Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Barnfather. Councillor Sam Smith attended as substitute.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the above meeting, having been circulated, be approved as a correct record.

Councillor Paling declared an interest in item 4 on the agenda and confirmed that she would not participate in the debate nor vote on the item.

Due to public interest, the Chair Moved item 6 forward on the agenda.

Use of land for outdoor sports and recreation, siting of structures for ancillary storage, office and refreshments, and associated track, car park and infrastructure (additional details of car parking and zone layouts).

Ed Hammond, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

The Principal Planning Officer updated Members in relation to a number of late items that had been received after the publication of the agenda which included: on-line petition, petition from B2B Events, correspondence circulated to Councillors from the applicant, time-line of business activities on site from B2B, a letter of support from a member of the public, a letter of objection from a member of the public and further clarification on very special circumstances from the applicant’s agent.

The Principal Planning Officer then introduced the report.

He concluded that the additional information did not change the officer recommendation and the application was recommended for refusal.

Councillor Wilkinson, seconded by Councillor David Ellis, moved a recommendation that the item should be deferred to a future meeting, to allow further negotiations to take place between the planning department and the applicant in order to find a mutual solution.

RESOLVED:

To defer the decision of the application to a future planning committee for the following reason.

Reason:

To enable further discussions to take place between the applicant and officers to address the issues in respect of the effect on the openness on the green belt.

The Chair informed the committee that the item had been withdrawn from the agenda following the deferment of application no. 2022/1316.

Councillor Paling left the meeting.

Residential development (outline) to include demolition of existing site buildings.

The Principal Planning Officer introduced the report.

Following debate, the recommendations within the officer’s report to grant planning permission was not carried.

The Chair adjourned the meeting to allow officers to draft the proposed reasons for refusal of the application.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:07pm.

The meeting resumed at 7.11 pm.

RESOLVED:

To refuse the application for the following reasons.

Reasons:

The reasons for refusal following the over-turn of Beacon Baptist are:

1)    The proposal would fail to comply with part (a) or (b) of Local Planning Document (2018) Policy LPD56 – Protection of Community Facilities.

2)    The applicant has failed to demonstrate that there is sufficient alternative existing community facility provisions with sufficient (or equivalent) capacity available within the area which can be reasonably accessed by walking, cycling or public transport and which would not result in the need for significant increases in car journeys.

3)    No alternative provision will be provided as part of the development; and 

4)    Insufficient evidence has been submitted with the application to demonstrate that the retention of the existing community building and use is not economically viable, feasible or practicable.

Councillor Paling re-joined the Committee.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

RESOLVED:

To note the information.

RESOLVED:

To note the information.

Under this item the Chair gave thanks to the Democratic Services Team, Legal Team, Planning Policy Team and Planning Department for their support over the past 12 years.

Councillor Peter Barnes thanked the Planning Department for their support over the past 50 years, during his time served on the Planning Committee.