Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and to note any substitutions.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs S Buck and Mrs A Wright.  The Chairman, Councillor Mrs Spikings thanked Councillor Hipperson for being a substitute at the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 March 2017.        

The Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday, 6 March 2017 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, Councillor Mrs Spikings.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

The following declarations of interest were declared:

Councillor Peake declared an interest in item 8/2(f) – Northwold, as he was a member of Northwold Parish Council, but was not a member of their Planning Committee.

To consider any business, which by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposes to accept, under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There was no urgent business under Standing Order 7.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before the meeting commences.

The following Councillor attended under Standing Order 34:

Mrs J Westrop             8/1(a)               16/01322/OM

To receive any Chairman’s correspondence.

The Chairman reported that any correspondence received had been read and passed to the relevant officers.

To receive the Schedule of Late Correspondence received since the publication of the agenda.

A copy of the summary of relevant correspondence received since the publication of the agenda, which had been previously circulated, was tabled.  A copy of the summary would be held for public inspection with a list of background papers.

Councillor Wareham expressed concern in relation to the amount of late correspondence which had been reported for application 16/01322/OM. 

The Executive Director explained that there had always been a process to be able to report additional correspondence which had been received following the publication of the agenda. 

Councillor Storey stated that he considered that there should not be any late correspondence reported to the Committee.

The Chairman, Councillor Mrs Spikings stated that the applicant, agents and members of the public often needed to make comment on the report once it had been published.  She added that for each application, the Committee wanted to reach the best outcome, which was why the Committee also had public speaking as well as late correspondence in order to be fair to both the applicant and objectors.

The Committee is asked to note the Index of Applications.

The Committee noted the Index of Applications.

To consider and determine the attached Schedule of Planning Applications submitted by the Executive Director.

 The Committee considered schedules of applications for planning permission submitted by the Executive Director for Planning & Environment (copies of the schedules are published with the agenda).  Any changes to the schedules are recorded in the minutes.

RESOLVED:   That, the applications be determined as set out at (i) – (x) below, where appropriate to the conditions and reasons or grounds of refusal, set out in the schedules signed by the Chairman.

(i)        16/01322/OM

            Downham Market:  Land at Nightingale Lane:  Outline application:  Up to 300 dwellings and associated infrastructure and access:  The Grosvenor Partnership 3 LLP

The Principal Planner introduced the report and explained that the application site was located to the south east of Downham Market, bounded by the A1122 on the south boundary, Ravensway and Denver Hill to the north east boundaries, Nightingale Lane and Crow Hall Cottages to the north and open farmland to the east boundary.  Nightingale Lane was a Restricted Byway (PROW RB23) and ran from the north boundary south through the site to the footbridge crossing over the A1122 and south towards Denver.

The site was an allocation for Downham Market under Policy F1.4 of the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan 2016, with the policy requiring at least 140 dwellings.  Planning permission was granted for up to 170 dwellings (following the completion of the S106 agreement) in October 2016.

The current application was in outline form with all matters reserved apart from access.  Originally the application was for up to 500 dwellings including land to the north and outside the allocated site.  The applicant was advised that this would be contrary to the development plan policy and the application was subsequently revised to reduce the number of dwellings to up to 300 and the red line reduced to conform to Policy F1.4.

The application had been referred to the Committee for determination as the views of Downham Market Town Council were contrary to the officer recommendation.

The Committee noted the key issues for consideration when determining the application, namely:

·        Principle of development;

·        Form and character;

·        Highways issues;

·        Residential amenity;

·        Flood risk and sustainable drainage;

·        Archaeology;

·        Ecology;

·        Section 106 matters;

·        Any other matters requiring consideration prior to the determination of the application; and

·        Crime and Disorder.

In accordance with the adopted public speaking protocol, Mr F Daymond (objecting on behalf of the Town Council) and Mr Richard Brown (supporting) addressed the Committee in relation to the application.

In accordance with Standing Order 34, Councillor Mrs J Westrop addressed the Committee in relation to the application, as follows:

Thank you for allowing me to speak.  I would start by acknowledging that in 2016, 170 homes were approved for this site, 40 more than originally allowed for under our own policies pushing the development envelope.  I would like to suggest to the committee today that the 170 is sufficient and the proposal before you is a step too far.

Specifically I feel this application should be rejected on the grounds of density and  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC99:a

To receive the Schedule of Planning Applications determined by the Executive Director.

The Committee received schedules relating to the above.

RESOLVED:   That, the reports be noted.