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.

In the absence of the Vice Chairman, Councillor Mrs P Brooks was appointed Vice Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 24 November 2010 as a correct record (attached).

         RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 24 November 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.

No declarations were made.

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 – 2 be determined as set out in the annex to these minutes.

To consider the attached report.

The Sub-committee considered the report on probity in planning on appeals decisions from April to September 2010. They noted that the Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI) for district Councils was to aim to have less than 40% of their decisions overturned on appeal.  The latest available figure for the national average for District Councils was 30.9%. The BVPI had been scrapped and replaced by a Local Performance Indicator with a target of 25% of allowed decisions.  For 2010/11 a revised target had been set to not exceed 28%.

Over the six month period between April and September 2010, the Council received 36 decisions on appeal, 32 of which were planning and related appeals and 4 were enforcement related. Of these 10 were allowed (31.7%). The proportion of the 32 appeals that arose from decisions of the committees to refuse contrary to the recommendation put to them by officers during the 6-month period was 31.3% and of the 10 decisions that this percentage represents, the Council was not successful in sustaining the committee’s objection in 6 of 10 (60%). The 6 lost were split equally between Area Plans South, West and East.

The Council’s performance for this 6-month period and the previous 6 months is an improvement on 2009/10 despite there being fewer appeals submitted. Whilst 2 costs have been awarded against the Council, this has been relatively low and infrequent, though in one case it perhaps indicated that there should be some caution taken by officers before issuing and enforcement notice a little hastily.

            RESOLVED:

That the Planning Appeals decisions from April to September 2010 be noted.

(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.