Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and took Members through some general housekeeping issues, the etiquette for the meeting as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and then asked Officers present to introduce themselves.

This was followed by a roll call of all Members present.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs J L Fleming and Miss S White.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 26 August 2020, (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 26 August 2020 be approved and confirmed.

To disclose the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, other Pecuniary Interests or Non-Pecuniary Interests relating to items of business on the agenda having regard to paragraphs 6-8 inclusive of the Code of Conduct for Members.

(Members are reminded that they are also required to disclose any such interests as soon as they become aware should the need arise throughout the meeting).

Councillor M F L Durham disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as a Member of Essex County Council who were statutory consultees on a variety of matters relating to planning.

It was noted from the Members’ Update that a letter from the Agent had been received.

Following the Officer presentation Members were advised that two public participation submissions had been received, one from the Applicant and one from Wickham Bishops Parish Council.  In accordance with the public participation scheme these were duly read out.

RESOLVED that the meeting be adjourned for 10 minutes to allow Officers to address an issue relating to one of the links on the Council’s website to the live video stream of the meeting. 

RESOLVED that the meeting be resumed.

The meeting resumed at the start of Agenda Item 5 upon advice given by the Monitoring Officer, the officer’s presentation and public submissions were re-read.

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

It was noted from the Members’ Update that a letter from the Agent had been received.

Following the Officer presentation Members were advised that two public participation submissions had been received, one from the Applicant and one from Wickham Bishops Parish Council.  In accordance with the public participation scheme these were duly read out.

A debate ensued and comments regarding the site’s previous development and sustainability were raised.  It was also highlighted that the property would be screened from the road by woodland and would be in keeping with other large properties along Blue Mills Hill.

The Lead Specialist Place emphasised that this application was not within a defined settlement boundary and was contrary to policy.

The Chairman moved the Officers’ recommendation that planning application 20/00641/FUL – Land North West of Fernbrook Hall, Mope Lane, Wickham Bishops be refused for the reasons as detailed in Section 7 of the report.  This was seconded by Councillor E L Bamford.  Upon a vote being taken the Officer’s recommendation was lost.

Councillor K W Jarvis having supported the application during the earlier debate, proposed that the application be approved contrary to the Officer’s recommendation, subject to suitable conditions and legal agreements being delegated to Officers in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee and a Section 106 Agreement.  A number of reasons for approval were discussed and it was duly agreed that these should relate to how on balance there was not significant harm, the proposal was of an acceptable design and replaced an existing building.

The Chairman put the proposal to approve the application contrary to the Officer’s recommendation to the Committee.  Upon a vote being taken the application was approved.

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED subject to legal agreements and conditions delegated to Officers in consultation with the Chairman and subject to a Section 106 agreement.

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

It was noted from the Members’ Update that responses from Great Totham Parish Council and Environmental Health had been received.

Following the Officer presentation Members were advised that a public participation submission had been received from the Applicant.  In accordance with the public participation scheme this was duly read out.

A discussion ensued as to the site’s previous employment and agricultural use, and the proposed improvement to the street scene.  Some Members commented that the site was an eyesore in its current state and debate followed as to the redevelopment of the site into residential development.

The Lead Specialist Place emphasised that the Council did not support employment loss, that the application was against policy, not within a settlement boundary, and that significant weight should be given to the application’s previous refusal at Committee in June 2020.

The Chairman moved the Officers’ recommendation that planning application 20/00678/FUL – Agricultural Barns Adjacent 31 Plains Road, Great Totham be refused for the reasons as detailed in Section 8 of the report.  This was seconded by Councillor M F L Durham.  Upon a vote being taken the Officer’s recommendation was lost.

Councillor R H Siddall supported the application and proposed that it be approved contrary to the Officer’s recommendation for the reasons that it would improve the natural environment by restoring land to countryside, improve the visual impact to the street scene, and would provide a positive contribution to the surrounding area.  In addition it should be subject to suitable conditions and legal agreements being delegated to Officers in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee and a Section 106 Agreement.

The Chairman put the proposal to approve the application contrary to the Officer’s recommendation to the Committee.  Upon a vote being taken the application was approved.

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED subject to the legal agreements and conditions delegated to Officers in consultation with the Chairman and subject to a S106 agreement.

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

Following the Officer presentation Members were advised that two public participation submissions had been received, one from a Supporter and one from the Applicant and in accordance with the public participation scheme these were duly read out.

The Chairman moved the Officers’ recommendation that planning application  20/00738/HOUSE – 22 The Glebe, Purleigh be refused for the reason as detailed in Section 8 of the report and this was duly seconded by Councillor R H Siddall.

Members discussed the proposal and following this the Chairman put the officer’s recommendation of refusal to the Committee.  This was duly seconded and upon a vote being taken it was refused. 

RESOLVED that the application be REFUSED for the following reason.

1.     A dropped kerb in this location, as a result of the amount of grass verge and vegetation which would be lost and expanse of associated driveway proposed, would be an incongruous feature to the detriment of appearance of the streetscene where such features are largely absent along this section and southern side of The Glebe.  As a result, the development would cause demonstrable harm to the character and appearance of the area, contrary to policies D1 and H4 of the approved Maldon District Local Development Plan.