Agenda and minutes

1.         This meeting is to be webcast;

2.         Members are reminded of the need to activate their microphones before speaking; and

3.         the Chairman 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 such third parties).

If you are seated in the public seating area 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 you should speak the webcasting officer.”

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 25 July 2018.

RESOLVED:

(1)             That the minutes of the Sub-Committee held on 25 July 2018 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to the wording of the decision on item 7 EPF/0846/18 – 2 Connaught Avenue, Loughton being amended to read ‘Refuse Permission’.

To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

(a)             Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor D Sunger declared a non-pecuniary interest in the following item by virtue of knowing the objector.

(i)           EPF/2758/17 – 12 High Elms, Chigwell.

(b)             Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor D Sunger declared a non-pecuniary interest in the following item by virtue of conducting a site visit.

(i)      EPF/0612/18 – 14 Ely Place, Chigwell.

(c)             Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor A Patel declared a pecuniary interest in the following item and advised that he would leave the room for the presentation, discussion and voting thereon.

(i)            EPF/1610/18 – Forest Place, Roebuck Lane, Buckhurst Hill.

(d)             Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor G Mohindra declared a non-pecuniary interest in the following items by virtue of (i) being the Finance Portfolio Holder for Epping Forest District Council and (ii) knowing the family of the application.

(i)            EPF/1293/18 – Pay and Display Car Park, Vere Road, Loughton; and

(ii)      EPF/1610/18 – Forest Place, Roebuck Lane, Buckhurst Hill.

(e)             Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor C C Pond declared a non-pecuniary interest in the following item by virtue of being consulted by EFDC as the Ward Member.

(i)       EPF/1293/18 – Pay and Display Car Park, Vere Road, Loughton.

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.

It was noted that there was no other urgent business for consideration by the Sub-Committee.

A Planning Policy Briefing Note (March 2018) has been produced by the Planning Policy Team to ensure that a consistent approach is taken to the provision of planning policy advice for the District, particularly in relation to the Epping Forest District Local Plan Submission Version, which was published on 18 December 2017.

The primary purpose of the Planning Policy Briefing Note is to inform the development management process and to provide assistance for Development Management Officers, Councillors, applicants and planning agents. The Planning Policy Briefing Note is available at:

http://www.efdclocalplan.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Planning-Policy-Briefing-Note_Mar-2018.pdf

The Sub-Committee noted the Local Plan – Planning Policy briefing note.

(a)        Site Visits

To identify and agree requirements for formal site visits to be held with regard to any planning application listed in this agenda for consideration under Section (b) (Planning Applications) below, prior to consideration of the application.

This opportunity for members to identify and agree requirements for formal site visits to be held prior to consideration of a planning application is being operated on a trial basis from the commencement of the 2018/19 municipal year, until 30 November 2018. The success of this arrangement will be reviewed by the Constitution Working Group at the end of the trial period.

(b)       Planning Applications

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.

(a) Site Visits

The Planning Sub-Committee identified that the applications listed below be considered for a formal site visit prior to the consideration of the applications.

(i)       Item 4 EPF/1242/18 – 143-149 High Road and 2 Old Station Road, Loughton IG10 4LY: and

(ii)     Item 9 EPF/1610/18 – Forest Place, Roebuck Lane, Buckhurst Hill IG9 5QL.

(b) Planning Applications

That the Planning Sub-Committee considered the remaining planning applications as set out in the agenda.

RESOLVED:

(1)        That item 4 EPF/1242/18 143-149 High Road and 2 Old Station Road, Loughton IG10 4LY and item 9 EPF/1610/18 – Forest Place, Roebuck Lane, Buckhurst Hill IG9 5QL be deferred for a site visit; and

(2)        That the planning applications numbered 1-3, 5-9 and 10 be determined as set out in the schedule attached to these minutes.

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, 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 and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

The Council will make available for public inspection for four years after the date of the meeting one copy of each of the documents on the list of background papers.

RESOLVED:

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on the grounds that they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972:

Agenda                                                                       Exempt Information

Item No.          Subject                                               Paragraph Number

10                    Planning appeal in respect                                  3

            of refused Application

            EPF/2499/17 – 13-15A

            Alderton Hill, Loughton

To consider the attached report.

Members deferred deciding upon this item until the next meeting of the Sub-Committee scheduled for 26 September 2018 in order that additional information may be presented to the Sub-Committee, including:

1. Clarification of Use Class of proposed development;
2. Clarification of liability for affordable housing contribution;
3. Clarification of whether units proposed would count towards meeting Local Plan housing target; and
4. Clarification of how the proposal should be handled in relation to the SAC.