Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs Buck.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 3 July 2017. 

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 3 July 2017 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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 Parish declared an interest in relation to items 8/2(c) – Heacham and 8/2(j) – Sedgeford as a Member of Heacham Parish Council.

Councillor Parish also informed the Committee that he had made strong statements about item 8/1(b) - Heacham and because of that he would withdraw from the meeting and address the Committee under Standing Order 34.

Councillors Crofts, Watson and Young declared an interest as they were appointed to the Water Management Alliance Group.

Councillors Storey and White declared an interest in item 8/2(g) – King’s Lynn as a Member of Norfolk County Council.

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 Councillors attended under Standing Order 34:

Name                          Item                 Application

Councillor T Tilbrook      8/1(a)               Congham

Councillor T Parish        8/1(b)               Heacham

Councillor C Manning     8/1(b)               Heacham

Cllr T Wing-Pentelow     8/2(f)                King’s Lynn

Councillor B Ayres         8/2(k)               Terrington St John

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

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

(i)         17/00309/FM

Congham:  Congham Hall Hotel, Lynn Road, Grimston:  Extensions and alterations to hotel/spa and erection of new buildings and structures for use as additional hotel rooms (use class C1), erection of new buildings and structures for short term holiday accommodation, new spa treatment rooms, gym and administration uses, access alterations and associated infrastructure and works:  Congham Hotels Ltd

The Principal Planner introduced the report and explained that the application site was contained within an area designated as countryside according to Local Plan Proposals Maps for Grimston and Pott Row.

Grimston, Pott Row coupled with Gayton was a Key Rural Service Centre in accordance with Policy CS02 of the Local Development Framework Core Strategy.

The proposal sought consent for expansion to Congham Hall, which involved the erection of new buildings for spa/treatments and holiday accommodation alongside associated infrastructure.

The application had been referred to the Committee for determination as it had been called in by Councillor Tilbrook.

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

·        Principle of development;

·        Impact upon the landscape and parkland setting;

·        Impact upon Protected Species and European Designated Sites;

·        Arboricultural implications;

·        Impact upon neighbour amenity; and

·        Other material issues.

In accordance with the adopted public speaking protocol, Mr M De Whalley (objecting), Mr M Hare (supporting) and Mr N Dickinson (supporting) addressed the Committee in relation to the application.

In accordance with Standing Order 34, Councillor T Tilbrook addressed the Committee in relation to the application as follows:

‘First I would like to apologise if in trying to oppose this development I have upset anyone on the Committee or tread on anyone’s toes.  I am sorry.

Also I have nothing against Congham Hall and want the hotel to do well.  Indeed when I was asked to hear about their development plans I was optimistic.  However I had an hour of sitting in a presentation by four experts telling me black was white.

Attempts at a compromise by Sir Henry Bellingham and later myself were rebuffed and the plans went full steam ahead.

There are some fundamental principles at stake here and incorrect assumptions.

First Congham village is not Grimston and not in the same category for potential growth.  As stated the two villages are listed separately in our Core Strategy and to link them breaches our own planning guidelines.  Either we have boundaries or we don’t?  This is Congham Hall not Grimston Hall.

I would welcome the Committee to come and see the site. 

Second there is rumour going around that this scheme  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC29:a

To provide the Committee with the quarterly report covering performance for the period 1 April - 30 June 2017.

The Committee received a report which provided an update on service performance for planning enforcement during the second quarter of 2017.

It was noted that the total number of live cases was 236 and 131 cases had been closed.  In addition, 16 formal notices had been served.

RESOLVED:   That, the report be noted.

To provide the Committee with the quarterly report covering the performance for the period 1 April – 30 June 2017.

The Committee received a quarterly update report covering performance for the period 1 April 2017 – 30 June 2017.

The data showed that for the second quarter of 2017, 11% of all appeals were allowed.  For the 12 month period to 31 March 2017 an average of 14% of all appeals were allowed.  This was well below the post National Planning Policy Framework national average figure of 36% of all appeals allowed.

RESOLVED:   That, the report be noted.

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

The Committee received schedules relating to the above.

RESOLVED:   That, the report be noted.