Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED: That Councillor Mrs Spikings be appointed as Vice Chair for the meeting.

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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Barclay (Councillor Coates substitute) and Parish (Councillor Ryves substitute).

The Chair thanked Councillors Coates and Ryves for being substitutes at the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting held on 3 March 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2025 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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.

Councillor de Winton declared an interest in item 9/2(b) Brancaster, as he was the Chair of Brancaster Parish Council and would be speaking under Standing Order 34.

Councillor Everett declared an interest in item 9/2(c) Leziate, as the applicant was his employer and would not take part in the debate or decisions.

Councillor de Whalley declared an interest in item 9/2(c) Leziate, and would not take part in the debate or decisions.

Councillor Anota declared an interest in item 9/2(c) Leziate, as he was the Chair of Leziate Parish Council and would not take part in the debate or decisions.

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

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The Planning Control Manager updated the Committee in relation to the Section 106 Agreements pertaining to application reference 13/01615/OM.  She reminded the Committee that they went into an exempt session at their last meeting on 3^rd March 2025 and Agents had requested a further extension of time (one month) to try to resolve issues around commerciality.

The Planning Control Manager explained they were still not able to complete as there were five minor points which needed to be addressed which related to:

·      Duplication between conditions and the Site Specific Agreement

·      Confirmation and clarification with regards to works in kind requirements

·      Comments relating to the viability review mechanisms

·      Clarification on the cycle and pedestrian contribution in terms of exactly what was going to pay for

·      Cross referencing needed to be done between all three agreements

The Planning Control Manager was seeking a final extension of time for either one additional month or six weeks to take into account the Easter Bank Holiday which would give a final date of 19^th May 2025.  Further that resolution two from 3^rd March 2025 should be carried over.

In response to a question from Councillor Spikings, the Planning Control Manager advised the recommendation from this meeting should be:

1.   To complete all S106 Agreements (Framework Part A, Part B and Site Specific 106) and issue the decision by 5.15 pm on 19^th May 2025.  If the timescale is not met, the application would be refused.

2.   In the exceptional circumstance where the individual landowner specified in the report and shown on the attached plan, is not able to enter into the Framework Part B and Site Specific 106 within the required timescale, to issue the permission and impose an additional condition which restricts development commencing on any part of the application site until the legal agreements have been entered into in relation to that land so that all the necessary land within the application site is bound.

Several Members of the Committee raised strong concerns regarding another extension of time.

Councillor Blunt proposed that if they failed to deliver in the six-week period from 7^th April 2025, the application would be refused.  This was seconded by Councillor de Whalley.

Councillor Ryves commented that he disagreed with the proposal from Councillor Blunt.

Councillor Spikings commented that she disagreed with the extension and stated that it should have been completed in February 2025.

Councillor Storey proposed that they should be given no more than three weeks.  This was seconded by Councillor de Winton.

The Democratic Services Officer carried out a roll call on the proposal from Councillor Storey which was seconded by Councillor de Winton as outlined above and after having been put to the vote, was lost (5 votes for and 8 against).

The Democratic Services Officer then carried out a roll call on the proposal from Councillor Blunt which was seconded by Councillor de Whalley as outlined above and  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC127:

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.

The following Councillors attended the meeting and addressed the Committee in accordance with Standing Order 34:

Councillor Kirk                        9/1(a)               West Walton

Councillor Morley                    9/2(a)               Bircham

Councillor de Winton              9/2(b)               Brancaster

Councillor Crofts                     9/2(f)               Outwell

Councillor Ayres                     9/2(g)               Tilney St Lawrence

To receive any Chair’s correspondence.

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

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

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

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

The Committee considered schedules of applications for planning permission submitted by the Assistant Director for Planning and Environment (copies of the schedules were published with the agenda).  Any changes to the schedules will be recorded in the minutes.

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

(i)            24/01561/F

West Walton: Land SW of The Bungalow, Common Road, South Walton Highway, Norfolk, PE14 7ER: Retrospective change of use of previously developed land to enable standing of a residential static caravan and storage of one touring caravan and ancillary works

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The Case Officer introduced the report and explained that the application sought full planning permission (retrospective) for the siting of a static caravan and storage of one touring caravan, for occupation by Gypsy and Travellers, on land South West of The Bungalow, Common Road South, Walton Highway.

The application site was outside of the Development Boundary for Walton Highway and therefore within the wider countryside for the purposes of planning policy.  However the site was allocated as a proposed G&T site (GT15) within the main modifications of the Local Plan Review.

The site was within Flood Zone 3 within the Borough Council’s SFRA (2018).

The application had been referred to the Committee for determination at the request of Councillor Kirk and as it had been deferred from the February Planning Committee Meeting.

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

In accordance with Standing Order 34, Councillor Kirk (Ward Member) addressed the Committee and outlined his concerns in relation to the application.

Councillor Blunt proposed a site visit be carried out which was seconded by Councillor Spikings and after having been put to the vote, was carried (6 votes for and 5 against).

RESOLVED: That the application be adjourned, the site visited, and the application determined at the reconvened meeting of the Committee.

The Committee then adjourned for a comfort break at 10.27 am and reconvened at 10.37 am.

(ii)          23/02246/F

Bircham: Well Cottage, Lynn Road, Great Bircham, King’s Lynn, PE31 6RJ: Demolition of existing Well Cottage and replacement with FOUR new dwellings (previous application 21/00713/F)

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The Case Officer introduced the report and explained the application site related to a two storey detached dwelling known as Well Cottage, situated on the western side of Crow Lane, Great Bircham.

The existing dwelling, driveway and garden to the rear were contained within the development boundary of the village, with the larger garden area to the south of the access driveway located outside of the settlement boundary of the village.

The application sought full planning permission for the construction of four detached dwellings following demolition of the existing dwelling.

The application related to  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC131:

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.