Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman, Councillor Mrs Bower welcomed everyone to the meeting.  She advised that the meeting was being recorded and streamed live on You Tube.

She invited the Democratic Services Officer to carry out a roll call to determine attendees.

RESOLVED:   That Councillor C Crofts be appointed as Vice-Chair for the meeting.

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

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Bone, Manning (substitute Councillor Blunt), Patel (substitute Councillor Rose) and Councillor Mrs V Spikings (substitute Councillor Long).

The Chairman thanked the substitutes for attending the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting held on 7 November 2022 (to follow).  

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2022 would be considered at the following meeting to be held on 5 December 2022. 

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.

Councillor appointed representatives on the Internal Drainage Boards are noted.

There were no declarations of interest.

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.

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22/00306/F - Church Cottage, Church Street, Thornham

The Planning Control Manager advised that amended plans had been received which required further consultation.  As a result, it was recommended that the application be deferred to allow further consultation. 

The Chairman proposed that the application be deferred, which was agreed by the Committee.

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 a decision on that item is taken.

Councillor S Squire had sent in letters to be read out in relation to 8/1(b) and 8/2(e).

To receive any Chairman’s correspondence.

The Chairman reported that she had not received any Chairman’s correspondence.

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

A copy of 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.

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 and Environment (copies of the schedules were published with the agenda).  Any changes to the schedules were recorded in the minutes.

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

(i)               22/01014/F

Emneth:  Elme Hall Hotel, 69 Elm High Road:  Proposed change of use from Hotel (C1) to large HMO (Sui Generis):  Mr D Cornetta

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The Principal Planner presented the report and explained that the item was deferred by Members at Planning Committee on 7 November 2022.  It was deferred to resolve a query over landownership.  The applicant had since confirmed that they did not own or have legal interest in the land outlined in blue on drawing number 224-01A - existing floor plans, site plan and location plan.  The drawing would therefore be amended to show only the application site highlighted in red.  The updated plan would be detailed in late representations.

The application sought full planning consent for the change of use of the application site from a hotel to a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) consisting of 26 rooms (with a maximum occupancy of 39 people) with 4 communal rooms including a lounge and a kitchen/diner on each floor. 

The application site was 0.35ha and was part of a larger hotel site (approximately 1.2 ha in total), the remainder of which would be retained as a hotel.  The external form of the building would remain unchanged, although there would be changes to the site to accommodate the parking and area of amenity space.

The application site was located to the northeast of the A47, with access via the existing entrance off Elm High Road.  The site was 1.3 miles to Wisbech town centre and abutted the built extent of the town.  However, it was located within the parish of Emneth and the site was within the development boundary for the village of Emneth as detailed on Inset Map G34 of the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan 2016.

The application was the same that was previously submitted and refused at Planning Committee in May 2022 (ref: 21/01569/F).  However the applicant had sought to address the reasons for refusal as part of this application namely the potential detrimental impact on tourism as a result of the loss of the hotel facilities.

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

The Committee noted the key issues for consideration when determining the application, as set out in the report.

In accordance with the adopted public speaking protocol, Stuart Beckett (supporting) addressed the Committee in relation to the application.

In debating the item several Committee Members spoke in support  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC72:a

To consider the attached report.

The Chairman informed the Committee that this would be the Arboricultural Officer’s last meeting before he left the authority.  The Committee thanked him for his work over the years and wished him well for his new job.

The Committee received an update on recent Tree Preservation Orders that had been served since 1 May 2022, along with a summary on some of the other aspects of the work in relation to trees.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.