Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting and went through some general housekeeping arrangements for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D O Bown and R G Pratt.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12 November 2025, (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12 November 2025 be approved and confirmed.

To disclose the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registrable interests and Non-Registrable Interests relating to items of business on the agenda having regard to paragraph 9 and Appendix B 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).

There were none.

To consider the report of the Director of Place, Planning and Growth, (copy enclosed, Members’ Update to be circulated)*.

The Officer presented the report.

Members raised concerns over the proposed tree removals within the application. The Officer then explained that the site had a fallback position in which they had permission to remove trees already but the Officer believed that this application went further to protect and accommodate the trees making specific mention to the development being moved further away from the centre cluster of trees.

A Member queried the self-build status of the site and asked if they could put a condition to ensure it remains a self-build site. The Officer then said that was something that they could facilitate.

Following this further discussion on the trees that would be removed and replaced occurred, with a Member suggesting a variation on condition 6 to change the wording to more clearly state that the applicant would have to replace the removed trees with those of the same size and species.

Councillor V J Bell then proposed that they approve the application with the additional condition on self-build and amendment of proposed condition 6. This was duly seconded and agreed.

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions, an additional condition restricting the proposed dwellings to self-build and amendment of proposed condition 6.

1          The development shall be carried out in accordance with plans and particulars relating to the scale, appearance, landscaping, layout and access of the site (hereinafter called "the reserved matters"), for which approval shall be obtained from the local planning authority in writing before any development is begun. The development shall be carried out fully in accordance with the details as approved. 

2          Application for the approval of the reserved matters shall be made to the Local Planning Authority before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission. 

3          The development hereby permitted shall be begun within two years from the date of the final approval of the reserved matters.  The development shall be carried out as approved.  

4          No development work above ground level shall occur until a detailed Sustainable Urban Drainage Scheme as specified in the Essex Sustainable Drainage Systems Design Guide has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The scheme shall subsequently be implemented prior to occupation of the development and should include and not be limited to: 

·       Discharge rates/location 

·       Storage volumes 

·       Treatment requirement 

·       Detailed drainage plan 

·       A written report summarising the final strategy and highlighting any minor changes to the approved strategy 

Where the surface water drainage strategy proposes the use of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 386.