The Chair announced the sad passing of Councillor Andy Corkhill and Honorary Alderman Gerry Ellis.  Members stood in tribute for a minute’s silence.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2021.

The Director of Law and Governance submitted the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2021 for approval.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2021 be approved.

Members of the committee 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 application on the agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

No such declarations were made.

The Director of Regeneration and Place submitted the above application for consideration.

An objector on behalf of The Caldy Society addressed the Committee.

The Applicant’s Agent was unable to attend the meeting having regard to limiting numbers due to Coronavirus.  Mr M Neal, Legal Advisor to the Committee, therefore read out to the Committee the Agent’s written representation.

It was moved by the Chair and seconded by Councillor S Foulkes that the application be approved subject to the following conditions with the inclusion of conditions relating to a Construction Management Plan and that no walls, fences or other means of enclosure shall be removed on any part of the land lying between any main wall of the building fronting a highway and the highway boundary.

The motion was put and carried (11:0). 

Resolved (11:0) – That the application be approved with the following conditions:

The Director of Regeneration and Place submitted the above application for consideration.

It was moved by the Chair and seconded by Councillor S Foulkes that the application be approved subject to the following conditions.

The motion was put and carried (11:0). 

Resolved (11:0) – That the application be approved with the following conditions:

The Director for Regeneration and Place submitted a report updating 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.

The Assistant Director, Chief Planner reported that in 2021/22, despite the continuing difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, an increase in planning application numbers and staffing resources, the Service had again comfortably surpassed the requirements for all targets in Major, Minor and Other categories of applications for Quarter 2 which was the period 1 July to 20 September 2021 and that 100% of Major applications and 78% of Minor applications had been determined within 13 weeks (Major) and 8 weeks (Minor) or within the extended period agreed between the Council and the applicant.

It was further reported that 86% of other applications had been determined within 8 weeks or within the extended period agreed between the Council and the applicant for the second quarter of 2021/22.

Members were informed that there was still a backlog due to increased work and staffing resources however two new appointments had been made and a further appointment for a planning assistant was in the process of being appointed.

Councillor S Foulkes commented upon the fact that Matthew Parry-Davies had left the organisation and the Chair requested that the best wishes of the Committee be placed on record.

On a motion by the Chair and seconded by Councillor S Foulkes, it was -

Resolved – That the report be noted.

The Director for Regeneration and Place submitted a report 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.

The Assistant Director, Chief Planner reported that the national average for the number of appeals allowed is around 33% per year.  During the first quarter of 2021/22 0 appeals had been allowed out of 11 appeals and during the second quarter 3 appeals had been allowed out of 12 appeals from a total of 23 appeal decisions, therefore this was comfortably under 33%.  Details of the 3 appeals allowed were outlined in paragraph 3.5 of the report.

Members were advised that the next report to be brought to this Committee would include those decisions that had been particularly successful.

On a motion by the Chair and seconded by Councillor S Foulkes, it was -

Resolved – That the report be noted.

The Director for Regeneration and Place submitted a report to update Members on the performance of the Development Management Service with regard to its planning enforcement activity for the period 1 July to 30 September 2021.

Members were advised that the performance of the enforcement service would be reported to the Planning Committee on a quarterly basis in future.

The Assistant Director, Chief Planner reported that 128 new cases had been opened between 1 July and 30 September 2021 and that during this period 67 cases had reached a key milestone, 85% of these had been reached within 13 weeks.  During this period 58 cases had been closed.

The report outlined some examples of key successes achieved during this quarter which included Land at the corner of Price Street and Pattern Street, Birkenhead, 37 The Wiend, Tranmere, Old Anselmians Rugby Club, Eastham and Wallasey Cricket Club, The Oval Cricket Ground, Liscard and Members were advised that no formal notices had been issued during this period.

On a motion by the Chair and seconded by Councillor S Foulkes, it was -

Resolved – That the report be noted.