Agenda and minutes

1.         This meeting is to be webcast. Members are reminded of the need to activate their microphones before speaking.

2.         The Democratic Services Officer will read the following announcement:

”I would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be broadcast live to the internet (or filmed) and will be capable of repeated viewing (or another use by third parties).

If you are seated in the lower public seating area then it is likely that the recording cameras will capture your image and this will result in the possibility that your image will become part of the broadcast.

This may infringe your human and data protection rights and if you wish to avoid this then you should move to the upper public gallery.

Could I please also remind Members to activate their microphones before speaking.”

The Senior Democratic Services Officer reminded everyone present that the meeting would be broadcast live to the internet and would be capable of repeated viewing, which could infringe their human and data protection rights.

The Chairman welcomed members of the public to the meeting and outlined the procedures and arrangements adopted by the Council to enable persons to address the Committee, for the determination of applications for planning permission. The Committee noted the advice provided for the public and speakers in attendance at Council Planning Committee meetings.

As the Chairman, Cllr Sandler, had tended his apologies for the meeting, and Cllr Rolfe had taken the Chair in his absence as the standing Vice-Chairman of the Committee, nominations were invited from the Committee for the appointment of an interim Vice-Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

Resolved:

(1)        That Cllr S Kane be appointed as Vice-Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

(Director of Governance)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting in accordance with Council Rule S1 in the Constitution (Part 4 “The Rules” refers).

The Committee noted the following substitutions for this meeting:

(a)        Cllr Keska for Cllr Mitchell;

(b)        Cllr Shiell for Cllr Jones;

(c)        Cllr Stallan for Cllr Boyce; and

(d)        Cllr Waller for Cllr Sandler.

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

(a)        Pursuant to the Council’s Member Code of Conduct, Cllrs Chambers, Jennings, and Keska declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda, by virtue of having been a Member of the Portfolio Holder Advisory Group on Leisure Management. The Councillors had determined that their interest was non-pecuniary and would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

·                  EPF/2207/16   Playing Fields & Community Centre, Hillhouse, Ninefields, Waltham Abbey.

(b)        Pursuant to the Council’s Member Code of Conduct, Cllr Dorrell declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda, by virtue of being the ward Member for the application site. The Councillor had determined that his interest was non-pecuniary and would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

·                  EPF/2207/16   Playing Fields & Community Centre, Hillhouse, Ninefields, Waltham Abbey.

(c)        Pursuant to the Council’s Member Code of Conduct, Cllr H Kane declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda, by virtue of being the Portfolio Holder for Leisure & Community Services. The Councillor had determined that her interest was non-pecuniary and would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

·                  EPF/2207/16   Playing Fields & Community Centre, Hillhouse, Ninefields, Waltham Abbey.

(d)        Pursuant to the Council’s Member Code of Conduct, Cllr S Kane declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda, by virtue of having attended various meetings in connection with the application and being a Member for the ward adjacent to the application site. The Councillor had determined that his interest was non-pecuniary and would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

·                  EPF/2207/16   Playing Fields & Community Centre, Hillhouse, Ninefields, Waltham Abbey.

(e)        Pursuant to the Council’s Member Code of Conduct, Cllr C C Pond declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda, by virtue of being a Member of Essex County Council. The Councillor had determined that his interest was non-pecuniary and would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

·                  EPF/2207/16   Playing Fields & Community Centre, Hillhouse, Ninefields, Waltham Abbey.

(f)         Pursuant to the Council’s Member Code of Conduct, Cllrs Shiell and Webster declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda, by virtue of having been a Member of the Portfolio Holder Advisory Group on Leisure Management and having responded to the consultation on the application. The Councillors had determined that their interest was non-pecuniary and would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

·                  EPF/2207/16   Playing Fields & Community Centre, Hillhouse, Ninefields, Waltham Abbey.

(g)        Pursuant to the Council’s Member Code of Conduct, Cllr D Stallan declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda, by virtue of having been a Member of the Cabinet during initial discussions for this application. The Councillor had determined that his interest was non-pecuniary and would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

·                  EPF/2207/16  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 28 September 2016.

Resolved:

(1)        That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2016 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(Director of Governance) To consider the attached report for an outline application with all matters reserved except access for the erection of a Health Centre building; 60 Independent  Living Older Persons Apartments Building (Use Class C2 - with a minimum of 6 hours care to be provided per week for each apartment) with a minimum of 40% affordable; Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool Building (to include Fitness Suite and Community Hall); Open Space including a mini soccer grass pitch for use by under 7/8 year olds and footpaths; and ancillary development including three vehicular accesses off Hillhouse, car parking, and SUDs Infrastructure and demolition of Ninefields Community Centre Building (DEV-014-2016/17).

The Assistant Director of Governance (Development Management) presented a report for an outline application with all matters reserved except access for the erection of a Health Centre Building; 60 Independent Living Older Persons apartments building (Use Class C2 – with a minimum of 6 hours care to be provided per week for each apartment) with a minimum of 40% of the apartments to be provided as affordable housing; Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool building (to include Fitness Suite and Community Hall); Open Space including a mini soccer grass pitch for use by under 7/8 year olds and footpaths; and ancillary development including three vehicular accesses off Hillhouse, car parking, and SUDs Infrastructure and demolition of the existing Ninefields Community Centre building. This application was before the Committee as it was classed as a large scale major application on Council-owned land.

The Assistant Director reported that the application site was a 3.73 hectare area of land consisting of open space, car parking and the Ninefields Community Centre, located within the Ninefields estate. To the south, there was a brook and public footpath, with residential dwellings to the north, west and south of the site. To the east of the site was a small shopping parade within a pedestrianised square with residential flats above the retail units. Beyond these properties were further open spaces, including school playing fields. Within the site, the playing fields to the north were owned by Essex County Council, while the playing fields to the south, the Community Centre and the car parking area was owned by Epping Forest District Council. The site was not located within the Metropolitan Green Belt or a conservation area, although there were two veteran trees and a public footpath in the southern portion of the site. This was an outline application with all matters reserved except details of access, thus the only considerations for the Committee were the principle of the development plus the access arrangements and its impact on highway safety and the free flow of traffic.

The Assistant Director added that the four standard land contamination planning conditions should have been included on the report, and stated that these would be added if the application was approved. Condition 9 also referred to Cripsey Brook, when in actual fact this should have read Honey Lane Brook.

The Assistant Director stated that Planning Officers had concluded the proposal would provide purpose built facilities to meet the needs of the local community, including specialised Extra Care housing, of which 40% would be affordable housing. The key concern was the loss of part of the existing playing fields. However, 1.58 hectares of recreational ground would be retained as playing fields, the proposal would provide a new Leisure Facility and robust mitigation measures had been requested by Sport England; therefore, it was considered there were sufficient exceptional circumstances to outweigh the potential harm. The Transport Assessment had demonstrated that the additional traffic generated by the development would not adversely impact upon the existing highway network,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

(Director of Governance) To consider the attached report for the upgrade and renewal of the recreational facilities on the site to provide short stay all weather accommodation in order to ensure the site's continued use for recreational purposes, and advertisement consent for a proposed new camp site sign next to the site entrance (DEV-015-2016/17).

The Assistant Director of Governance (Development Management) presented a report for two applications at the site: the upgrade and renewal of the recreational facilities on the site to provide short stay all weather accommodation in order to ensure the site’s continued use for recreational purposes; and advertisement consent for a proposed new camp site sign next to the site entrance. The applications were before the Committee as they was classed as a large scale major application.

The Assistant Director reported that the site was 17 acres in size and located on the west side of Manor Road, 100 metres south of the junction with New Road. The south and east sections of the site (approximately 40%) were currently in use as a caravan site with a number of timber buildings located near the end of the main access drive. The site contained many mature trees and was well screened from view along Manor Road. The proposal included: the demolition and replacement of the existing central pavilion building; the refurbishment of three existing cabins and provision of caretaker lodgings; the removal of mobile homes/pitches and their replacement with 42 new purpose-designed timber-clad cabins; general landscaping works; and the upgrading of the existing entrance drive to improve safety and security. The proposed new camp signs would be located on each side of the entrance to the camp, 1.5metres x 0.7 metres in size, and externally lit by a low luminance trough light shining down on the face of the signs.

The Assistant Director stated that Planning Officers had concluded the continued recreational use of the site was appropriate in the Metropolitan Green Belt, and the Christian focus of the camp site, making good use of the wooded and tranquil setting, was liable to result in activities of a quieter nature than commonly found on a commercial camp site open to the general public. The appearance and bulk of the timber-clad cabins, providing a more weather resistant form of accommodation, was acceptable in a woodland setting. The proposed signs would not unduly detract from the street scene and were an appropriate form of directional sign to assist visitors in locating the site. Therefore, it was recommended that planning permission be granted for the two applications.

The Assistant Director added that Planning Officers had reconsidered the planning conditions since the publication of the agenda for the meeting. It was felt that some additional wording should be added to condition 6, as it might not be necessary to conduct all of the listed habitat surveys, such that the applicant should demonstrate that no harm would occur to the listed species during and after development. It was also felt that an extra condition was needed requiring all existing buildings, containers and caravans not shown on the site plan to be removed before the proposed central pavilion was first available for use. And a second additional condition to reflect the phased development of the site was now proposed to limit the number of caravans and cabins on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

(Director of Governance) To consider the attached report for the proposed demolition of existing outbuildings and erection of one new dwelling (DEV-016-2016/17).

The Assistant Director of Governance (Development Management) presented a report for the proposed demolition of existing outbuildings and erection of one new dwelling on land adjacent to The Brewhouse in Church Lane, Ongar. The application had been considered by Area Planning Sub-Committee East on 5 October 2016 and granted permission, but four Members of the Sub-Committee stood to refer the application to this Committee under the Minority Reference Rules within the Constitution (Part4, Rule M2 refers).

The Assistant Director reported that the site was part of a property known as The Brewhouse, which was accessed by Church Lane. At the northern end of the site was a building with an open front facing south, constructed of breeze block with a flat metal surfaced roof and three windows to the rear facing north. This building faced on to an enclosed yard, with a wall 2.5 metres in height along the eastern side, a hedge along the western side, and three further buildings along the southern side. On the other side of the hedge was a track leading from Greensted Road to Lavender Farm, part of which was the Essex Way public footpath. The site sloped from south to north and was within the Metropolitan Green Belt. In the vicinity of the site were three listed buildings, of which one – Greensted Hall – was a grade II listed building.

The Assistant Director added that the proposed dwelling would face north and have a chalet bungalow character to its appearance. The front elevation would have one full storey and roof accommodation, with the forward projecting bay appearing to be above ground, whereas the accommodation set further back would be at basement level, terraced into the slope of the ground. This would give the appearance of a one-and-a-half storey building with a detached outbuilding to the front, and the footprint would resemble an inverted ‘L’. The main element of the proposed building would appear as a flank wall and would have two windows facing the footpath. The ridge of the gable roof would have an average height of 6.5 metres as seen from the footpath.

The Assistant Director stated that Planning Officers had concluded the site, although within the Metropolitan Green Belt, was previously developed land and the proposal would result in a 15% reduction in volume and a 50% reduction in the built form footprint. The application complied with all the relevant Local Plan Policies and Government Guidance, and was therefore recommended for approval.

The Assistant Director informed the Committee that, since the publication of the agenda, four additional letters of objection had been received from The Old Rectory Greensted Road, Wren Cottage Greensted Road, The Granary Church Lane and Church Barn Church Lane, as well as a Statement of Truth. The Statement asserted that one of the restrictive covenants on the site prevented any commercial or business activity other than that of Market Gardener, Doctor, Dentist, Solicitor or Architect, and not for any purpose other than as a private residence in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 requires that the permission of the Chairman be obtained, after prior notice to the Chief Executive, before urgent business not specified in the agenda (including a supplementary agenda of which the statutory period of notice has been given) may be transacted.

The Committee noted that there was no other urgent business for consideration.

Exclusion

To consider whether, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended) or are confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, which came into effect on 1 March 2006, requires the Council to consider whether maintaining the exemption listed above outweighs the potential public interest in disclosing the information. Any member who considers that this test should be applied to any currently exempted matter on this agenda should contact the proper officer at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Background Papers

Article 17 (Access to Information) of the Constitution defines background papers as being documents relating to the subject matter of the report which in the Proper Officer's opinion:

(a)        disclose any facts or matters on which the report or an important part of the report is based;  and

(b)        have been relied on to a material extent in preparing the report and does not include published works or those which disclose exempt or confidential information and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

The Council will make available for public inspection one copy of each of the documents on the list of background papers for four years after the date of the meeting. Inspection of background papers can be arranged by contacting either the Responsible Officer or the Democratic Services Officer for the particular item.

The Committee noted that there was no other business for consideration which necessitated the exclusion of the public and press.