Agenda and draft minutes

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

Apologies for absence had been received from:

Councillor Bubb (Councillor Crofts substitute), Councillor Anota and Councillor de Whalley.

The Chair thanked Councillor Crofts for being a substitute at the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting held on 27 July 2026, subject to Councillor Bubb’s name being added as present.        

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2026 were agreed as a correct record,subject to Councillor Bubb’s name added to those present, 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.

There were none.

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.

The Ward Member(s) for the relevant application/item can speak; and/or

at the discretion of the Chair of the Planning Committee, other Members can speak provided:

-        that two days clear notice shall be given of any intention to speak on an application/item along with a brief summary of what they intend to say.

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

Councillor A Beales    9/2(a)               Little Massingham

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 Correspondence received since the publication of the agenda.

A copy of the 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.

The Committee is asked to consider and determine the attached Schedules of Planning Applications submitted by the Assistant Director.

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

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

(i)           25/02010/CU

Wiggenhall St Germans:  The Workshop at 159 Fitton Road:  Retention and continued use of existing workshops:  Mr Mario Daloia

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The case officer introduced the report and reminded the Committee that the application had been referred from the previous meeting in order for further information to be sought on the existing use of the building and clarification on the wording of conditions 2, 3 and 5 relating to operational hours, submission of a management scheme and flood evacuation plan.

The report had also been updated to reflect changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The case officer reminded the Committee that the application was for the retention and continued use of a workshop at 159 Fitton Road in the parish of Wiggenhall St Germans.  No building operations were proposed as part of the application.

The application site was approximately 0.21ha in size, located to the east side of Fitton Road, and approximately 441m from the junction of Fitton Road and The Granary which was located to the south.  The site was within the parish of Wiggenhall St Germans but was closer in proximity to Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen.

The application had been referred to the Committee for determination as it had been deferred from the 27 July 2026 Planning Committee meeting and had originally been referred by the Planning Sifting Panel.

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, Mr Tim Morris (objecting) addressed the Committee in relation to the application.

Councillors Ryves and Lintern asked how policy DM8 should be applied where unauthorised development appeared intentional and therefore attracted substantial weight. Officers explained that DM8 must be read alongside the development plan and the NPPF as a whole. Although intentional unauthorised development was a material consideration, the small-scale carpentry use was considered acceptable near residential properties and capable of being controlled through conditions; officers therefore balanced the enforcement concern against the planning benefits.

Councillor Ryves asked whether approval could allow the operation to expand into a broader industrial use. Officers confirmed that condition 4 restricted the premises to a carpenters’ workshop within use class E(g)(3), and any change of use would require a further planning application.

Councillors discussed the limited scale of the operation, its likely effect on neighbours and the support for rural business activity.

The Democratic Services Officer then carried out a roll call on the recommendation to approve the application and,  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC37:

The Committee is asked to note the report.

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The Committee received a report which provided an update on service performance for planning enforcement during the period from 19 March 2026 to 11 August 2026.

The Committee noted that 237 cases had been received; 205 cases had been closed; with 322 current live cases pending.

Also, during the period a total of 9 notices had been served.  The Committee also noted the staff update.

Councillors sought clearer information on case outcomes, proactive action on unauthorised traveller-site works and the age of unresolved cases.  Officers explained the reporting figures and agreed to assess a newly reported breach.

RESOLVED:  (1)        That the report be noted.

(2)        That a breakdown of enforcement cases showing their start dates be circulated so Members could identify and address the oldest outstanding cases.

To note the reports.

The Committee received Schedules relating to the above,

RESOLVED:   That the reports be noted.