Agenda item

To determine the application.

Nikki Carter presented the report to members and drew members attention to the update report that had been circulated.

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.

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

·         Councillor Mrs French stated that she has noted from the officer’s report that there is a restriction on operating hours and she does not think at this time it would be appropriate to place a restriction on its hours of use as there is no indication currently what the building will be used for and who is going to operate it if it actually goes ahead. She stated that it has been several years since the proposal had been considered and does not know whether the grant funding of £10,000 from the Council is still available. Councillor Mrs French feels that the application should be supported but not to include any time restrictions.

·         Councillor Sutton stated that he will support the application, but he expressed the opinion that the design is totally out of character with the locality. He added that, in his view, Wisbech Town Council should be responsible for the development rather than the whole of Fenland.

·         Councillor Mrs French stated that the proposal is part of the County Council’s Communities in Partnership £5,000,000 scheme that was introduced in 2019-2020. She added that she agrees that the design could be far better, and it remains to be seen whether it will ever be built.

·         Councillor Cornwell stated that the Council has brought forward an application for a building for which the use of is unknown and questioned who will be responsible for operating it.

·         David Rowen stated that the hours of opening that are referred to in the conditions have arisen as the result of the hours that were included within the application. He stated that it has been noted that in the longer term the building does need to be more flexible in terms of when it can be open, and explained that there is currently a consultation exercise open on that issue, however, to date there has not been any feedback and if it was proposed by members to grant the application with the removal of that condition then there is the potential for members of the public to state that they have not had the opportunity to comment. David Rowan made the point that if members were minded to grant planning permission with an unrestricted use on the building then it is possible that it could be subject to delegation to officers to pick up any issues arising from the current public consultation and impose appropriate conditions. Councillor Mrs French stated that she was happy with that proposal.

·         Councillor Sutton asked David Rowen to clarify that the decision notice would not be issued until 14 days after the consultation period and David Rowen confirmed that is correct.

Proposed by Councillor Mrs French, seconded by Councillor Skoulding and agreed that the application be APPROVED as per the officer’s recommendation with authority delegated to officers to apply suitable conditions in relation to hours of operation.

(Councillor Benney declared that whilst a Cabinet decision was made in relation to this application, he is not pre-determined on this application)

(Councillor Mrs French declared that as a member of Cabinet match funding was agreed for this project for Wisbech Town Council to approach the Combined Authority, with a further report to be brought back to Cabinet which did not happen and, therefore, she is not pre-determined on this application)

(Councillor Murphy declared that the application may cause a conflict with his Portfolio Holder responsibilities, which include Parks and Open Spaces, and took no part in the discussion or voting thereon)