Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed the members of the public to the meeting and introduced the Committee and Officers present. The Chairman also outlined the procedure for speakers addressing the Committee.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 5 July 2005 (attached)

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 5 July 2005 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(Head of Research and Democratic Services)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The Committee was advised that Councillor Mrs M McEwen was substituting for Councillor Mrs P Smith, Councillor D Stallan was substituting for Councillor B Sandler and Councillor J Whitehouse was substituting for Councillor D Kelly at the meeting.

(Head of Research and Democratic Services) To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

(a) Pursuant to the code of member conduct, Councillor D Stallan declared a personal interest in agenda item 6 (St Johns School, Tower Road, Epping – Planning application EPF/1400/04 for a new secondary school and residential development) by virtue (i) his son was due to attend the school in September 2005; and (ii) that he was a governor of a feeder school (St Andrews Primary School), the Head Teacher of which had expressed support for the scheme. The Councillor indicated that he had not been involved in the decision of the school to support the scheme. The Councillor had therefore determined his interests were not prejudicial and indicated that he would remain in the meeting during the consideration and voting on that item.

(b) Pursuant to the code of member conduct, Councillor J M Whitehouse declared a personal interest in agenda item 6 (St Johns School, Tower Road, Epping – Planning application EPF/1400/04 for a new secondary school and residential development) by virtue of being an Epping Town Councillor. The Councillor had therefore determined his interest was not prejudicial and indicated that he would remain in the meeting during the consideration and voting on that item.

(Head of Planning and Economic Development) To consider the attached report.

The committee gave consideration to an outline application for:

(i)         the erection of a new, 6 Form Entry, secondary school on land comprising the western side of the St Johns School playing fields, Epping.

(ii)             residential development largely located on the site of the existing school buildings

(iii)       an area of open amenity space between the new school and the new housing to provide a landscaped link between Lower Bury Lane and the Swaines Open Space, to be transferred to the District Council to ensure public access.

Application Background

The committee received a presentation of officers giving the background to the application which included those matters of Essex Replacement Structure Plan and Adopted Local Plan policy which were considered to be applicable. These were:

Essex Replacement Structure Plan:

CS1 – encouraging a range of facilities to support urban areas,

CS2 – safeguard and enhance the character of urban and rural environments,

C1 – no alterations to the boundaries of the green belt,

C2 – limited, appropriate development within the green belt,

NR1 – conserving the landscape of rural areas.

Adopted Local Plan:

GB2 – limited, appropriate development with the green belt,

H4-6 and Supplementary Planning Guidance – the provision and extent of ‘affordable housing’,

DBE1 & 2 – design of new development and impact upon surrounding areas,

DBE7 – provision of open space within new residential development,

LL2 – protect the landscape from inappropriate development, and

T17 – traffic implications.

It was considered by officers that the major issues raised by the application were:

(i)         the development of a new school in the Green Belt;

(ii)        the development of housing to replace the existing school buildings;

(iii)       the development of housing in the Green Belt;

(iv)       the provision of affordable housing;

(v)        the traffic implications; and

(vi)       the impact upon surrounding residents.

The Committee were reminded that the Council had received a large number of individual letters of objection to the proposals together with representation from the Town Council, residents of Lindsey Street and adjacent roads, the Conservators of Epping, St John’s Development Consultation Group, the Campaign to Protect Rural Essex, the Epping Society, and the Friends of Epping Forest. Individual letters of support had been received from nearby residents and the six Head Teachers of the local Primary Schools in the vicinity.

Progress since the last meeting

At the last meeting of the Committee on 7 July 2005, The Planning Officers had been requested to seek further negotiations with the applicants to:

(i)         seek improvements to the traffic/highway related plans; and

(ii)        seek a better package of proposals on use of green belt land and affordable housing percentage.

Officers had subsequently held a meeting with the applicants who had made the following revisions to the scheme:

(i)         the extent of the housing had been reduced by 0.33 of a hectare to 3.67 hectares with a consequent increase in the area of public open space to be provided to 1.77 hectares;

(ii)        the affordable housing had remained at 10% but the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, together with paragraphs 6 and 25 of the Council Procedure Rules contained in the Constitution 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.

In accordance with Operational Standing Order 6 (non-executive bodies), any item raised by a non-member shall require the support of a member of the Committee concerned and the Chairman of that Committee.  Two weeks' notice of non-urgent items is required.

It was noted that there was no further business to be considered at the meeting.