Agenda and minutes

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

2.         The Chairman will read the following announcement:

“I would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be broadcast live to the Internet and will be capable of repeated viewing and copies of the recording could be made available for those that request it.

If you are seated in the lower 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 move to the upper public gallery”

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. The Sub-Committee noted the Council’s Protocol for Webcasting of Council and Other Meetings.

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 13 October 2010 as a correct record (attached).

         RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 13 October 2010 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(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 Brooks, W Pryor, S Stavrou and R Gadsby declared personal interest in the following items of the agenda by virtue of being members of the Waltham Abbey Town Council Planning Committee; Ms Stavrou as substitute.  The Councillors declared that their interests were not prejudicial and indicated that they would remain in the meeting during the consideration and voting on the items.

• EPF/1662/10 – 1 Norman Close, Waltham Abbey;
• EPF/1912/10 – 6 Forest Close, Waltham Abbey.

(b)       Pursuant to the Council's Code of Member Conduct, Councillor Mrs J Lea declared a personal interest in the following item on the agenda by virtue of being the ward member for this application.  The Councillor declared that her interests were not prejudicial and indicated that she would remain in the meeting during the consideration and voting on the item.

• EPF/1662/10 – 1 Norman Close, Waltham Abbey

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.

(Director of Planning and Economic Development)  To consider the planning applications 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 – 5 be determined as set out in the annex to these minutes.

Land at the Junction of Dobbs Weir Road and Eldon Road, Roydon

Recommendation :

That Tree Preservation Order 104/10 is confirmed subject to modification (removal of T2 sycamore)

Background;

This Tree Preservation Order was made following pre application discussions for the demolition of the existing buildings on site, and the construction of 4 new houses. It protects two trees, a Willow and a Sycamore.

The Grounds of Objection:

Two objections have been received ;

1 – From an Arboricultural Consultant acting on behalf of the owner of the site. This is in respect of T2 (Sycamore) and is on the grounds that the tree has poor form at a low level which has resulted in compression forks (structural weaknesses). As a result it is considered that the tree has a realistic remaining life span of 10 -20 years due to the high potential for limb failure.

2 – From a local resident. This objects on the grounds that T1 (Willow) is a hazard to traffic as it is too close to the main road, pedestrians have to walk in the road to avoid it and it obscures the street light making it difficult to see the road junction at night.

The Director of Planning and Economic Development comments as follows:

The trees were assessed from the public highway and it was considered that the two most prominent, a Willow on the boundary with Dobbs Weir Road and a Sycamore on the boundary with Eldon Road were worthy of protection by this Tree Preservation Order.

The residential areas within the immediate vicinity have few trees of note and this increases the status of these two trees as valuable landscape assets in the street scene. They are therefore considered to have high amenity value.

1 – The Arboricultural Consultant’s findings are accepted.  This tree has several compression forks which results in a build up of pressure between the stems as they grow, with weaknesses developing at the unions where there is bark to bark contact between stems. With such structural problems it is unlikely that the tree has a safe life expectancy of more than 10 years. With this additional information it is recommended that this tree is omitted from the Order on confirmation. Had it been possible to gain access for a detailed inspection, the sycamore would not have been considered suitable for inclusion.

2 – The Willow tree, by virtue of its size, makes a considerable impact to the street scene when driving along Dobbs Weir Road. The whole site, including this tree has been unmanaged for a number of years and the willow would benefit from having some work undertaken to it. By continuing to have this tree protected by this Tree Preservation Order, it will allow the Council to have some control over the way in which it is managed in the future. Such management would allow for the reduction of the tree in a manner which would ensure safe passage for pedestrians without having to walk in  ...  view the full agenda text for item 47.

The Sub-committee received a report on a Tree Preservation order made following a pre-application discussion on the demolition of  an existing building site. It protected two trees, a Willow and a Sycamore.

Objections had been received about the Sycamore on the grounds that the tree had poor form at a low level and that had resulted in a structural weakness; and about the Willow,  that was said to be a hazard to traffic due to its size.

The objection on the Sycamore was accepted by officers but not the Willow, which could be managed by reducing the size of the tree.

            RESOLVED:

That Tree Preservation Order 104/10 was confirmed subject to the removal of T2, the Sycamore.

(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 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.

The Sub-committee noted that their next meeting due to be held on 15 December 2010 also clashed with the Waltham Abbey Carol Concert.  It was agreed that a sounding of members would be taken by Democratic Services to ascertain if the meeting would be quarate that night and if other arrangements could be made.