerard Rice

Against:           (0)

Abstain:           (0)

RESOLVED:

That the application be approved.

The Planning Officer explained that this application had been called in by Councillor Hebb, Councillor Halden, Councillor B Little, Councillor Stewart and Councillor S Little for members of the Planning Committee to review the application and assess any impact of amenity to local community.

This application sought planning consent to reduce an existing 3m high fence to a 2.7m and the change of use of part of the residential garden to commercial open storage. The proposal also sought to reduce the depth of the area for commercial use by 2.4m.

Members were enlightened that the application site forms part of a residential garden which has been converted to part of a joinery works at the end of Butts Road, adjacent to a fenced National Grid compound and a railway line.

Members queried why the Committee was required to authorise enforcement. The Planning Officer explained that this was the standard procedure, it was explained further that once an appeal was lost it was not immediately subject to enforcement.

The Chair invited Jacqui Mann a resident, to make her objecting statement to the Committee. In doing do it was requested that the end fence is moved back by 4.5 metres and that the overall height is reduced and that any materials / buildings that are put onto this land should be no taller than 2.5metres

Members questioned if the resident’s suggestion could be included as a condition. The Head of Planning and Growth explained that this could not be included as a condition although it was recommended that the planning department could explore the possibility of relocation.

It was proposed by Councillor Hipsey and seconded by Councillor Ojetola that the application be refused and enforcement action is authorised

For:                  Councillors Terry Hipsey, Tom Kelly, Chris Baker, Steve Liddiard, Brian Little, Tunde Ojetola, and Gerard Rice

Against:           Barry Palmer

Abstain:           (0)

RESOLVED:

That the application be approved.

Planning Officers explained that this application was being considered at Committee because and earlier application was called in for consideration and the current proposal is a revised version of that scheme. The application sought full planning permission for the redevelopment of the site to provide four new residential dwellings. The existing structures would be demolished as part of the development and the new properties would be organised around a central core with a semi-circular access way. The dwellings would each be provided with a double garage, off street parking and private rear garden areas.

Councillor Baker queried if the Stables were still in use, the Planning Officer confirmed that the stables were still in use it was added that The NPPF allows for the redevelopment of previously developed site in the green belt subject to the development not having more of an impact on the Green Belt than the existing buildings.  It was explained that a change of use would become lawful if it had taken place for more than 10 years.

The Chair invited the agent Darren McDermott, to make his supporting statement to the Committee.

The Chair of the Committee explained that an application for 6 dwellings on this premises was recommend for refusal at a previous Planning Committee. It was questioned why this application was recommended for approval. The Planning Officer explained that this application was a reduction in volume and less floor space. The Chair of the Committee questioned what could prevent another application coming back to committee for further dwellings on this land if approved. The Planning Officer explained that the applicant was at the Planning Committee when the application for 6 dwellings was refused, it was explained further that the applicant had an understanding of the Committees views.

It was proposed by Councillor Rice and seconded by Councillor Ojetola that the application be deferred for a site visit

For:                  Councillors Terry Hipsey, Tom Kelly, Chris Baker, Gerard Rice

Against:           Brian Little, Tunde Ojetola, Barry Palmer

Abstain:           Steve Liddiard,

RESOLVED:

That the application be deferred for a site visit.

Members were informed that the application sought planning permission for a medical centre on the site of the former Graham James Infant School and caretaker’s house. The proposal seeks to develop a purpose built medical facility for adult and children services provision, to offer up to date facilities to the local community.  The aim would be to enable a range of healthcare services to be provided for the local community including a GP practice.

Members were enlightened that the applicant requested amended wording to some of the conditions, No. 4 Materials, No. 13 Lighting, No. 14 Boundary Treatments and No. 16 Cycle Parking to allow the details to be submitted prior to the commencement of those parts of the development, rather than the commencement of the development as a whole. They also requested minor amendments to the wording of the energy efficient condition to allow an intermediate statement to be submitted and a full construction assessment once the

The Chair invited Alan Stephens a resident, to make his objecting statement to the Committee.

The Chair invited the agent Abraham Laker, to make his supporting statement to the Committee.

Members discussed the blockage of sunlight from the erection of the medical health facility and its positioning, height and distance from the resident’s property. It was proposed by Councillor Rice and seconded by Councillor Hipsey that the application be deferred for a site visit.

For:                  Councillors Terry Hipsey, Tom Kelly, Chris Baker, Steve Liddiard, Brian Little, Tunde Ojetola, Barry Palmer and Gerard Rice

Against:           (0)

Abstain:           (0)

RESOLVED:

That the application be deferred for a site visit