Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies had been received from Councillor Kathryn Flavell, Councillor Hazel Faddes attended the meeting as a substitute.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests and for Members to declare if they have pre-determined any item on the agenda.

In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Denis Murphy declared an interest as the Ward Councillor under item number five: 20/2470C Hawthorn Cottage, Harvey Road, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 2PS, and advised that he was not predetermined in any way.

Several Members of the Committee advised they had received an email from the agent in respect of item number five: 20/2470C Hawthorn Cottage, Harvey Road, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 2PS, but had not engaged with the agent in any way.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28 October 2020.

RESOLVED-

That the minutes of the virtual meeting held on 28 October 2020 be approved as a correct and accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

A total period of 5 minutes is allocated for each of the planning applications for the following:

·                Ward Councillors who are not members of the Planning Committee

·                The relevant Town/Parish Council

A total period of 3 minutes is allocated for each of the planning applications for the following:

·                Members who are not members of the planning committee and are not the Ward Member

·                Objectors

·                Supporters

·                Applicants

RESOLVED-

That the public speaking procedure be noted.

To consider the above report.

Consideration was given to the above application.

(Councillor Rob Moreton, the Ward Councillor, Congleton Town Councillor, Amanda Martin, Objector Adam Taylor, and Joe Nugent the Agent for the Applicant attended the virtual meeting and spoke on behalf of the application).

RESOLVED-

That, for the reasons set out in the report, the application be REFUSED for the following reasons:

Refuse for the following reasons:

1)    The proposal is an inappropriate form of development within the Green Belt, as defined by the Development Plan. The development is therefore contrary to policy PG3 of the Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy and Policy PS7 of the Congleton Borough Local Plan First Review and would cause material harm to the openness of the Green Belt. The proposed development by reason of inappropriateness would be contrary to nationally established policy as set out in NPPF, and as a result would cause harm to the objectives of this guidance. There are no very special circumstances to outweigh this harm.

2)    The application site is located within the Green Belt and adjacent to a key service centre. The application is not supported by an up-to-date Housing Needs Survey or a thorough site options appraisal which demonstrates why the site is the most suitable to meet identified housing need. Furthermore a development of 35 affordable units would exceed the threshold criteria of 10 units identified by Policy SC6. As a result the proposed development would not comply with all the requirements for Rural Exception housing and constitutes inappropriate development within the Green Belt contrary to Policies SC6 and PG3 of the Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy.

3)    The proposed submission does not provide the level of detail required to inform a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the development on existing trees and woodland cover, including trees within ancient woodland and those protected by the Congleton Borough Council (Gordale Close) TPO 1983. The submission has therefore failed to demonstrate that the proposed development will not result in the loss of trees contrary to Policy SE5 of the Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.

4)    The proposed development, as shown on the illustrative layout plan, is likely to result in a significant adverse impact on the adjacent Local Wildlife Site and Ancient Woodland and also Priority Woodland located on site. The application fails to provide sufficient information to determine, assess, and mitigate any potential impacts on the Local Wildlife Site, Ancient Woodland and Priority Woodland. The proposed development would also result in the loss of an area of Local Wildlife Site quality grassland with a corresponding significant loss of biodiversity. The development would result in the loss of a minor bat roost, whilst mitigation and compensation measures to address this impact have been submitted the proposed development is not considered to be of overriding public interest and not developing this site is considered to be a suitable alternative in this instance. 

The application fails to demonstrate that it would contribute positively to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

To consider the above report.

Consideration was given to the above application.

RESOLVED-

That for the reasons set out in the report and in the verbal update to the Committee, the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

1)    Standard (3 years)

2)    Approved Plans

3)    Materials as per application

In order to give proper effect to the Board`s/Committee’s intentions and without changing the substance of the decision, authority is delegated to the Head of Planning (Regulation), in consultation with the Chair (or in his absence the Vice Chair) of Southern Planning Committee, to correct any technical slip or omission in the wording of the resolution, between approval of the minutes and issue of the decision notice.

To consider the above report.

The Committee considered the performance of the Planning Enforcement Service for the first two quarters 2020-2021.

RESOLVED-

That the report be received and noted.