Agenda and minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes from the previous meeting of 5 December 2018.

The minutes of the meeting of 5 December were confirmed and signed.

Councillor Connor clarified that he does not sit on Doddington or Wimblington Parish Council, but attends the meetings in his capacity as a District and County Councillor.

The Committee had 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.

David Rowen presented the report to members.

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

·         Councillor Mrs Laws stated that members had a good view of the site from Larham Way and as the application stands now with the illuminated sign to the front of the retail premises and the non illumination sign to the side of the premises, in her opinion, the proposal is now acceptable.

·         Councillor Connor agreed with the comments made by Councillor Mrs Laws.

·         Councillor Benney added that the residents in Larham Way are in his Town Council ward and he has received no representations or concerns regarding the sign.

Proposed by Councillor Mrs Laws, seconded by Councillor Benney and decided that the application be APPROVED, as per the officer’s recommendation.

(Councillors Benney, Hay, Murphy and Mrs Newell stated that they are members of Chatteris Town Council, but take no part in planning matters)

The Committee had 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.

David Rowen presented the report to members.

Members received a presentation in support of the application, in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure, from Ian Gowler, the Applicants Agent.

Mr Gowler explained that he wished to clarify a few points which were contained within the officer’s report. He stated that under the NPPF, for developments in flood zone 3, the exception test is not required because the current site is 100% paved or roofed so there is no impermeable area currently in situ and the new site proposal is only for a 40% impermeable area, which is a 60% reduction of permeable area which would be beneficial.

Mr Gowler added that the current site is unsightly and is a commercial unit on the entrance to Manea and, in his opinion a development of housing would be better suited for that site. He made the point that the proposed area is currently used by a garage and a photography studio, which is offered on a short term let, and although the buildings have been improved in some areas, other parts of the buildings are not in a state of good repair.

Mr Gowler referred to the car parking that has been provided it is 2.5 metres wide, which falls in line with highways requirements, and although the site plan may be slightly misleading as it shows an overhang to the roof, the site does comply with the requisite specification of 2.5 metre wide spaces for all properties. He stated that the garden areas are mentioned in the officer’s report as to being below the required one third of the property size and, in his view, this statement is incorrect as the areas per property are plot 1 - 42% private space, plot 2 - 43% private space and plot 3 is 34% of private space, which is all over the one third policy requirement.

Mr Gowler commented that the officer’s report mentions that the development is unbalanced and is of a cramped appearance and stated that the reason for the housing type proposed rather than a 1.5 storey property is because it links visually between the two properties that have recently been built in the vicinity of the proposal.

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

·         Councillor Hay stated that the proposal for three properties on the development is too many and is cramped and, with regard to the width of the parking spaces, she feels that they are inadequate and will lead to on street parking. For those reasons she cannot approve the application.

·         Councillor Connor expressed the view that in principle he does not disagree with the development even though it is in flood zone three, but he agrees with Councillor Hay’s comment that the proposal for three dwellings is too many for the site and he would encourage  ...  view the full minutes text for item P57/18

Members were provided a set of confidential papers to consider relating to this item and the meeting was suspended to give members the appropriate time to read the confidential documents.

David Rowen presented the report to members.

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure, from Councillor Mark Buckton in support of the application.

Councillor Buckton explained to members that he had only been made aware a couple of days ago that the confidential papers, which members had considered today, had not formed part of the agenda pack and he felt it was important that the committee had sight of the document.

Councillor Buckton stated that he has also carried out a site visit, has spoken to the applicant, considered the confidential papers and, in his opinion, there is a need for the dwelling. He referred to the report, which was commissioned by the Council, which, in his opinion, was a desk top exercise produced by somebody who did not carry out a site visit and does not address any of the need identified in the confidential set of papers provided earlier.

Councillor Buckton stated that contained within the officer’s report, the location of the site is identified as elsewhere, which, in his opinion, is incorrect as it is on the opposite side of the road and it is part of Manea. He referred to the officer’s report stating that the proposed dwelling would be built on land which is currently open landscape and this is incorrect as it is actually part of the farmyard and any building that is constructed will be dwarfed by the existing barns.

Councillor Buckton expressed the view that if permission is granted, the dwelling would only be visible from the road immediately outside as it cannot be seen from the road as you enter Manea as there is a large farm building and it would not be seen from Fallow Corner Drove as there are tall conifers and other farm buildings and equipment.

Councillor Buckton expressed the opinion that he does not think that the proposal would be a prominent and out of place feature making the point all of the dwellings are on the opposite side of the road along Fallow Corner Drove and at least 50% of them are larger and some of them substantially so. He feels the proposal would be totally in character with the other dwellings that have been built over recent years and in particular with the one which is immediately opposite, which is bigger than the proposal before members today.

Councillor Buckton added that he takes an objective view and if he believes that a planning application does not warrant his support he will not support it, however, in his opinion, the application being determined today is totally worthy of his support. He made the point that farming and agriculture is the life blood of Fenland and the applicant is part of a farming family and they want to be able to continue their  ...  view the full minutes text for item P58/18