The Chair welcomed Members of the Planning Committee, Officers, members of the public and those watching the webcast to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor M Booth, who was deputised by Councillor M Jordan, Councillor S Foulkes who was deputised by Councillor George Davies and Councillor G McManus who was deputised by Councillor Luxon-Kewley.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meetings held on 8 June and 20 July 2023.

The director of Law and Governance submitted the minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 8 June and 20 July 2023.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 8 June and 20 July 2023 be approved.

Members are asked whether they have any personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any application on the agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Members of the Committee were asked whether they had any personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any item on the agenda and if so, to declare them and state what they were.

No such declarations were made.

The Development Management Manager presented the report of the Director of Regeneration and Place in relation to the above application for consideration.

An objector of the application, Gabrielle Simpson addressed the committee.

The Applicant, Paul Brett, addressed the committee.

On a motion by the Chair seconded by Councillor K Hodson it was –

Resolved - that the application be approved subject to the following conditions.

1  The development hereby permitted shall begin not later than [3] years from the date of this decision.

2  The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans listed as follows:

PL.001 Location Plan

PL.002(A) Existing Site Plan

PL.004(A) Existing Elevations

PL.003(B) Existing Floorplans

PL.005 Existing Street Elevations

PL.006(E) Proposed Site Plan

PL.007(E) Proposed Floor Plans

PL.009(D) Proposed Street Elevations

PL.008(E) Proposed Elevations

PL.010(B) Proposed Elevation Materials

Bat Scoping Assessment (Mulberry Consultants, ref. KE22/02693, dated 19.12.22)

Arboricultural Method Statement (Mulberry Consultants, ref. TRE/MMASNB, dated 20.12.22)

Arboricultural Implications Assessment (Mulberry Consultants, ref. TRE/MMASNB, dated 20.12.22)

3  Notwithstanding the hereby approved Proposed Elevation Material Plan (ref. PL.010(B)), prior to the commencement of any works to the superstructure (other than demolition), the applicant will submit to the LPA and have approved in writing, details of all external facing materials.

4  Notwithstanding the hereby approved Proposed Site Plan (ref. PL.006(E)), prior to the commencement of any works to the superstructure (other than demolition), the applicant will submit to the LPA and have approved in writing, details of the 14no. cycle parking stands/enclosures. The development will be built-out strictly in accordance with the approved details and maintained and be used solely for the purpose of cycle parking for the life of the development.

5  Other than the 2no. dedicated disabled spaces, the 14no. car-parking spaces as shown on hereby approved Proposed Site Plan (ref. PL.006(E)), shall be built-out strictly in accordance with the hereby approved details and maintained and be used solely for the purposes of parking for the life of the development.

6  Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the LPA, the 2no. disabled parking spaces as shown on hereby approved Proposed Site Plan (ref. PL.006(E)), shall be built-out strictly in accordance with the hereby approved details and maintained and be used solely for the purposes of parking of blue badge holders for the life of the development.

7  Prior to the commencement of any works to the superstructure (other than demolition), a detailed scheme for landscaping will be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall comprise of a plan and specification and demonstrate: i) The materials to be used for hard and soft surfacing; ii) tree and hedge planting across the site (including a minimum of nine trees and, where iii) detailed planting plan and specification for soft landscaping of land iv) the location and design of fences, gates, walls, railings or other means of enclosure v) the timing of implementation of the scheme and vi) the specification and siting of a box scheme is produced  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

The Development Management Manager presented the report of the Director of Regeneration and Place to update Members on the performance of the Development Management Service regarding planning appeals, including the percentage of the Council’s decisions overturned (on appeal) by the Planning Inspectorate.

In a response to a query regarding why the report was not brought to committee in July 2023, the Development Management Manager detailed the current work load and staffing changes taking place in the planning department, and informed members that this was the earliest opportunity to produce the report.

Councillor K Hodson praised the planning team for its recent work and noted that quarter 1 figures would reduce following the outcome of a planning appeal hearing.

The Chair expressed contentment with the information produced.

On a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor K Hodson, it was –

Resolved – That the performance update report be noted and endorsed.

The Development Management Manager presented the report of the Director of Regeneration and Place to update Members on the performance of the Development Management Service with regard to determining planning applications. The report outlined performance against government targets in terms of the speed of processing all applications.

Members noted that the change to a use of a new software had caused a backlog of cases.

In response to a member query as to whether the department was adequately resourced, the Development Management Manager informed members that the team currently has sufficient staff levels, however this could change depending on the unpredictable nature of the workload.

On a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor K Hodson, it was –

Resolved – That the performance update report be noted and endorsed.

The Development Management Manager presented the report of the Director of Regeneration and Place to update Members on the performance of the Development Management Service with regard to its planning enforcement activity for the period of 1st January 2023 to 31st March 2023, and 1st April 2023 to 30th June 2023.

Members requested further information from officers, such as roll over figures regarding cases yet to reach a key milestone.

On a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor K Hodson, it was –

Resolved – That the performance update report be noted and endorsed.