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 reminded everyone present that the meeting would be broadcast live to the internet and would be capable of repeated viewing, which could infringe their human and data protection rights.

(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 everyone to the meeting and outlined the procedures and arrangements adopted by the Council to enable members of the public 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 had been appointed for the meeting:

(a)        Cllr S Kane for Cllr K Rizvi.

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

(a)        Pursuant to the Council’s Member Code of Conduct, Councillor S Heather declared a personal interest in the following items of the agenda by virtue of being a member of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. The Councillor had determined that his interest was not prejudicial and indicated that he would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

            (i)         EPF/1974/22 – Land adjacent to Harlow Road, Roydon; and

            (ii)        EPF/2587/22 – Sedge Gate Nursery, Sedge Green, Nazeing.

(b)        Pursuant to the Council’s Member Code of Conduct, Councillor H Kauffman declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda by virtue of being a non-executive member of the Qualis Board. The Councillor had determined that his interest was not prejudicial and indicated that he would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

            (i)         EPF/0540/23 – Cottis Lane Car Park, Cottis Lane, Epping.

(Team Manager – Democratic & Electoral Services) To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 19 April 2023 (to follow).

The Committee noted that the minutes of the last meeting held on 19 April 2023 were not yet available and would be confirmed at the next meeting of the Committee.

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.

There were no formal site visits requested by the Committee.

To consider the attached report on 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.

The application was refused.

To consider the attached report on the erection of 10 Warehouse Units for B1 and B8 use (revised application EPF/1334/22).

The application was approved with conditions.

The application was approved with conditions.

To consider the attached report on the Variation to condition planning permission EPF/2925/20 (Full application for the redevelopment of existing surface level car park comprising the demolition of public toilets and the construction of a multi-deck car park, cinema (sui generis), commercial floor space (mixed Class E), replacement public toilets and cycle store, all associated plant, together with new vehicular and pedestrian access, all hard and soft landscaping, and associated works) to amend condition 2 (to include interim Phase drawings), and condition 26 (EV Charging Points).

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

(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.