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 Microsoft Teams 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.

Members are reminded to activate their microphones before speaking.”

On behalf of the Chairman, the Democratic Services Officer 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.

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 in relation to the determination of applications for planning permission. The Committee noted the advice provided for the public and speakers in attendance at meetings of the Council’s planning committees.

To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

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

(a)       Councillor N Bedford for Councillor L Burrows;

(b)       Councillor I Allgood for Councillor H Kauffman; and

(c)       Councillor D Wixley for Councillor CC Pond.

To declare interests in any item on the agenda.

The following declarations of interest were made pursuant to the Council’s Members’ Code of Conduct.

a)    Pursuant to the Council’s Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor Baldwin declared a non-pecuniary interest in the following item of the agenda by virtue of being a resident of Burney Brive. The Councillor had determined that he would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

·         EPF/0726/23 - GARAGE SITE BURNEY DRIVE , LOUGHTON, IG10 2DU

b)    Pursuant to the Council’s Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor Bedford declared a non-pecuniary interest in the following item of the agenda by virtue of being a Parish Councillor. The Councillor had determined that he would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

·         EPF/2478/23 - NORTH WEALD AIRFIELD, EPPING ROAD, NORTH WEALD BASSETT, EPPING CM16

c)    Pursuant to the Council’s Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor Wixley declared a non-pecuniary interest in the following item of the agenda by virtue of being a member of Epping Forest Heritage Trust. The Councillor had determined that he would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

·         EPF/2478/23 - NORTH WEALD AIRFIELD, EPPING ROAD, NORTH WEALD BASSETT, EPPING CM16

d)    Pursuant to the Council’s Members’ Code of Conduct, all Councillors present at the meeting declared a non-pecuniary interest in the following item of the agenda by virtue of the applicant being a Councillor. The Councillors had determined that they would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting:

·         EPF/2540/23 - SUMNERS FARM, EPPING ROAD, EPPING UPLAND, EPPING, CM16 6PX

e)    Pursuant to the Council’s Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor T Matthews declared a pecuniary interest in the following item of the agenda. The Councillor had determined that he would leave the meeting for the consideration and voting of the application:

·         EPF/2540/23 - SUMNERS FARM, EPPING ROAD, EPPING UPLAND, EPPING, CM16 6PX

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13 December 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13 December 2024 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 D Wixley proposed a site visit for agenda item 12, EPF/2913/22 - FORMER PYRLES LANE NURSERY, PYRLES LANE, LOUGHTON IG10 2NL, which was seconded by Cllrs R Baldwin and I Allgood.

Resolved:

(1)              That planning application EPF/2913/22 - FORMER PYRLES LANE  

NURSERY, PYRLES LANE, LOUGHTON IG10 2NL be deferred pending a site visit by the Committee.

Decision:

The application was granted planning permission based on option 1.

Decision:

The application was approved.

Decision:

The application was refused for the resons set out below:

1)    By reason of the proposed height and bulk, the proposal would be an unneighbourly development resulting in a detrimental impact on neighbouring amenities with regards to material loss of light, overshadowing, overlooking from the front balcony, loss of outlook and overbearing impact. As such the proposal fails to safeguard the living conditions of neighbouring amenities contrary to Policy DM9 (i) of the adopted Local Plan and Paragraph 135 (f) of the NPPF 2023.

2)    The proposed contemporary design does not relate positively to the locality. Consequently, it would result in a harmful effect on the established character and appearance of the area, contrary to Policy DM9 of the adopted Local Plan 2023, and Paragraphs 131 & 135 of the NPPF 2023..

Decision:

The application was approved.

Decision:

The application was referred for a site visit.

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

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

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.