Agenda and draft minutes

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

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Anota and Kirk.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 May 2025 (previously circulated).

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 May 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.

The Vice-Chair, Councillor Spikings declared a pecuniary interest in item 9/1(e) – Upwell, and would leave the meeting during consideration of the application.

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.

There was none.

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.

There were no Members present under Standing Order 34.

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 previously been previously circulated, was received. A copy of the agenda would be held for public inspection with a list of background papers.

The Committee is asked to consider and determine the attached Schedules 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) – (v) below, where appropriate to the conditions and reasons or grounds of refusal, set out in the schedules signed by the Chair.

(i)              25/00184/F

Docking:  Land west of Oaklands, Little Lane:  Proposed construction of 1 no. residential dwelling following sub-division of site:  Norfolk Signature Homes Ltd

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The case officer introduced the report and explained that the proposal sought full planning permission for the construction of a new dwelling on land west of Oaklands, Little Lane, Docking.

The application site comprised an area of residential curtilage to the west of the donor dwelling known as Oaklands.  The site consisted of a gravel parking / turning area and various ancillary buildings and structures.

An application to extend / alter the donor dwelling to create a larger two storey dwelling was approved under application reference:  24/00520/F and those works were currently taking place on site.

The application site was within the Docking Conservation Area and within the Nutrient Neutrality Catchment.

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

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

In accordance with the adopted public speaking protocol, Morgan Smith (supporting) and Andrew Skelton (objecting) addressed the Committee in relation to the application.

In response to comments made by the public speakers, the case officer explained that condition 8 referred to a construction management plan and the overshadowing of the garden area was detailed on page 23 of the agenda.

At the request of Councillor Lintern, the case officer displayed the street view.

Councillor de Winton added that having seen the site, he considered that the proposal, once built out, would fit in fine with the surroundings.  He was pleased to see that there was a condition requesting a construction management plan.  He therefore supported the recommendation.

Several Members of the Committee expressed concern that it was a small plot and there could be issues in relation to maintenance to deal with.  The case officer advised that this could be addressed through the Party Wall Act which was outside the planning regime.

In response to a comment from Councillor Ryves about the possibility of developing the strip of land next to the site, the Planning Control Manager advised that each application had to be considered on its own merits, and although it was a very small plot  it did not stop planning permission being sought for ancillary buildings.

The Vice-Chair asked that with the house on the boundary  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC8:

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.

The Arboricultural Officer presented an update report to the Committee on recent Tree Preservation Orders that had been served since November 2024, along with a summary on some of the other aspects of work in relation to treed in the last 6 months.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

RESOLVED:   That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 pf Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

To consider the attached report.

The Committee received an update report in respect of urgent works that were required to land and to seek a resolution in respect of further enforcement action.

RESOLVED:   (A)       That the update in respect of the amenity of the area being adversely affected by the condition of the land, be noted.

(B)       That authority be granted to the Assistant Director of Environment and Planning for the implementation and execution of direct action under Section 219 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) to comply with the requirements set out in paragraph 5 of the Section 215 Enforcement Notice dated 16^th April 2026.