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 14 November 2018.

         RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 14 November 2018 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

(a)          Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillors M Sartin and S Stavrou declared non-pecuniary interests in the following items of the agenda by virtue of being District Council appointees to the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. The Councillors had determined that their interests were not prejudicial and that they would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the item and voting thereon:

·         EPF/1351/18 – Former Chimes Garden Centre and Nazebourne, Nazeing;

·         EPF/2412/18 – Brick Lock Cottage, Glen Faba, Roydon;

·         EPF/2414/18 – Brick Lock Cottage, Glen Faba, Roydon.

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

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

It was noted that the Epping Forest District Local Plan Submission Version Planning Policy Briefing note was available at:

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

(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.

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

            RESOLVED:

            That, Planning applications numbered 1 – 4 be determined as set out in the annex to these minutes.

To consider the attached report.

The Sub-Committee received report on the appeal decisions during the period 1 April to 30 September 2018.

In compliance with the recommendation of the District Auditor, this report advised the decision-making committees of the results of all successful allowed appeals (i.e. particularly those refused by committee contrary to officer recommendation). 

The purpose was to inform the committee of the consequences of their decisions in this respect and, in cases where the refusal is found to be unsupportable on planning grounds, an award of costs may be made against the Council.

Since 2011/12, there have been two local indicators, one of which measures all planning application type appeals as a result of committee reversals of officer recommendations (GOV08) and the other which measures the performance of officer recommendations and delegated decisions (GOV07).  

Over the six-month period between 1 April 2018 and 30 September 2018, the Council received 58 decisions on appeals (53 of which were planning related appeals, the other 5 were enforcement related).

GOV07 and 08 measure planning application decisions and out of a total of 53, 11 were allowed and 1 was part allowed (22.6%). Broken down further, GOV07 performance was 7 (including 1 part allowed) out of 41 allowed (17.1%) and GOV08 performance was 5 out of 12 (41.7%).

            RESOLVED:

That the probity in Planning report covering the period 1 April to 30 September 2018 be noted.