Council and democracy

Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Tisha Sutcliffe, Democratic Services Officer  Email: Direct.Democracy@thurrock.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

24.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 97 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 12 July 2018.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 12 July 2018 were approved as a correct record.

 

25.

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.

 

26.

Declaration of Interests

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 

27.

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:

Councillor Kelly declared that all Councillors of the Planning Committee received correspondence from Bellway Homes in regards to application 18/00507/FUL, Land Adjacent Moore Avenue, Devonshire Road.

 

28.

Planning Appeals pdf icon PDF 68 KB

Minutes:

Assistant Director of Planning, Transport and Public Protection stated there were no updates for the Committee on the Planning appeals. 

 

29.

18/00507/FUL Land Adjacent Moore Avenue Devonshire Road and London Road, South Stifford, Grays Essex pdf icon PDF 482 KB

Minutes:

The planning application was a proposal for the development of 102 dwellings and associated access, parking, public open space, landscaping and drainage infrastructure.

 

This application seeks full planning permission and proposes a new access road into the estate. The proposal for 102 dwellings would be for 48 flats, and 54 x 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes. The buildings will vary between 2 and up to 4 storeys high on London Road.

 

The Principal Planner highlighted an error on the report on pages 35 and 36 as it stated the provision of dwellings would be 20% as affordable homes, although it was confirmed as 23%.

 

The homes would be designed with large windows and a similar design was proposed for the flatted blocks. The Principal Planner referred to photos of the site.

 

The existing properties in Moore Avenue would not be affected by access for the new dwellings as the vehicle access route would be from Devonshire Road which is to the east side of the site. The quantum of development was accepted by highways as there would be suitable access to Devonshire Road.

 

The Principal Planner stated that a previous application was considered by Committee in July 2017 which was approved. This established the principal of residential development and the issue of the land use was not objectionable. In terms of the layout and consideration, it would be an increase on density from what was proposed at last year’s Committee.

 

The Principal Planner pointed out that on page 34 point 6.30 the viability only refers to primary school places however this will include secondary schools.

 

The recommendation was to grant the planning application subject to conditions and s.106 agreement.

 

The Chair asked if there were specific reasons as to why the roof for the flatted blocks was proposed as a flat roof and not a pitched roof. The Principal Planner stated that a flat roof design is most commonly used in modern flatted development and that a pitched roof would result in an increase in height.

 

Mrs Michelle Peters, Resident of Thurrock was invited to the Committee to present her statement of objection.

 

Councillor Q Abbas, Ward Councillor was invited to the Committee to present his statement of objection.

 

Mr Gregory Evans, Agent of the application was invited to the Committee to present his statement of support.

 

The Chair opened the Committee to questions regarding the application.

 

Councillor Rice, asked why 102 dwellings were being proposed without any extra health services being offered to the residents. The Principal Planner confirmed that correspondence was sent to NHS England, however the report did not include details of any response.

 

The Assistant Director of Planning, Transport and Public Protection said a response would need to be confirmed to ensure the health infrastructure could be negotiated.

 

Councillor Rice shared his concerns that residents of Thurrock are already required to wait a number of weeks for health appointments.

 

The Principal Planner confirmed on 18 April 2018 NHS England were consulted, however he could not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

30.

17/01616/FUL: Old State Cinema, George Street, Grays Essex RM17 6LZ pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

The Chair explained the next two applications would be collated, due to them being two separate applications on the same site. The first application 17/01616/FUL proposed a change of use of the building from a cinema (use class D2) to a public house (use Class A4) and associated internal and external works to facilitate use, including the creation of external beer garden on frontage to George Street. The second application 17/01617/LBC was listed building consent to create a public house and ancillary areas within the existing building, including a full internal refurbishment and redecoration scheme and external works including a beer garden and full repairs of the external building.

 

The proposed building is east of Morrison’s superstore and in the centre of George Street is the state Cinema. The Principal Planner said the key elements of the site were the ground stalls in the centre of the building and the projector room which will remain.

 

The shop units will be converted into a kitchen area, and will include a seating area on the stage and a beer garden located inside the building which would be open air.

 

The Principal Planner stated the proposal would be for one large bar area in the centre of ground floor of the building. The building had proposed toilet facilities on the first floor for all customers and a disabled toilet located on the ground floor along with a changing area.

 

The entrance of the site will be refurbished, as well as the organ which will remain in the centre of the bar area. The Principal Planner presented a number of pictures from the site when it was originally built and whilst in full use. The building is a fairly distinctive and contains a significant amount of water damage to the interior and exterior.

 

There will be a secondary access located on the east side of the building. This building has been long term vacant and the use of a JD Weatherspoon’s would be appropriate use.

 

The Principal Planner stated that there would be additional licensing requirements that JD Weatherspoon‘s would have to explore before opening.

 

The application is recommended for approval, subject to conditions.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Churchman and seconded by Councillor Liddiard that the application be granted planning permission, subject to conditions, as per the Officer’s recommendations.

 

For: (8) Councillors Colin Churchman, Andrew Jefferies, Tom Kelly, Angela Lawrence, Steve Liddiard, Terry Piccolo, Gerard Rice, and Sue Shinnick.

 

Against: (0)

 

Abstain: (0)

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the application be approved, subject to conditions.

31.

17/01617/LBC Old State Cinema, George Street, Grays Essex RM17 6LZ pdf icon PDF 140 KB

Minutes:

The Principal Planner explained this application was for listed building consent and the objective was to ensure the building was back in full use. The proposal also requested for 3 substantial windows to brighten up the building and allow natural light to enter.

 

The applicant requested for a door way and service hatch to be installed to allow access from the kitchen area to the auditorium. The seating and stalls area would remain, however it will be refurbished to allow a new seating area to be fitted.

 

The Principal Planner explained the applicant had a positive performance history with taking on different types of buildings, refurbishing them and delivering full use of an unused building.

 

The Chair opened the Committee to questions regarding the planning application 17/01617/LBC and 17/01616/FUL Old State Cinema, George Street.

 

Councillor Piccolo asked whether the organ would be protected from the public as the pictures did not clarify this. Councillor Kelly responded and advised it was stated in the report.

 

Councillor Piccolo wanted clarity around the toilet area and whether there would be disabled access. The Principal Planner confirmed that a proposed disabled toilet with changing facilities on the ground floor and a staff toilet. 

 

Councillor Lawrence was pleased the building would be in full use, however she was concerned whether the inside beer garden would include a smoking area.

 

Councillor Piccolo asked if there would only be one disabled toilet on the ground floor. The Principal Planner explained this was the only ground floor toilet on the report, although the staff toilets were located on the ground floor.

 

The Principal Planner addressed the previous question and advised the beer garden was described within the building and that smoking would be prohibited inside public places. However he assumed that JD Weatherspoon’s would ensure there are dedicated smoking areas. As for security within the building, JD Weatherspoon’s would need to explore this separately.

 

Councillor Lawrence asked if the security would be separate permissions as the Anchor in Grays was taken over by JD Weatherspoon’s and there had been issues with intoxicated individuals and the police were made aware on a number of occasions. She did not want this building to be destroyed by the wrong crowd of people and CCTV would not be beneficial as the Police would not be able to attend incidents immediately. She requested for this to be discussed with the Police.

 

The Agent, Mr Gregg Elliott, representative of JD Weatherspoon’s, was invited to the Committee to present his statement of support.

 

Mr Elliott, the agent explained to the Committee the beer garden would be located within the building however it would be an open aired area with barriers in place along the external areas and CCTV and staff members positioned around the building. He clarified that on the ground floor there will be a disabled toilet, and an accessible toilet on the right of the entrance with changing facilities, this had been designed for individuals who need carers or support.

 

The Chair highlighted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

32.

18/00901/FUL: Hillside Scout Group, Bradford Lodge Hillside Grays, Essex RM17 5SX pdf icon PDF 935 KB

Minutes:

The application sought approval for the replacement of an existing roof and new external ramp. The proposal was  to seek planning permission to replace the existing roof of the building and to install an access ramp at the main entrance of the building.

 

The Principal Planner confirmed that the replacement roof would be the same size and there were no concerns with the design or amenity of the building.

 

The Chair opened the Committee to questions regarding the planning application 18/00901/FUL Hillside Scout Group, Bradford Lodge Hillside, Grays Essex RM17 5SX.

 

There were no questions to be asked by the members of the Committee.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Liddiard and seconded by Councillor Churchman that the application be granted planning permission, subject to conditions, as per the Officer’s recommendations.

 

For (8): Councillors Colin Churchman, Andrew Jefferies, Tom Kelly, Angela Lawrence, Steve Liddiard, Terry Piccolo, Gerard Rice, and Sue Shinnick.

 

Against: (0)

 

Abstain: (0)

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the application be approved subject to conditions.