Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence for the meeting were received from Councillor N Stubbs

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any disclosable pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interest in respect of matters contained in the agenda.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests.

There was no public participation.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning – copy enclosed

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

APPROVE planning permission with the following conditions:-

1.         The development must be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of this permission.

REASON: Required to be imposed by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2.         Unless explicitly required by condition within this consent, the development hereby permitted shall be carried out in complete accordance with the proposals as detailed on drawings:

            Location Plan (dwg no. BS.23-277-03 Rev B)

            Site Plan with Proposed Fencing (dwg no. BS.23-277-02 Rev C)

            Highway Details (dwg no. BS.23-277-04 Rev B)

            Vehicle Entrance Details (dwg no. BS.23-277-06)

            Fence and Gate Details (dwg no. BS.23-277/05 Rev A)

            Betafence Nylofor 2D Specification

Grounds Maintenance Method Statement: Protection of Public Highway (received 20th May 2024).

REASON: For the avoidance of doubt and to clarify which plans are relevant to the consent.

3.          The materials to be used on the external surfaces of the development hereby approved as indicated within the application form and on drawing(s) ‘Fence and Gate Details’ (dwg no. BS.23-277/05 Rev A) shall be implemented as indicated.

REASON: In order that the Local Planning Authority may ensure that the materials to be used are appropriate to the locality and respond positively to the inherent character of the area.

4.         During the construction period, all trees to be retained shall be protected in accordance with British Standards BS 5837:2012 or any subsequent amendment to the British Standard.

REASON: To protect trees/ hedging or landscape and visual amenity value on and adjacent to the site or those likely to be affected by the proposed development hereby approved. 

5.     During the construction phase of the replacement boundary fencing/gates hereby permitted:-

- wheel washing facilities shall be provided and made available for use at the new site access onto Little Lane where this access is being used by site operatives or for the delivery of materials in the event that the new hard surfacing has not been installed in accordance with condition 6. These facilities shall remain in place for the duration of the construction phase of the development.

- there shall be no deliveries to site or removal of existing material from site between 0830 and 0915 and between 1500 and 1545 during school term time.

Reason: In the interest of protecting residential amenity and to ensure the safe operation of the Highway for the duration of the construction phase of the development.

6.      The new vehicular access hereby approved shall be surfaced with tarmacadam, or similar hard bound material (not loose aggregate), for a distance of at least 5 metres behind the highway boundary, as indicated on the Site Plan with Proposed Fencing (dwg no. BS.23-277-02 Rev C), prior to first use of the new vehicle access by a ground maintenance contractor and retained thereafter.

REASON: To reduce the possibility of deleterious material being deposited in the highway in the interest of highway safety.

7.       The off-site works of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37a

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

APPROVE planning permission with the following conditions:-

1.         The development must be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of this permission.

REASON: Required to be imposed by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2.         Unless explicitly required by condition within this consent, the development hereby permitted shall be carried out in complete accordance with the proposals as detailed on drawings:

Location Plan (1:1250)

Proposed Plans (dated 7th March 2024)

REASON: For the avoidance of doubt and to clarify which plans are relevant to the consent.

3.          The materials to be used on the external surfaces of the development hereby approved as indicated within the application form and on drawing(s) ‘Proposed Plans’ (dated 7th March 2024) shall be implemented as indicated.

REASON: In order that the Local Planning Authority may ensure that the materials to be used are appropriate to the locality and respond positively to the inherent character of the area.

4.         During the construction period, all trees to be retained shall be protected in accordance with British Standards BS 5837:2012 or any subsequent amendment to the British Standard.

REASON: To protect trees/ hedging or landscape and visual amenity value on and adjacent to the site or those likely to be affected by the proposed development hereby approved. 

Mrs C Houlker spoke in opposition to the application.

Councillor J Hill was granted permission to speak and spoke in opposition to the application.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Minded to REFUSE planning permission on the grounds of occupancy levels being harmful to living conditions of future residents and failing to be sympathetic to the surrounding properties and land uses, in conflict with policies DMG1, DMG3 and DMB1. To be brought back to a future committee with draft refusal reason.

Please note:  Shortly after the Committee meeting the application was withdrawn therefore will not be considered further by Officers or Members.

Mr J Smyth spoke in opposition to the application.

Councillor J Hill was granted permission to speak and spoke in opposition to the application.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

REFUSE planning permission for the following reasons:

1.               The proposal is considered to be in direct conflict with the aims and objectives of Policies DMG1, DMB1 and DMB3 of the Ribble Valley Core Strategy insofar that the use fails to be sympathetic to existing adjacent residential land uses in terms of intensity and nature.  It is further considered that the proposed use, by virtue of its level of occupancy, associated activities and divergent disruptive pattern of occupation, compared to that of neighbouring residential development, would be of significant detriment to the residential character of the immediate area and the residential amenities of existing nearby residential occupiers.

2.               The proposed development is considered to be indirect conflict with Policies DMB3, DMG1 and DMG3 of the Ribble Valley Core Strategy insofar that the development fails to provide adequate levels of parking provision to adequately accommodate the occupancy levels and parking requirements associated with the proposed usage of the property and associated activities.

Late item sheet included

Mr F Low spoke in opposition to the application.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

DEFER the application to enable officers to seek amended plans showing the reinstatement of the previously approved pond. Application to be brought back to a future committee for consideration.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report reviewing the final outturn of the 2023/24 capital programme for this Committee seeking Member approval for the slippage of some capital scheme budget from the 2023/24 financial year to the 2024/25 financial year.

Members were reminded that there was 1 capital scheme for this Committee’s original estimate budget, for £26,420. This scheme had been moved from the 2022/23 capital programme.

It was noted that the actual expenditure on this Committee’s capital programme was £6,050, which was 23% of the revised estimate budget.

Slippage was requested for the unspent element of the capital programme scheme so that budget was available for any upgrade or other capital expenditure needed on the current planning software system, before it is replaced under the ‘Software Upgrade for Regulatory Services’ capital scheme in 2025/26, which falls under Policy and Finance Committee.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the slippage of £20,370 on the ‘Planning Portal Link and Planning System Update’ capital scheme budget from the 2023/24 financial year, to 2024/25.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report seeking Committee’s approval of the proposed Scheme of Delegation for Planning and Development and the Code of Conduct for Planning.

Members had previously considered and commented upon a revised Scheme of Delegation and Code of Conduct for Planning at the previous Committee meeting.  Several amendments had been suggested and officers had considered these.  As per the report, the Head of Development and Building Control detailed the changes that had subsequently been adopted and offered explanations for instances where changes weren’t felt necessary.

*****RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Approve the Scheme of Delegation, with an amendment to the last sentence of section 2.9 to clarify ten or more objections received, and recommend its adoption to Council.

2.     Approve the Code of Conduct for Planning and recommend its adoption to Council.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing Committee of the amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the consequential proposed revisions of the Planning Enforcement Policy 2022-2025.

Officers provided a summary of the action that the Council could take if there had been a breach of planning control and outlined the powers available, for example temporary stop notices.  Members were also reminded of the right of appeal if planning permission is refused, along with the timeframes allowed.

Members were keen to stress the importance of the Council utilising its enforcement powers and for officers to be proactive in taking action where necessary.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the amendments to the Planning Enforcement Policy 2022-25.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed

The Chief Executive submitted a report asking Committee to consider the reappointment of the Local Development Plan working group under the remit of the Planning and Development Committee and to confirm its membership.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the continuation of the Local Development Plan Working Group under the remit of this Committee for 2024/25 with the Membership to consist of: 3 Conservatives, 1 Labour, 1 Lib Dem, 1 Independent Group and 1 Progressive Liberal Group/Green.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted an information report updating Committee on changes to the General Permitted Development Order (GDPO) on 21^st May 2024.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted an information report updating Committee on key information in relation to the determination of planning applications.

It was noted that the Local Planning Authority met the Government performance targets for determining planning applications falling within the ‘Major’ ‘Minor’ and ‘Other’ categories during quarter 4 of 2023/24, and whilst the percentage of appeals allowed (25%) was slightly higher than the target  (10%) there were no concerns with the overall performance on appeals.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed

The Chief Executive submitted a report updating Committee on planning enforcement.

Members noted that the Council currently had 101 live planning enforcement matters, of which 46 had submitted planning applications awaiting decisions. Between 3 January 2024 and 22 May 2024, the Council received 54 new complaints.

Members noted the contents of the Appeals report

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