Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Service Delivery, (copy enclosed, Members’ Update to be circulated)*.

Prior to the meeting a Members’ Update was circulated which advised Members that Condition 5 on the Officer’s report was no longer necessary and provided a rationale for why the application for car parking and installation of a surface water drainage system was brought forward. Following the Officer’s presentation the Agent, Mr Davey, addressed the Committee. The Chairman then opened the discussion.

A debate ensued where Members discussed issues around trees, archaeology, drainage and levels of commercial related traffic. In response Officers advised that:-

• That the Historic Environment Officer at Essex County Council (ECC) had reported that due to disturbance associated with the historic use of the site as a water treatment facility no archaeological recommendations were being made with regard to this application.

• That all impacts on ecology had been investigated and mitigated and no recommendations were received from Natural England. The Arboricultural Officer reported that the tree protection measures in place were sufficient.

·        That the Lead Local Flood Authority had been consulted on the application and advised they had no objection to the application subject to three conditions requiring:

Ø    A surface water drainage scheme

Ø    Maintenance details of the surface water drainage system

Ø       Yearly logs of maintenance

• That a full transport assessment had been undertaken factoring in the Garden Suburb, resulting in a modest increase in traffic, nothing that would materially impact on the Highway network.

The consensus of the Committee was support for this application. The site had had numerous applications refused, including a proposal for Housing. This was potentially a really important commercial employment site involving iconic companies operating globally, which will support the prosperity of the district.

Councillor White proposed that the application be approved in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation and this was duly seconded by Councilor Fluker. The Chairman put the recommendation to approve to the Committee and it was agreed by assent.

RESOLVED  that the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

1                 The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

2                 The development hereby permitted shall be carried out and retained in complete accordance with following approved drawings.

3                 Full details of the provision and subsequent retention of both hard and soft landscape works on the site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority prior to any works occurring above ground level at the application site. These details shall include:

1)      Details of proposed schedules of species of trees and shrubs to be planted, planting layouts with stock sizes and planting numbers/densities.

2)      Details of the planting scheme implementation programme, including  ...  view the full minutes text for item 568