Agenda and minutes

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

2.         The Chief Executive will read the following announcement:

“This meeting will be webcast live to the Internet and will be archived for later viewing. Copies of recordings may be made available on request.

By entering the chamber’s lower seating area you consenting to becoming part of the webcast.

If you wish to avoid being filmed you should move to the public gallery or speak to the webcasting officer”

The Assistant to the Chief Executive 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.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 19 October 2011 (attached).

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2011 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to the word ‘complement’ for the word ‘compliment’ in the resolution of item 22 (40 Forest Drive, Theydon Bois).

(Assistant to the Chief Executive)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The Committee noted that Councillor L Leonard was substituting for Councillor C Pond at this meeting.

(Assistant to the Chief Executive) To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

(a)       Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, the following Councillors declared a personal interest in agenda items 9 and 10 (planning applications at Pine Lodge, Lippetts Hill) by virtue of the applicant being a serving district Councillor. 

Councillors B Sandler, R Bassett, A Boyce, K Chana, J Hart, Mrs S Jones, L Leonard, J Markham, J Philip, H Ulkan, Ms S Watson and J Wyatt.

The councillors had determined that their interest was not prejudicial and would remain in the meeting for the consideration and voting on the matter.

(b)       Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, the following Councillors declared a personal interest in agenda item 8 (planning application at Copperfield Lodge, Hainault Road ) by virtue of being members of Chigwell Parish Council.

Councillors K Chana, B Sandler

The councillors had determined that their interest was not prejudicial and would remain in the meeting for the consideration and voting on the matter.

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

The Committee considered an application for a replacement dwelling at Jubilee Bungalow, Bournebridge Lane, Stapleford Abbotts. The application had been referred to the committee by Area Plans Subcommittee at its meeting on 12 October 2011 with a recommendation that the application should be approved.

The Committee heard from the applicants agent.

The Committee were of the view that the design of the proposed new dwelling was significantly better in design terms to that which could be undertaken under permitted development without permission and took into consideration the poor state of the existing dwelling. As such they concurred with the view of the Subcommittee and approved the application subject to conditions which included flood risk assessment.

Resolved:

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

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 have taken 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, prior to the commencement of the development. The development shall be implemented in accordance with such approved details.

Reason:- To ensure a satisfactory appearance in the interests of visual amenity.

(3)        Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development Order 1995 as amended (or any other order revoking, further amending or re-enacting that order) no development generally permitted by virtue of Part 1, Class A, B or E shall be undertaken without the prior written permission of the Local Planning Authority.

Reason:- The specific circumstances of this site warrant the Local Planning Authority having control over any further development.

(4)        A flood risk assessment and management and maintenance plan shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of the development. The assessment shall demonstrate that adjacent properties shall not be subject to increased flood risk and, dependant upon the capacity of the receiving drainage, shall include calculations of any increased storm run-off and the necessary on-site detention. The approved measures shall be carried out prior to the substantial completion of the development hereby approved and shall be adequately maintained in accordance with the approved management and maintenance plan.

Reason:- To conform with the principles of PPS25 and to satisfy Policy U2B of the Adopted Local Plan and Alterations (2006), since the development is located in an area identified as being in an Epping Forest District Council flood risk assessment zone and would be likely to result in increased surface water run-off.

(5)        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 and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. These works shall be carried  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

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

The Committee gave further consideration to an application for the erection of a new five bedroomed house on land next to Victory Hall in Hainault Road, Chigwell. The Committee had last considered the matter at their meeting on 5 April 2011 (minute 38 refers) when they had given an extension of time for the completion of an Agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to secure the provision of additional car parking for the adjacent Victory Hall and the transfer of associated land to the Council.

The Committee noted that, as yet, no legal agreement had been completed due to problems in its execution and the timescale for the completion for the Council to accept the car parking given the existing lease of Victory Hall.

The Committee heard from the Applicants Agent.

Following negotiations with the Applicant’s Agent an alternative planning obligation had been proposed, whereby the Applicant would agree to contribute the land and the cost of constructing the car parking.  Accordingly, if the Council considered it appropriate at a later date, it could construct the parking at no additional public cost.  However, if at that time it was considered that there would be a more positive community benefit which could be secured through the provision of an alternative community benefit, either within the Victory Hall site or elsewhere within the locality, then the contribution could have been put towards that purpose. 

The Committee, however, were of the view that within the original special circumstances of the development, the provision of the new spaces was a key factor and resolved that the contribution made by the developer should be to provide the parking spaces originally envisaged by the approval given on 9 June 2009 and for other purpose.

            Resolved:

That, subject to the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement within six calendar months to secure:

(a)        The transfer of land adjacent to the Victory Hall site to Epping Forest District Council, at no cost;

(b)        The payment of the sum of £31,400 to Epping Forest District Council to be spent on the construction of parking bays as envisaged by the original planning consent EPF/1767/09; and

(c)        The payment (sum to be confirmed) of the Council’s costs incurred in maintaining the site for a period of five years;

planning application EPF/0247/09 be granted subject to the conditions previously imposed by the Committee at their meeting on 9 June 2009 namely:

(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)        Details of the types and colours of the external finishes shall be submitted for approval by the Local Planning Authority in writing prior to the commencement of the development, and the development shall be implemented in accordance with such approved details.

 Reason:- To ensure a satisfactory appearance in the interests of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

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

The Committee considered and approved an application for the extension of the dwelling to provide a home office/utility room and rebuilding of the area, together with a further single storey addition, to provide a kitchen/diner and bedroom with en suite bathroom for use as an annexe to the existing dwelling.

The matter had been brought to the committee as the applicant was a serving Councillor.

Resolved:

That planning application EPF/1972/11 be approved subject to the following conditions:

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

(2)        Materials to be used for the external finishes of the proposed development shall match those of the existing building, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

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

The Committee considered and approved an application for the installation of 150 solar panels on the south facing slope of an existing indoor riding building at the Pine Lodge site in Lippitts Hill. The panels would be mounted 50mm above the roof and would comprise of 5 rows of 30 columns. The solar panels would provide a renewable source of energy to the subject site.

Members were of the view that, given the proximity of the site to the Police Helicopter Base, non reflective coating should be applied to the panels and maintained to avoid glare being created for landing helicopters.

The matter had been brought to the committee as the applicant was a serving Councillor.

Resolved:

The planning application EPF/1758/11 be granted subject to the following conditions:

(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)        The solar panels shall at all times be covered in an anti-reflective coating.

Reason: To minimise any glare or reflection from causing harm to the open character of the Green Belt or the safe operation of the flight paths of air support aircraft serving the Metropolitan Police Cadet Training Camp located north of the site.

Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, together with paragraphs 6 and 24 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.

The Committee noted that the Chairman had approved for an additional item of business to be considered at the meeting relating to an application at Oakley Lodge, Hoe Lane Nazeing, previously considered by the Committee.

(Director of Planning & Economic Development) To consider the attached report.

The applicant for the Oakley Hall site had been unable to complete a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 within the 6 months allotted due to issues relating to the changing ownership of the land.  They had now advised the Council’s Solicitor that they were in a position to complete the agreement, but were unable to do so as they are outside the timescale for completion set by Committee.

Officers are of the view that as there had been no change in circumstances since the original decision of the Committee, an extension of time of 3 months to enable satisfactory completion of the Legal Agreement was an appropriate course of action. 

The matter had been brought as an urgent matter to the meeting with the permission of the Chairman.

Resolved:

That an extension a further 3 months of time from the date of this meeting be approved for the completion of the Section 106 agreement, previously required, to enable Planning Application EPF/1907/10 to be granted subject to the conditions set out in the minutes of the District Development Control Committee Meeting of 5 April 2011.