Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Assembly Room, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn PE30 5DQ. View directions

Contact: Kathy Wagg on 01553 616276  Email: kathy.wagg@west-norfolk.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

PC86:

Apologies

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

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Sandell.

 

The Chair thanked Councillor Whitby for attending the meeting today as a substitute for Councillor Sandell.

PC87:

Minutes

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting held on 3 February 2020.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday, 3 February 2020 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair, Councillor C J Crofts.

PC88:

Declarations of Interest

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.

 

Minutes:

The following declarations were declared:

 

·        Cllr C Manning reported that in relation to application 8/1(f) Roydon, he would not take part in the debate or decision but would address the Committee under Standing Order 34.

 

·        Councillor Storey declared that in relation to Appendix B page 101, the applicant’s son was employed by him.

 

Councillor Storey suggested that Parish Councils could be written to explain that Borough Councillors who are members of the Planning Committee should not be taking part in discussions on planning applications at parish level, as this would leave them in a difficult situation if the application were to be determined by the Planning Committee.

 

PC89:

Urgent Business Under Standing Order 7

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.

Minutes:

The Chair reported that there was no urgent business to report.

PC90:

Members attending under Standing Order 34

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.

Minutes:

The following Councillors attended under Standing Order 34:

 

Councillor C Manning             8/1(f)               Roydon

Councillor R Blunt                  8/1(g)              Walsoken

PC91:

Chairman's Correspondence

To receive any Chairman’s correspondence.

Minutes:

The Chair reported that any correspondence received had been read and passed to the appropriate officer.

PC92:

Receipt of Late Correspondence on Applications pdf icon PDF 40 KB

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

Minutes:

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

PC93:

Index of Applications pdf icon PDF 54 KB

The Committee is asked to note the Index of Applications.

Minutes:

The Committee noted the index of applications.

PC93:a

Decisions on Applications pdf icon PDF 1 MB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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) – (vii) below, where appropriate, to the conditions and reasons or grounds of refusal, set out in the schedules signed by the Chair.

 

(i)         19/02110/F

            Downham Market:  Castle Hotel, High Street:  Conversion of hotel to 6 apartments (comprising 3 no. 1 bedroom, 1 no. 2 bedroom and 2 no. 3 bedroom); conversion of Brewhouse to 1 bedroom dwelling; and proposed new 1 bedroom dwelling with associated amenity and parking area:  The Castle Hotel (DM) Limited

 

The Principal Planner introduced the report and explained that the application site was that of The Castle Hotel, which was a Grade 2 listed building on the northern corner of the mini roundabout junction of High Street, Paradise Road and Lynn Road at the centre of Downham Market.  The property was also located within the Conservation Area of the town.

 

The proposal sought to convert the existing 12 bedroomed hotel into 6 no. flats; convert the single storey Brewhouse in the rear yard into a 1 bedroomed dwelling and extend it to create a further similar unit.  This would be a total of 8 no. dwellings.

 

There were minor external alterations to the main three-storey building comprising of re-opening two doorways and a window; internal works involving new stud walls and creation of openings in existing studwork; plus alterations to a staircase in the north wing.  The extension to the Brewhouse was single storey and of similar style, materials and features as the existing building.  A utilitarian double garage in the south-western corner of the courtyard was also to be demolished.

 

The application was accompanied by a Planning Statement, Heritage Statement, Tree Survey and Marketing Information from the owner.  A declaration had also been made to the effect that the applicant was a direct relative of a member of the Planning staff.

 

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

 

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

 

·        Principle of development;

·        Impact upon character of the listed building and conservation area;

·        Parking; and

·        Other material considerations.

 

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

 

Councillor Patel asked whether the applicant had looked at other options to maintain the hotel business.  In response the Principal Planner referred the Committee to the late correspondence. 

 

Councillor Hudson agreed with the comments made by the owner.  She considered that there was sufficient accommodation elsewhere to incorporate the 12 rooms that would lost by the proposal. 

 

In response to comments from Councillor Joyce, the Principal Planner referred  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC93:a

PC94:

Delegated Decisions pdf icon PDF 16 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received Schedules relating to the above.

 

RESOLVED:   That, the reports be noted.