Agenda and 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, W J Laybourn and W Stamp.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 23 May 2024, (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 23 May 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).

There were none.

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

Following the Officer’s presentation, Councillor A S Fluker sought clarity as to whether the proposal was detrimental to the intrinsic character and openness of the countryside and the designated wildlife site it would be located in or not having regard to the text of the final ‘Summary’ slide contained in the Officer presentation. Officers confirmed that there had been a typographical error and that the text of the first bullet point should have read ‘It is considered that the proposal would be detrimental to the intrinsic character and openness of the countryside and the designated wildlife site it would be located within’. Officers went on to add that Officer presentations are for Members’ information and do not form part of the actual Committee report within the published Agenda that was in the public domain and distributed to Members. The Applicant, Mrs Brown then addressed the Committee.

A debate ensued where Members discussed the proposed development site including recent and historic planning appeals in Asheldham and the nearby area.

Councillor Fluker considered the development was in a sustainable location and didn’t have an impact to the surrounding street scene. He then proposed to approve the application contrary to the Officer’s recommendation and if the proposal was approved then a condition be added to ensure that the applicant screened the property from the surroundings of the site. This was duly seconded by Councillor M G Neall.

In response to points made in the earlier discussion regarding recent and historic planning appeals in Asheldham, the Team Manager-Development Management, Planning & Implementation, made Members aware of the following information:

•           Paragraph 5.1.16 of the Officer’s report wherein there was an appeal decision for two dwellings on the land north of Willow Grove in Mundon where the Inspector found this to be unsustainable despite being adjacent to various forms of built development, including housing and in close proximity to bus stops.

•           Within the last few weeks there had been an appeal decision for five houses in Vicarage Road Tillingham immediately adjacent to the village boundary which had been dismissed as the Inspector stressed the importance of adhering to the policies and strategy set out within the Local Development Plan (LDP).

•           Members will also recall that this Committee refused another application which was on the south side of Tillingham for a scheme that included affordable housing. In that case Officers did feel it was acceptable, however, Members agreed that there should be adherence to the LDP.

Following a further short debate, the Chairperson  ...  view the full minutes text for item 140.