Agenda and draft minutes

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

An apology for absence was received from Councillor D O Bown.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 11 December 2024 (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 11 December 2024 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).

Councillor W Stamp declared that they received an email from the applicants’ agents that they forwarded on to the committee. Additionally, they have had correspondence in the past with the applicants asking for other assistance but nothing pecuniary.

Councillor A S Fluker declared they had an ad hoc unsolicited meeting with a third party connected to the application. The application was discussed, and no planning officer was present. On that basis Councillor A S Fluker declared he would leave the meeting after hearing the Officer’s presentation and the public speaking on this application

The Chairperson then gave a comment to the Members, where they wanted to remind Members that site visits that aren’t conducted with a planning officer are not considered acceptable, and if anyone has visited the site without a Planning Officer then we might be called into question so if any members had done so they urged them to declare an interest at that point.

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

Following the Officer’s presentation the objector Tamsin Rogers and Supporter Susannah Skeggs addressed the committee.

In accordance with his earlier declaration, councilors A S fluker left the meeting at this point and did not return.         

Following some discussion councillor W Stamp proposed that the Officer’s recommendation to refuse application 24/00886/FUL be agreed. This proposal was duly seconded and agreed by assent.

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The Chairperson then moved the Officer’s recommendation to grant listed building consent in relation to application 24/00887/LBC

In response to a query, the Development Management Team Manager advised that the Conservation Officer had initially raised an objection to this application, but having received revised plans had amended their consultation response and now supported the application

The earlier proposal to approve the listed building application was duly seconded and upon a vote being taken this was agreed.

RESOLVED that application 24/00886/FUL be REFUSED for the following reasons:

1.               The holiday accommodation is in an unsustainable location within the open countryside with limited connectivity to services and facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and for the use of public transport. Accordingly, users of the accommodation would be heavily reliant on travel by private car. Furthermore, insufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate that there is an identified need for the tourist accommodation in this location. The development therefore represents an inappropriate and unsustainable form of development contrary to Policies S1, S8 and E5 of the approved Maldon District Local Development Plan and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework. 

2.               The proposed development, by reason of its failure to provide adequate on-site car parking provision, would be detrimental to public amenity and the convenience of highway users caused by overspill and indiscriminate parking. Intensification of vehicular activity in the setting may also prejudice the safety of users of the highway or the passage of utility and emergency vehicles. As such the proposal is contrary to Policies D1 and T2 of the approved Maldon District Local Development Plan, the Vehicle Parking Standards SPD of the local planning authority and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework especially at paragraphs 135 a) and 139. 

3.               By virtue of the combined access of the commercial yard and the holiday accommodation and the main entrance to the building on the northern elevation closest to the yard, the proposals fail to provide for a safe and secure ingress/egress for visitors.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 652.