Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed members of the public to the meeting and outlined the procedures and arrangements agreed by the Council, to enable persons to address the Sub-Committee in relation to the determination of applications for planning permission.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 22 March 2006 as correct record (attached).

         RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 22 March 2006 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

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

Pursuant to the Council's Code of Member Conduct, Councillor Mrs P Smith declared a personal interest in agenda items 6 (2) (EPF/2210/05) and 6 (3)(EPF/0256/06) both Land at Little Copped Hall, Copped Hall Estate, High Road, Epping) by virtue of being a member of Epping Upland Parish Council who had commented on the proposals.  The Councillor declared that her interests were not prejudicial and indicated she would remain in the meeting during the consideration and voting on the items.

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 reported that there was no urgent business for consideration at the meeting.

The Chairman reported that the above applications listed for consideration as part of the Development Control schedule had been withdrawn prior to the meeting.

(Head of Planning and Economic Development)  To consider planning applications as set out in the attached schedule

Background Papers:  (i)  Applications for determination – applications listed on the schedule, letters of representation received regarding the applications which are summarised on the schedule.  (ii)  Enforcement of Planning Control – the reports of officers inspecting the properties listed on the schedule in respect of which consideration is to be given to the enforcement of planning control.

The Sub-Committee considered a schedule of applications for planning permission.

            RESOLVED:

            That, Planning applications numbered 1 – 3 be determined as set out in the annex to these minutes.

Recommendation:

That the committee agree to the felling and replacement of t1, 2 & 3 (fir x 3), as indicated.

Description of Site:

The setting is that of a detached dwelling with a large and irregularly shaped garden located within the Roydon Conservation Area. The property is partially screened by dense mixed but predominantly native hedges on the roadside boundary. The subject trees stand approximately 10m high in a copse to the side and rear of the house. The trees are subordinate to a specimen spruce standing at the rear of the house. The copse contains a number of planted spruce growing closely together up to the rear garden boundary. Little can be seen of these trees from the main road due to the rising land.

Relevant History:

TPO/EPF/9/79 was served to protect trees within the curtilage of Plough Green, which were threatened by an outline application for residential development on the site.

No recent planning history exists for works to trees.

Relevant Policies:

LL9: The Council will not give consent to fell a tree … protected by a Tree Preservation Order unless it is satisfied that this is necessary and justified …any such consent will be conditional upon appropriate replacement of the tree.

Issues and Considerations:

Introduction

The trees under consideration provide a negligible contribution to the publicly visible landscape of this part of Roydon Conservation Area and their removal would have a minimal adverse effect upon local amenity.

The reasons for the proposed felling are as follows:

• The three trees are ‘choking’ more important trees.
• Crowns of all three show clear signs of dieback.

Consideration of the reasons

It is suggested that the following questions need to be addressed:

1.      What is the condition of the trees?

2.      How great would be the loss to amenity in the felling of the trees?

3.       What other factors must be considered?

1.                  What is the condition of the trees?

These trees, which have been identified as members of the spruce family, appear to be of normal vigour, despite the extensive areas of deadwood throughout their crowns. Due to the close planting, however, they have developed drawn up and poorly developed forms, typical of close grown plantation trees. Normal management would have thinned out several of the trees by this stage in their maturity.

2.                  How great would be the loss to amenity in the felling of the trees?

Since the trees are not visible landscape features from a public place due to the established wooded screen around them, the loss of amenity would be insignificant.

3.                  What other factors should be considered?

It should be noted that the trees have been greatly reduced in number prior to this application. Despite the absence of several of the group the remaining trees are either suppressing each other or growing directly into the crowns of other more important trees in the copse

The requirement to replace these trees has been reinforced by the clear intention of the applicant to increase the number of native  ...  view the full agenda text for item 80.

The Sub-Committee considered an application to remove and replace three protected trees within the curtilage of Plough Green.

The Principal Planning Officer advised that the subject trees provided a negligible contribution to the publicly visible landscape of the conservations area on which they were situated and their removal would have a minimal adverse impact on the local amenity.

The Sub-Committee noted the poor condition of the trees and the effect this was having on the more important surrounding trees. The Sub-Committee decided given the reasons presented to grant the application on the condition that suitable replacement were replanted in the area.

RESOLVED:

That application TRE/EPF/0181/06 – Plough Green Epping Road, Harlow be authorised.

(Head of Planning and Economic Development) Schedules of planning applications determined by the Head of Planning and Economic Development under delegated powers since the last meeting of a Plans Subcommittee may be inspected in the Members Room or at the Planning and Economic Development Information Desk at the Civic Offices, Epping.

The Sub-Committee noted that details of planning applications determined by the Head of Planning Economic Development under delegated authority since the last meeting had been circulated to all members and were available for inspection at the Civic Offices.