Agenda item

To determine the application.

David Rowen presented the report to members.

The committee has regard to its inspection of the site (as agreed in accordance with the Site Inspection: Policy and Procedure (minute P19/04 refers)) during its deliberations.

The comments of Angela Johnson, an objector to the proposal, under the public participation procedure, are set out in the minute for planning application F/YR21/0768/F.

Members asked questions of officers as follows:

·       Councillor Skoulding stated that on the previous plan it had a treatment tank on every plot but on F it does not show a treatment tank and asked if this was an oversight? David Rowen responded that he is unable to comment on whether this is an oversight or not, however, if members are minded to grant the application there is a similarly worded condition requiring the details of the foul drainage treatments and its ongoing maintenance to be submitted within 2 months of the date of the decision.

·       Councillor Sutton made the point that the reasons that these applications are being recommended for approval is because the Council does not currently have a five-year land supply of traveller site as the needs assessment has not been undertaken and should this have been undertaken and there was the supply the outcomes for these applications may have been different from both an officer perspective and a members’ perspective. He stated that although members have heard what the objectors have said the committee does not really have a strong reason to be able to do anything other than grant permission. Councillor Sutton stated that on this particular application on this corner when members visited the site there is a high fence all the way round and a condition ought to be considered where that fence on the bend is reduced in height as it does restrict visibility for vehicles going around the corner. David Rowen responded that there is a proposed condition 6 which states within 2 months of the date of this decision the following information shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for approval details of a scheme to plant a mixed native hedgerow with post and rail fence to all external site boundaries, this shall include a plan, fence details, planting specification, visibility splays and timetable for planting etc.

·       Councillor Mrs Mayor asked if this is all the fence or just the corners? David Rowen responded that the condition states all external site boundaries including the site frontage.

·       Councillor Mrs French referred to Councillor Sutton’s point about the land supply for travellers’ sites and asked if this is getting closer to being completed? Nick Harding responded that a contractor was appointed and due to the inability to complete the work due to Covid and some difficulties with that contractor that fell through and the Council looked to appoint a new contractor, working with a business who had links to the gypsy and traveller community, but there were some fundamental disagreements between the contractor and the other organisation so the Council is back to square one. He advised that the Planning Policy Team are having meetings with the other partner authorities so a decision is going to be made on whether or not each district goes it alone or decides to combine forces again and go out for tender for that piece of work. Nick Harding expressed the opinion that even if the Council had been successful with the original contract it would have all come undone to a significant degree because there was a recent court case which brought clarity to a key element of national planning advice in relation to gypsy and travellers. Councillor Mrs French stated that this is disappointing, obviously Covid was three years ago and it was only a few months ago since this question was asked on another application so it would be good if the Council can get on with it.

Proposed by Councillor Skoulding, seconded by Councillor Meekins and agreed that the application be APPROVED as per officer’s recommendation.

(Councillors Connor and Mrs Davis declared that they were pre-determined on this application and left the room for the duration of the discussion and voting thereon. Councillor Mrs Mayor chaired this application after being nominated by other members)