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 filmed live for subsequent uploading to the Internet and will be capable of repeated viewing.

If you are seated in the public seating area it is possible that the recording cameras will capture your image and this will result in the possibility that your image will become part of the broadcast although Officers will try and avoid this.

This may infringe your human and data protection rights and if you have any concerns about this you should speak to the Webcasting Officer.”

The Chairman made a short address to remind all present that the meeting would be broadcast on 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 Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2009 be taken as read and signed by the chairman as a correct record.

The Chairman invited nominations from the Sub-Committee for the appointment of a Vice-Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor M Cohen be appointed as Vice-Chairman for the duration of the 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, Councillors P Spencer, Mrs J Sutcliffe and D Dodeja declared a personal interest in the following items of the agenda by virtue of being members of Buckhurst Hill Parish Council. The Councillors had determined that their interest was not prejudicial and they would stay in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

• EPF/0075/09  30a Stag Lane, Buckhurst Hill
• EPF/0230/09  4 Stag Lane, Buckhurst Hill
• EPF/0402/09  15 Hills Road, Buckhurst Hill

(b)        Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillors Mrs C Pond and Mrs P Richardson declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda by virtue of being members of Loughton Town Council. The Councillors had determined that their interest was not prejudicial and they would stay in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

• EPF/0313/09  1 Parsonage Court, Rectory Lane, Loughton

(c)        Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillors K Chana, B Sandler and Mrs L Wagland declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda by virtue of being members of Chigwell Parish Council. The Councillors had determined that their interest was not prejudicial and they would stay in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

• EPF/0247/09  Land Adjacent to Copperfield Lodge, Hainault Road, Chigwell

(d)        Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor J Knapman declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda by virtue of being a member of Chigwell Parish Council and a trustee of Victory Hall. The Councillor had determined that his interest was not prejudicial and that he would stay in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

• EPF/0247/09  Land Adjacent to Copperfield Lodge, Hainault Road, Chigwell

(e)        Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillors K Chana, B Sandler, J Knapman and Mrs L Wagland declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda by virtue of being members of Chigwell Parish Council. The Councillors had determined that their interest was not prejudicial and they would stay in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

• EPF/0382/09  46 Chigwell Rise, Chigwell

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 other business for consideration by the Sub-Committee.

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

The Principal Planning Officer presented a report regarding the confirmation of a Tree Preservation Order on the land to the north of Bryn Miskin, Pudding Lane, Chigwell. The Sub-Committee were informed that the Tree Preservation Order EPF/04/09 had been made to protect 63 trees at this site following a review of a ‘blanket’ Essex County Council Tree preservation Order made in 1951. An objection had been received but this had been responded to by the Director of Planning & Economic Development as follows:

(i)         Over the last 30 years the trees have been looked after by the current owner – the new order was not being made because of concerns regarding the management of the trees by the current owner.

As it was felt that the trees contributed considerably to the character of the landscape in this area, confirmation of the Order without modification had been recommended for approval by the Sub-Committee.

            RESOLVED:

            That Tree Preservation Order EPF/04/09 be confirmed without modification.

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

The Principal Planning Officer presented a report regarding the confirmation of a Tree Preservation Order at Stradbroke Park, Chigwell. The Sub-Committee were informed that the Tree Preservation Order EPF/54/08 had been made to protect 32 individual trees and 3 groups of trees within residential gardens at this site following a review of a ‘blanket’ Essex County Council Tree preservation Order made in 1951. An objection had been received in respect of G1 (1 Cedar and 1 Pine) but this had been responded to by the Director of Planning & Economic Development as follows:

(i)                              these two trees are not indigenous – whilst the trees were not considered indigenous, they had  been planted as a feature within the garden and the Tree Preservation Order legislation does not limit what species can be protected.

(ii)                            They were planted as part of the landscape scheme when the properties were built in the late 1980’s and should not therefore be part of this new order – the new order allows for an opportunity to protect other significant trees which had been planted or grown since the ‘blanket’ order 1951.

As it was felt that the relatively young trees would contributed considerably to the character of the landscape in this area, confirmation of the Order without modification had been recommended for approval by the Sub-Committee.

            RESOLVED:

            That Tree Preservation Order EPF/54/08 be confirmed without modification.

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

The Principal Planning Officer presented a report regarding the confirmation of a Tree Preservation Order at 1-29 Tomswood Road and 1-7 Audleigh Place, Chigwell. The Sub-Committee were informed that the Tree Preservation Order EPF/08/09 had been made to protect 42 individual trees and 4 groups of trees within residential gardens at this site following a review of a ‘blanket’ Essex County Council Tree preservation Order made in 1951. An objection had been received but this had been responded to by the Director of Planning & Economic Development as follows:

(i)                  the owner intends to construct a rear extension which may affect the tree – to date no application for an extension had been submitted consequently it would be premature to exclude the tree from the Order.

As it was felt that the relatively young tree would contribute considerably to the character of the landscape in this area, confirmation of the Order without modification had been recommended for approval by the Sub-Committee

            RESOLVED:

            That Tree Preservation Order EPF/08/09 be confirmed without modification.

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

The Principal Planning Officer presented a report regarding the confirmation of a Tree Preservation Order at Albion Hill, Loughton. The Sub-Committee were informed that the Tree Preservation Order EPF/46/08 had been made to protect 1 pine tree at this site following information which suggested a threat of excessive pruning. An objection had been received and this had been responded to by the Director of Planning & Economic Development as follows:

i)           the tree is completely out of scale in relation to 7 Albion Hill – the Pine is visually important and retention is highly desirable to the appearance of the local area;

ii)          it drops enormous quantities of leaves, twigs etc onto the adjacent gutters – in principle Pines are not capable of regenerating if cut back therefore excessive pruning would ruin the tree;

iii)                    the estimated cost of clearance is excessive; the gutters need to be cleared approximately six times a year and the cost on each occasion is £120 – the tree preservation order would allow the Council to investigate the claims of the cost of removal of leaves from the gutter ;

iv)                     in the event of heavy rainfall before the gutters are cleared rain pours down the wall and causes dampness. The adjacent room continues to be redecorated because of problems of dampness; the rainfall has also caused cracks, which need to be repaired – once more the repairs could be investigated to determine whether they relate to the tree.

As it was felt that the trees contributed considerably to the character of the landscape in this area, confirmation of the Order without modification had been recommended for approval by the Sub-Committee.

            RESOLVED:

            That Tree Preservation Order EPF/46/08 be confirmed without modification.

(Director 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 the planning applications numbered 1 – 6 be determined as set out in the attached schedule to these minutes.

(Director 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 schedules of planning applications determined by the Director of Planning and Economic Development under delegated authority since the last meeting had been circulated and could be inspected at the Civic Offices.