Agenda and minutes

The Committee Officer reminded everyone present that the meeting would be broadcast live to the Internet, and that the Council had adopted a protocol for the webcasting of its meetings.

(Director of Governance)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

It was noted that Councillor T Thomas was substituting for Councillor H Kauffman, Councillor D Stallan was substituting for Councillor J Knapman and Councillor G Shiell was substituting for Councillor J Lea at the meeting.

(Director of Governance) To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

No declarations of interest were made at the meeting pursuant to the Code of Conduct.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Sub-Committee (previously circulated).

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2014 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(Director of Governance) To consider the attached report for the erection of a new MOT workshop, Grounds Maintenance workshop with office facilities, glasshouses and associated parking, storage areas and fencing; this is a revised application to EPF/0063/13 (DEV-005-2014/15).

The Committee considered an application for the construction of new workshop facilities for the Council on a site adjacent to an existing industrial estate in Loughton. The application had been referred by Area Planning Subcommittee South on 9 July 2014.

The Committee received further information on the application which had been sought by Area Planning Subcommittee South relating to:

(i)         Ecology – It was now proposed that a further condition be imposed requiring a further reptile survey on the site;

(ii)        Soundproofing – It was agreed that a further condition be imposed to ensure that proposed soundproofing be agreed prior to use of the building;

(ii)        Vehicular HGV access for deliveries – it was noted that officers proposed restrictions on the closing of the gate (during operational hours) and hours of operation.

Responses relating to sequential testing of sites, the relevance of a prior approval on the site and the weight to be given to existing plan policy were noted.

Members expressed concern that the residents of the Oakwood Hill Estate should be afforded greater protection and asked for a further condition requiring a scheme of enhanced planting at the front of the site or on the opposite verge to provide adequate tree screening. Subject to these amendments the Committee approved the proposals.

Resolved:

That, subject to the following conditions, planning application EPF/0439/14 on land adjacent 22 and 28 Oakwood Hill Industrial Estate, Oakwood Hill, Loughton be granted:

(1)        The development hereby permitted must be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of this notice.

Reason: To comply with the requirements of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

(2)        No construction works above ground level shall take place until documentary and photographic details of the types and colours of the external finishes have been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority, in writing. The development shall be implemented in accordance with such approved details.

Reason:- To ensure a satisfactory appearance in the interests of visual amenity, in accordance with the guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework and policy DBE1 of the adopted Local Plan and Alterations.

(3)        The development hereby permitted will be completed strictly in accordance with the approved drawings nos: 13/0319/P01; 10332/P/001; 10356/P/001 rev.A; 100 rev. P3; 13/0319/P02; 13/0319/P03; 13/0319/P04; 13/0319/P05; 13/0319/P06; 13/0319/P07; 13/0319/P08; 13/0319/P09; SP9216-LD3863-01 issue C; 101 rev. P1; 700 rev. A; and 701 rev. B. 

Reason: To ensure the proposal is built in accordance with the approved drawings.

(4)        No development shall take place, including site clearance or other preparatory work, until full details of both hard and soft landscape works (including tree planting) and implementation programme (linked to the development schedule) have been submitted to an approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. These works shall be carried out as approved. The hard landscaping details shall include, as appropriate, and in addition to details of existing features to be retained: proposed finished levels or  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

(Director of Governance) To consider the attached report for the proposed replacement of a perimeter fence with a 1.8m high chain-link fence; this is a revised application (DEV-006-2014/15).

The committee considered an application referred from Area Planning Subcommittee East from its meeting on 23 July 2014. The application sought the replacement of a perimeter fence with a 1.8 metre high chain link fence together with associated hedge planting. The application had been referred with a recommendation of refusal on visual amenity grounds.

The committee heard from an objector and the applicants agent.

The Committee noted that the Council were unable to impose a condition on the current application to require the fencing of the residential curtilage of the property as the permission relating to that requirement was not being implemented.

The Committee expressed concern that laurel formed part of the hedge planting proposed and sought the agreement of the applicants agent to remove this from the planting scheme notwithstanding the scheme of landscaping on the application plans. It was agreed that a condition relating to the approval of the landscaping be imposed.

The committee voted of the proposed refusal which was lost and then proceeded to approve the application subject to the originally proposed conditions and an additional condition relating to the planning scheme.

Resolved:

That, subject to the following conditions, planning application EPF/0670/14 at Oak Hill Farm, Theydon Bois be granted:

(1)        The development hereby permitted must be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of this notice.

Reason: To comply with the requirements of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

(2)        Subject to condition 4 below, the development hereby permitted will be completed strictly in accordance with the approved drawings nos: ESB PF 002 rev C, ESB PF 005 rev A and ESB PF 010

Reason: To ensure the proposal is built in accordance with the approved drawings.

(3)        No development, including works of demolition or site clearance, shall take place until a Tree Protection Plan Arboricultural Method Statement and site monitoring schedule in accordance with BS:5837:2012 (Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction - recommendations) has been submitted to the Local Planning Authority and approved in writing. The development shall be carried out only in accordance with the approved documents unless the Local Planning Authority gives its written consent to any variation.

Reason:- To comply with the duties indicated in Section 197 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 so as to ensure that the amenity value of the existing trees are safeguarded, in accordance with the guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework and policy LL10 of the adopted Local Plan and Alterations.

(4)        Notwithstanding the planting details shown on drawing number ESB PF 002 rev C, the perimeter fence hereby approved shall not take place until a scheme of soft landscaping and a statement of the methods, including a timetable, for its Implementation (linked to the development schedule), have been submitted to the Local Planning Authority and approved in writing. The landscape scheme shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details and the agreed timetable. If  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

There was no further urgent business to be transacted at the meeting.