Agenda item

To determine the application.

David Rowen presented the report and drew members attention to the update report that had been circulated.

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the public participation procedure, from Kier Petherick, the applicant. Mr Petherick stated that he has come to answer questions in case there are any outstanding points. He made the point that Chatteris Town Council are in support of the application and the site is a built form and will continue to exist as a functional area which delivers employment, with changing its use delivering a net gain to the Council via the fact it will pay business rates.

Members made comments, asked questions and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Benney stated as a Chatteris ward councillor he fully supports this application, it is an established use and an established business offering employment to Chatteris for many years and will continue to do so. He feels the proposal is just a simple change of use and understands why it is before committee but does not feel time should be wasted by members and officers debating it and a decision can be made.

·         Councillor Mrs French expressed surprise at this application being before committee, it is an established use and as far as the footpath is concerned that is a public footpath and bridle way and it is the County Council’s responsibility to upkeep it.

·         Councillor Hicks stated that he was impressed with the neatness and tidiness of the site, which is immaculate and everybody could move into the site tomorrow without anything having to be undertaken.

·         Councillor Marks stated as a ward councillor also for part of Chatteris he fully supports the application and he knows of a business that was trying to move into the site 12 months ago and had to relocate elsewhere because planning was held up so there are tenants ready to move onto the site. He referred to the pathway, Aerotron employ around 200 people and there is a crossing with the A141/2 and there is not a pathway so why is this being reflected on when there will be lesser people at this site.

·         Councillor Connor stated that Fenland is Open for Business and it wants people to bring light industry to Fenland to make the District’s aspirations higher.  

Proposed by Councillor Mrs French, seconded by Councillor Hicks and agreed that the application be GRANTED as per the officer’s recommendation.

(Councillor Sennitt Clough declared that the applicant rents land that she owns and left the room for the duration of the discussion and voting thereon)

(Councillor Benney declared that he knows the applicant but is not pre-determined and will consider the application with an open mind. He further declared, in accordance with Paragraph 14 of the Code of Conduct on Planning Matters, that he is a member of Chatteris Town Council but takes no part in planning)

(Councillor Marks declared, in accordance with Paragraph 14 of the Code of Conduct on Planning Matters, that he attends Chatteris Town Council meetings but takes no part in planning)