Agenda and minutes

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

2.         The Senior 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 that the Council had adopted a protocol for the webcasting of its meetings.

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, in relation to 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.

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

The Committee noted the following substitutions for this meeting:

(i)         Councillor Dorrell for Councillor Butler;

(ii)        Councillor Lea for Councillor Hart; and

(iii)       Councillor Philip for Councillor Jones.

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

There were no declarations of interest pursuant to the Council’s Member Code of Conduct.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 4 November 2015 (attached).

Resolved:

(1)        That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2015 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 four affordable homes with nine parking spaces (DEV-014-2015/16).

The Assistant Director of Governance (Development Management) presented a report for the erection of four affordable homes with nine parking spaces at the Garages Court north of 52 Stewards Green Road in Epping.

The Assistant Director advised the Committee that this application had been deferred by Area Plans Sub-Committee East on 9 September 2015, with a request that additional information concerning parking displacement and parking surveys be provided. These surveys had now been carried out and the Highways Authority had been re-consulted. The additional information within the report was highlighted to the Committee.

The Assistant Director stated that the application site was currently occupied by a group of 14 garages arranged in two blocks across an entrance court with a grassed strip to the front. The garages were located to the north of Stewards Green Road and served residents in the local area. The proposal was for the construction of four terrace dwellings facing the road with private amenity space to the rear, and the provision of nine parking spaces. The buildings would be similar in design to the terrace of properties to the south and would be affordable rented units as the land was owned by the Council.

The Assistant Director reported that Officers had concluded the proposed scheme represented a small brownfield development at a sustainable location which would have no serious impact on the amenity of neighbours. Whilst the loss of the garages and some parking displacement was recognised as an issue, it was considered that this would not lead to serious parking issues in the immediate vicinity. Furthermore, this concern was outweighed by other positive attributes of the development, including the provision of much needed affordable housing. Therefore, it had been recommended to grant planning permission, subject to the conditions listed in the report and an extra standard condition to limit the hours of working at the site during construction.

The Committee noted the Summary of Representations received in relation to the application. There had been three letters of objection received from residents in Stewards Green Road, and the Town Council had offered no objection to the scheme. The Committee heard from an Objector and the Applicant’s Agent, who suggested the provision of a resident’s off-street parking scheme in Stewards Green Road be investigated, before proceeding to debate the application.

A local Member for Epping Hemnall informed the Committee that Area Plans Sub-Committee East had requested a parking survey to be undertaken during daylight hours, between 7.00am & 9.30am and 3.00pm & 7.00pm, to ascertain the problems with commuter parking in the area. The overnight surveys conducted by the Applicant did not meet the requirements of the Merton Parking Survey Methodology and the surveys should have been conducted between 7.00am & 8.00am and 6.00pm & 7.00pm as a minimum requirement, with further occasional surveys undertaken during the rest of the day. The Member had no objections to the design of the houses and welcomed the suggestion to investigate the possible provision of a resident’s off-street parking scheme in the area.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

(Director of Governance) To consider the attached report for the demolition of 54 existing garages and the erection of 12 affordable homes with 28 parking spaces (DEV-015-2015/16).

The Assistant Director of Governance introduced a report for the demolition of 54 existing garages and the erection of 12 affordable homes with 34 parking spaces.

The Assistant Director advised the Committee that as the proposal was for more than 10 new properties, it was classed as a major application and had not been considered by Area Plans Sub-Committee East but submitted directly to this Committee.

The Assistant Director stated that the application site was currently occupied by 54 garages, an entrance court and a large grassed area to the south of the site. The garages were located on the western side of the site, behind existing dwellings on Queens Road, and there were allotments to the north and west of the site. The proposal was for the demolition of the existing garages, to be replaced with 12 two storey dwellings laid out as three terraces of four properties. There would be 2 two-bedroomed properties and 10 three-bedroomed properties provided, with 34 off-street parking spaces. In addition, the existing access to the site would be widened by 2.5m through the reduction in the garden of 17 Queens Road (owned by the Council).

The Assistant Director reported that Planning Officers had concluded the development would provide much needed affordable housing, and was predominantly the redevelopment of a brownfield site within an existing urban location. Whilst the proposed private amenity space for each dwelling was below the recommended standard, this was considered acceptable in this instance as all of the properties would be affordable housing for applicants on the Council’s Housing Waiting List. It was acknowledged that the development would result in the loss of occupied garages, but it was felt that the displaced parking would be adequately mitigated. The insufficiencies of the submitted Drainage Strategy could also be addressed by way of a condition. The benefits of the development through the provision of affordable housing was considered to outweigh any harm and the application had been recommended for approval.

The Committee noted the summary of representations received in relation to the application. There had been 13 letters of objection received, including from North Weald Bassett Parish Council, and the North Weald & District Preservation Society. The Committee heard from the Parish Council and the Applicant’s Agent before proceeding to debate the application.

In response to a number of questions from the Members present, the Assistant Director stated that conditions could be added for the provision of lighting and also ‘No Parking’ signage along the access road. Any requirement for a fire hydrant would be dealt with by building regulations, and the access road would be regarded as a private road for the Council to maintain as owners of the land. All of the off-street parking provision would be unallocated and available for users of the nearby allotments. It was reiterated that the proposed width of the access road, internal roadway and turning head would be sufficient to allow for the manoeuvring of refuse freighters, although some of the trees would require trimming  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

Resolved:

(1)        That, as agreed by the Chairman and in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, together with paragraphs (6) and (24) of the Council Procedure Rules, the following items of urgent business be considered following publication of the agenda:

            (a)        EPF/2198/15 – Dragons, Nursery Road, Loughton.

(Director of Governance) To consider the attached report for the sub-division of the site and a proposed new dwelling fronting onto Upper Park on the site of the former tennis court (DEV-016-2015/16).

The Assistant Director of Governance (Development Management) presented a report for the sub-division of ‘Dragons’ in Nursery Road, Loughton and the erection of a new dwelling fronting on to Upper Park on the site of the former tennis court.

The Assistant Director reported that this application was originally considered by Area Plans Sub-Committee South on 25 November 2015. A motion to refuse the application, contrary to the Officer recommendation, was proposed and seconded but the vote was tied; four Members of the Sub-Committee then stood to refer this application to the District Development Management Committee under the Minority Reference rules within the Constitution.

The Assistant Director stated that the application site was part of the residential curtilage of ‘Dragons’, a Grade II listed late Victorian house in a gothic architectural style. The overall plot was square in shape and located on the corner of Upper Park and Nursery Road, with ‘Dragons’ located in the north east corner. The whole site was heavily treed and was covered by an Area Preservation Order. The application site itself was the area adjacent to Upper Park, on the site of the existing tennis court. The new dwelling was of a very contemporary design with a circular stair area and curved walls. Vehicular and pedestrian access would be from Upper Park, with the existing access to Dragons unaffected.

The Assistant Director informed the Committee that Planning Officers had felt the proposal was a contemporary and unique design which would add to the character of the immediate and wider area. It was not considered to harm the setting of the existing listed building and was acceptable in respect of the protected trees on the site. There were also no significant amenity or highways concerns with the application. Therefore, Planning Officers was recommending approval for the application, with conditions.

The Committee noted the summary of representations received in relation to the application. Four letters of objection had been received, including one from Loughton Town Council. The Committee heard from the Applicant before proceeding to debate the application.

The Committee was divided over the design of the building. Some Members felt that it was a stunning piece of architecture, with good design and good use of materials. Other similar modern designs had been built in Loughton, and this proposed design would add to the setting and complement the existing listed building at ‘Dragons’. Other Members took a contrary view and regarded the proposal as a poor modern design, where two of the walls had no windows. It was felt that any dwelling built here should not detract from the original building (‘Dragons’) and its setting. It was noted that the Tree and Landscape Officer had no objections to the scheme, and that the proposed dwelling would be screened by the existing trees from ‘Dragons’.

Resolved:

(1)        That planning application EPF/2198/15 at ‘Dragons’ in Nursery Road, Loughton be granted permission subject to the following conditions:

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.

Confidential Items Commencement

Paragraph 9 of the Council Procedure Rules contained in the Constitution require:

(1)        All business of the Council requiring to be transacted in the presence of the press and public to be completed by 10.00 p.m. at the latest.

(2)        At the time appointed under (1) above, the Chairman shall permit the completion of debate on any item still under consideration, and at his or her discretion, any other remaining business whereupon the Council shall proceed to exclude the public and press.

(3)        Any public business remaining to be dealt with shall be deferred until after the completion of the private part of the meeting, including items submitted for report rather than decision.

Background Papers

Paragraph 8 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution define 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 (as defined in Rule 10) and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

Inspection of background papers may be arranged by contacting the officer responsible for the item.

The Committee noted that there was no business which necessitated the exclusion of the public and press from the meeting.