Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone present and went through some general housekeeping arrangements for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M G Bassenger, B S Beale MBE, R G Boyce MBE, Mrs P A Channer, A L Hull and N J Skeens.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 November 2022 (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 November 2022 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).

The Chairman, Councillor R P F Dewick declared an interest in Agenda Item 7 partly because it was a deferred item and he was not present when previously discussed and also because in the past he had declared an interest for this applicant as he did business with a company the family owned.

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

Following the Officer’s presentation the Chairman opened the discussion. Councillor W Stamp proposed that the application be approved as per the Officer’s recommendation and this was duly seconded by Councillor M W Helm. The Chairman put the proposal to agree the application to the Committee and it was approved.

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 in complete accordance with approved drawings: Site location plan at 1:1250 Rev A; Block plan 008 C; Floor plans 006; and, Elevations 007.

3         Prior to their use in the development hereby approved, details or samples of the materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces, including windows and doors, of the development hereby approved shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

4         Prior to the occupation of the development hereby approved details of the boundary treatment of the site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The boundary treatment shall be provided prior to the occupation of the dwelling hereby approved in accordance with the approved details and be retained as such in perpetuity.

5         Prior to the occupation of the development details of both hard and soft landscape works, including the retention of the existing hedgerows along the south, east and west boundaries of the application site, to be carried out shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. These details shall include the layout of the hard landscaped areas with the materials and finishes to be used and details of the soft landscape works including schedules of shrubs and trees to be planted, noting the species, stock size, proposed numbers/densities and details of the planting scheme's implementation, aftercare and maintenance programme. The hard landscape works shall be carried out as approved prior to the beneficial occupation of the development hereby approved unless otherwise first agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The soft landscape works shall be carried out as approved within the first available planting season (October to March inclusive) following the occupation of the development, unless otherwise first agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. If within a period of five years from the date of the planting of any tree or plant, or any tree or plant planted in its replacement, is removed, uprooted, destroyed, dies, or becomes, in the opinion of the Local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 431.

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

Following the Officer’s presentation the Chairman opened the discussion by saying that as Ward Member he was happy to support the Officer’s recommendation to approve the application and this was seconded by Councillor A S Fluker. The Chairman then put the proposal to approve to the Committee and it was agreed.

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED subject to the applicant first entering into a legal agreement pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) to secure a financial contribution towards RAMS and the following conditions:

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 soakaways the details of the design and the results of a series of percolation tests carried out upon the subsoil in accordance with DG 365 2016. You are advised that in order to satisfy the soakaway condition the following details will be required:- details of the area to be drained, infiltration rate (as determined by BRE Digest 365), proposed length, width and depth of soakaway, groundwater level and whether it will be rubble filled.

Where discharging to a watercourse the proposed scheme shall include details of the destination and discharge rates equivalent to "greenfield runoff" up to and including a 1 in 100 year rainfall event inclusive of climate change. This is typically achieved by installing some form of attenuation on site e.g. temporary storage. The rate should be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 432.

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

Following the Officer’s presentation on this deferred item of business, the Agent, Mr Rickards, addressed the Committee. The Chairman, Councillor A S Fluker, then opened the discussion.

A brief debate ensued where Members commented that the site was accessible by public transport and previous appeals relating to similar proposals in Asheldham had not been dismissed on accessibility grounds. Members also commented that the application under consideration was very different to the proposal the subject of the previous appeal for two dwellings at Homelands in terms of design and layout. The consensus was that the application complied with policies D1 and S8 and, given that Essex County Council Highways had no objection to the access, it should be supported. 

Councillor W Stamp proposed that the application be approved contrary to the Officer’s recommendation and this was seconded by Councillor M W Helm. The reasons for approval were that the site was in an accessible location in accordance with Policies T1, T2, S1 and D1 of the Local Development Plan (LDP) and the development would not cause harm to the character or appearance of the area in accordance with Policies S8, D1 and D4 of the LDP.

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED subject to the applicant first entering into a legal agreement pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) to secure a financial contribution towards RAMS and standard conditions contrary to Officers’ recommendation.

Councillor R P F Dewick returned to the Chamber at 20:02.

IN THE CHAIR: COUNCILLOR R P F DEWICK

The Chairman and the Committee thanked Mr Leigh, Lead Specialist: Place for his guidance over the years and wished him luck in his new endeavours. Given this was the last meeting prior to Christmas the Chairman then wished all in attendance a Happy Christmas.