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 adopted by the Council to enable persons to address the Sub-Committee, in relation to the determination of applications for planning permission. The Sub-Committee noted the advice provided for the public and speakers in attendance at Council Planning Sub-Committee meetings.

To confirm the minutes of the Sub-Committee meeting of 19 September 2007.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2007 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, Councillor M Colling declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda by virtue of knowing the applicant. 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/1629/07 16 Crows Road, Epping, Essex CM16 5DE

(b)            Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor Mrs M McEwen declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda by virtue of being a neighbour to the site in question. The Councillor had determined that her interest was prejudicial and that she would leave the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

• EPF/1641/07 Rockhills Field, Willingale Road, Willingale, Ongar

(c)            Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor D Stallan declared a personal interest in the following item. The Councillor had determined that his interest was prejudicial and that he would leave the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

• EPF/1641/07 Rockhills Field, Willingale Road, Willingale, Ongar

(d)            Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor R Frankel declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda. The Councillor had determined that his interest was prejudicial and that he would leave the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

• EPF/1807/07 28 Woodland Way, Theydon Bois, Epping CM16 7DZ

(d)            Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor P Gode declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda, by virtue of being a member of Ongar Town Council. The Councillor had determined that his interest was not prejudicial and that he would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the applications and voting thereon:

• EPF/2036/07 1 Greensted Green, Greensted, Ongar, CM5 9LG

(e)            Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor Mrs J Hedges declared a personal interest in the following items of the agenda, by virtue of being a member of Epping Town Council. The Councillor had determined that her interest was not prejudicial and that she would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the applications and voting thereon:

• EPF/1555/07 Coniston Court, Bower Hill, Epping CM16 7BH

• EPF/1629/07 16 Crows Road, Epping, CM16 5DE

• EPF/1947/07 8 Beaconsfield Avenue, Epping CM16 5AU

(g)            Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor D Jacobs declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the following item of the agenda. He indicated that the interest derived from a visit he had made to the application site at which he had expressed views which had fettered his discretion in considering this application. He said that he would be leaving the meeting after exercising his right to address the sub-committee under paragraph 12 (a) (i) of the Code of Conduct on the same basis as a member of the public and before any further debate and voting took place:

• EPF/2036/07 1 Greensted Green, Greensted, Ongar, CM5  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, together with paragraphs (6) and (24) 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 urgent business for consideration by the Sub-Committee.

(Head of Planning and Economic Development). To consider the attached report.

The Principal Planning Officer presented a report to the Sub-Committee regarding diversion of public footpath 76 North Weald Bassett.

Planning permission was granted on appeal, in 2004, for the creation of fishing lakes on land at Thornwood Camp, Carpenters Arms Lane, however one of the lakes obstructed the recognised “definitive” line of Public Footpath 76. A developer wished to implement the planning consent but was unable to because of the impact on the definitive footpath.

The lake did not impact on the actual line of any current footpath. The definitive line as defined by Essex County Council did not appear to have ever been the actual position of any footpath. The line appeared to have passed through buildings when the site was a military camp. Essex County Council had been planning a review of their footpath map but had advised the District Council that this was unlikely to have been completed for several more years.

The footpath, as it currently existed through this section of land, was close to the route which appeared to have existed in the 1920s and was established and enhanced by Epping Forest Countrycare in 1999. The path was well delineated and marked and provided a logical route.

The intention was that the line of the “definitive” footpath was diverted to follow the actual footpath, therefore there was to be no actual change to the path on the ground. This order related only to the area of land within the planning application site, two short additional areas of footpath were also required to join up with the definitive line until such time as the County Council reviewed their maps.

The recommendation was that the diversion order was made.

RESOLVED:

(1)            That the Sub Committee determines to authorise the Director of Corporate Support Services to make and seal a footpath diversion order under Section 257 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended)(“the Act”) in respect of Footpath 76 North Weald Bassett, as shown on the attached plan.

(2)            That the Director of Corporate Support Services be authorised to confirm the order in accordance with the Act, subject to no objection being made within the statutory consultation period.

(3)            That should the order be objected to during the statutory consultation period that it be referred to the Secretary of State for confirmation in accordance with the Act.

(4)            That the developer be required to pay the Councils administrative and legal costs incurred in the preparation, making and confirmation of the order, the carrying out of the statutory processes required under the Act, including all costs incurred if the order is referred to the Secretary of State for confirmation and that a deposit be paid, in an amount to be determined by the Director of Corporate Support Services, before the order is made.

(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.

RESOLVED:

That the planning applications numbered 1 – 16 be determined as set out in the schedule attached 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 Head of Planning and Economic Development under delegated authority since the last meeting had been circulated and could be inspected at the Civic Offices.