Agenda and minutes

This meeting is to be webcast and the Chairman will read the following announcement:

“I would like to remind everyone present that this hybrid meeting will be broadcast live to the internet (or filmed) and will be capable of repeated viewing (or other such use by third parties). Therefore by participating in this meeting, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes. If any public speakers on Zoom do not wish to have their image captured they should ensure that their video setting throughout the meeting is turned off and set to audio only.

Please also be aware that if technical difficulties interrupt the meeting that cannot be overcome, I may need to adjourn the meeting.”

On behalf of the Chairman, the Team Manager for Democratic & Electoral Services made a short address to remind everyone present that the meeting would be broadcast live to the internet, and that the Council had adopted a protocol for the webcasting of its meetings.

(Team Manager – Democratic & Electoral Services) General advice for those persons attending the meeting of the Committee is attached as an Appendix to this agenda.

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 Committee when determining applications for planning permission.

(Team Manager – Democratic & Electoral Services) To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The Committee was advised that the following substitute member had been appointed for the meeting:

(a)        Councillor S Kane for Councillor I Hadley.

(Team Manager – Democratic & Electoral Services) To declare interests in any item on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were made by members of the Committee, pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct.

(Team Manager – Democratic & Electoral Services) To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 January 2023.

RESOLVED:

(1)          That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 January 2023 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To identify and agree requirements for formal site visits to be held with regard to any planning application listed in this agenda, prior to consideration of the application.

Cllr K Williamson proposed a site visit for agenda item 11, EPF/1974/22 at Land adjacent to Harlow Road, Roydon, which was seconded by Cllr R Morgan.

            Resolved:

(1)        That planning application EPF/1974/22 for a Solar Farm on land adjacent to Harlow Road in Roydon be deferred pending a site visit by the Committee.

(Service Manager – Development Management) A Planning Policy Briefing Note, dated October 2021, 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 and the Main Modifications to the LPSV published for consultation between 15 July and 23 September 2021.

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:

https://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Planning-Policy-Briefing-Note-06-October-2021-accessible.pdf

The Committee was reminded that a briefing note had been prepared to ensure that a consistent approach was taken to the provision of planning policy advice, following the publication of the Epping Forest District Local Plan Submission Version (LPSV) on 18 December 2017 and the Main Modifications to the LPSV which had been published for consultation on 15 July 2021. Members were advised that the primary purpose of the briefing note was to inform development management activities and to provide assistance for Councillors, Officers, Applicants, Planning Agents and other persons involved in the development management process.

The Committee was advised that, as the Local Plan had now been approved by the Council, there was no longer any need for this item to appear on the agenda for future planning meetings.

Resolved:

(1)        That the Planning Policy Briefing Note for the Epping Forest District Local Plan Submission Version be noted.

(Service Manager – Development Management) To consider the attached report for improvements to existing club infrastructure compromising a new all-weather pitch and relocation of existing floodlights, improvements to the club's function hall, golf range and current car parking including the addition of further car parking spaces and associated development, and enabling development in the form of the construction of 9 no. new dwellings and associated development.

This application was approved with conditions and subject to a Section 106 Legal Agreement.

(Service Manager – Development Management) To consider the attached report for a residential Development of 28 dwellings with associated vehicular access point off Roundhills, car parking, open space, landscaping and associated infrastructure.

This application was approved with conditions and subject to a Section 106 Legal Agreement.

(Service Manager – Development Management) To consider the attached report for the construction and operation of a solar photovoltaic (‘PV’) farm and associated infrastructure, including inverters, DNO Substation, Customer Switchgear, security cameras, fencing, access tracks and landscaping.

This application was deferred pending a site visit by the Sub-Committee.

(Team Manager – Democratic & Electoral Services) 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 noted that there was no other urgent business for consideration by the Committee.

Exclusion

(Team Manager – Democratic & Electoral Services) To consider whether, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended) or are confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, which came into effect on 1 March 2006, requires the Council to consider whether maintaining the exemption listed above outweighs the potential public interest in disclosing the information. Any member who considers that this test should be applied to any currently exempted matter on this agenda should contact the proper officer at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Background Papers

(Team Manager – Democratic & Electoral Services) Article 17 (Access to Information) of the Constitution defines background papers as being documents relating to the subject matter of the report which in the Proper Officer's opinion:

(a)        disclose any facts or matters on which the report or an important part of the report is based;  and

(b)        have been relied on to a material extent in preparing the report and does not include published works or those which disclose exempt or confidential information and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

The Council will make available for public inspection one copy of each of the documents on the list of background papers for four years after the date of the meeting. Inspection of background papers can be arranged by contacting either the Responsible Officer or the Democratic Services Officer for the particular item.

The Committee noted that there was no business which necessitated the exclusion of the public and press from the meeting.