Agenda item

To determine the application.

Alison Hoffman presented the report to members.

Members asked officer’s the following questions:

·         Councillor Sutton noted within the report that the Cambridgeshire County Council Minerals and Waste Planning Authority have advised officers to contact Anglian Water with regards to the closeness of the development to the works and he asked whether that has taken place? Nick Harding clarified that the issue arose with the pre-application proposal that he was engaged with, and he contacted Anglian Water with that particular proposal, and he never received a reply from them. He added that it is on that basis that officers have not gone to specifically contact Anglian Water over this particular application and the approach that officers have taken as set out in the report is to look to see whether or not colleagues in Environmental Health have any odour complaints in respect of the treatment works and there is no evidence of that, hence the officer’s recommendation. Nick Harding added that given that the Council manages those buildings, not only would the Council receive complaints as an organisation that has responsibility for Environmental Health there would have also been complaints as part of the Council’s landlord responsibilities and the Council have received neither. Councillor Sutton stated that he wanted to ensure that the issue has been dealt with either at the pre- application stage or with this application before the committee today.

·         Councillor Mrs French stated that on the application that members have just determined there appeared to be a great level of detail in the officer’s report from the Middle Level Commissioners or West Fen Internal Drainage Board, however, in this application there does not appear much information from the Nightlayers Internal Drainage Board, and she questioned whether there was a particular reason for this? Nick Harding stated that officers cannot control whether a consultee responds to the consultation or not and the statutory consultee in this scale of application is the Lead Local Flood Authority and they pull rank over the Internal Drainage Boards when it comes to surface water management. Councillor Mrs French added that this application is also in Flood Zone 3 and she just wanted to check whether any information had been received from Nightlayers IDB.

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

·         Councillor Mrs French expressed the view that it is good to see that businesses are thriving in the current climate and that the Council has the insight to submit this application. She added that she hopes that more businesses will look to rent properties at this site going forward and she fully supports the application.

·         Councillor Cornwell stated that he presumes that the Council is planning ahead and there is a demand for this type of building. He added that if that is the case then local businesses should be supported and this application should be approved, and works should commence as soon as possible.

·         Councillor Miscandlon stated that he fully supports the application to bring smaller businesses which then grow into larger businesses.

Proposed by Councillor Miscandlon, seconded by Councillor Cornwell and agreed that the application be APPROVED as per the officer’s recommendation.

(Councillor Benney declared that he is Portfolio Holder for Assets for Fenland District Council, and took no part in the discussion and voting thereon)

(Councillor Murphy registered, under Paragraph 14 of the Code of Conduct on Planning Matters, that he is a member of Chatteris Town Council Planning Committee, but takes no part in planning matters)