Agenda and minutes

This meeting is to be webcast. On behalf of the Chairman, the Democratic Services Officer will read the following announcement:

“I would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be broadcast live to the internet (or filmed) and will be capable of repeated viewing (or another use by third parties).

If you are seated in the lower public seating area then 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 then you should move to the upper public gallery.

Could I please also remind Members to activate their microphones before speaking”.

On behalf of the Chairman, the Democratic Services Manager 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 D. Stocker for Councillor B. Sandler (Chairman);

(b)       Councillor N. Bedford for Councillor H. Brady;

(c)       Councillor N. Avey for Councillor P. Keska; and

(d)       Councillor S. Heather for Councillor E. Webster.

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.

In the absence of Councillor B. Sandler, who had tendered his apologies for the meeting, the Chairman sought nominations from the Committee for a member to be appointed as Vice-Chairman for the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor G. Chambers be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the duration of the meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 30 January 2019.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 30 January be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

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

The Service Director (Planning Services) reminded the Committee 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 on 18 December 2017. 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.

RESOLVED:

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

(Service Director (Planning Services)) To consider the attached report.

The Service Director (Planning Services) presented a report with regard to the proposed erection of an extension to an existing glasshouse at Villa Nursery, Reeves Lane, Roydon and the construction of an attenuation and irrigation lagoon, provision of a perimeter maintenance track and associated landscaping.

Members noted that the application had been referred to the District Development Management Committee for determination, as the floor area of the proposed glasshouse extension was in excess of 10,000 square meters and was therefore required to be considered by the Committee, in accordance with Article 10 of the Council’s Constitution.

The Committee was advised that the application site was a well-established working nursery containing 3.73 hectares of glasshouses and other ancillary buildings. The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that the nursery specialised in the growing of salad vegetables for distribution to local retailers and that, excluding the area of the proposed development, the majority of the site already comprised glasshouses and a large packing shed

Members noted that the application related to an area of land which was currently in agricultural use, located within the boundaries of the Metropolitan Green Belt and the Nazeing and South Roydon Conservation Area, on the edge of the designated glasshouse area covered by Policy E13A of the current Local Plan. The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that access to the site was by a surfaced lane that ran east from a priority junction with Reeves Lane.

The Committee was advised that the application sought the erection of a 2.7 hectare extension to the existing glasshouse, northwards by 60 to 112 metres and westwards by 56 to 72 metres.  Members noted that the extension to the glasshouse would measure 6 metres to the eaves and 8 metres to the ridge of the bay and would be constructed of aluminium framed glazing panels to match the existing glasshouses. The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that land on the western side of the development would be used to fill in land on the eastern side of the glasshouses to create a level base and that, on the western side, ground levels to the glasshouses would therefore fall by between 0.4 and 2.0 metres and to the east would be raised by between 1.7 metres and 1.9 metres. Members noted that all existing field boundaries, hedgerows and significant trees were to be retained or enhanced as a result of the proposed development.

The Service Director (Planning Services) advised the Committee that the main issues for consideration in respect of the application related to the impact of the proposed development on  the openness of the Green Belt, the suitability of the site for employment use and the impact of the development on the character and appearance of the site, neighbouring residential amenity, highway safety and surface water drainage. Members were advised that the proposal was not inappropriate development within the Green Belt and, subject to the imposition of conditions relating to tree screening, would cause limited harm to the openness and character of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

(Service Director (Planning Services)) To consider the attached report.

The Service Director (Planning Services) presented a report with regard to the proposed variation of Condition 18 of planning permission EPF/0439/14, relating to the hours of operation of the Council’s MOT and Grounds Maintenance Depot at the Oakwood Hill Industrial Estate in Loughton.

Members noted that the application had been referred to the District Development Management Committee for determination as it had been called in by Councillor C. Roberts. The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that, in addition, as the application related to the variation of a condition applied to a major (over 10,000m² floor area) development on the Council’s own land, it was required to be considered by the Committee in accordance with Article 10 (District Development Management Committee and Area Plans Sub-Committees) of the Constitution.

The Committee was advised that the proposal sought consent to extend the operational hours of the MOT and Grounds Maintenance workshops and to include operational hours for the Housing Maintenance Section that was also to be located at the Depot. Members noted that the amendment was intended to consolidate operations at the Depot and to regularise operating times in line with existing contracted hours. 

The Service Director (Planning Services) advised the Committee that main issue for consideration in respect of the application related to its impact on local amenity. Members noted that the proposal would add an additional early morning hour of operation to the grounds maintenance use of the Depot and two additional later hours of operation, resulting in operating times of 7.00am to 6.00pm from Monday to Friday. The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that, on Saturday’s, a reduction in grounds maintenance operations was proposed, albeit with an earlier start time, resulting in operating times of 7.00am to 1.00pm. and that the operation of housing maintenance activities was proposed to be added to the condition, with hours of operation of 8.00am to 6.00pm from Monday to Friday. 

The Committee was advised that concerns with regard to the proposed variation of the operating hours of the Depot had been raised by the Service Director (Commercial and Regulatory Services), particularly in respect of the proposed commencement of operating hours for grounds maintenance services at 7.00am. Members were advised that agreement had been reached with the Service Director (Commercial and Regulatory Services) on the implementation of the earlier start time, provided that any operational works occurring before 7.30am only occurred within the confines of the Depot building with all external doors and windows closed and that no operational works occurred outside the confines of the building, except for maintenance vehicles leaving the Depot between the hours of 7.00am and 7.30am. The Service Director (Planning Services) reported that the requirement for earlier operating hours was due to the need for grounds maintenance work to be undertaken during seasonal hours, where operations could commence earlier in each day of the Summer months and for longer periods during extended daylight hours.  

The Committee was advised that changes to the grounds maintenance operating schedule  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

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 that necessitated the exclusion of the public and press from the meeting.