Apologies were received from Councillor WC Skelton.

To receive details of any Member nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

Councillor SD Williams substituted for Councillor WC Skelton.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the Agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2018.

RESOLVED:   That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

None.

Demolition and clearance of the existing public house ('the volunteer inn') and erection of new family public house with rooms (uco class a3/a4), customer car park and relocated vehicular and pedestrian access.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

(Demolition and clearance of the existing public house ('the volunteer inn') and erection of new family public house with rooms (uco class a3/a4), customer car park and relocated vehicular and pedestrian access.)

(Councillor Guthrie fulfilled the role of local ward member and accordingly had no vote on this application.  Councillor TM James had not been present during part of the presentation and accordingly had no vote on the application.)

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr R Brook of Marden Parish Council spoke in opposition to the Scheme.  Colonel J Roberts, a local resident, spoke in objection.  Mr T Gregory, a Director of S & A Produce UK Ltd, spoke in support.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor KS Guthrie, spoke on the application.

She made the following principal comments:

·        The inn was a valued community facility.

·        The applicant had not consulted the local community or the Parish Council.  This was disappointing and a missed opportunity that had probably contributed to the number of objections to the application.

·        The new building would be larger, with an emphasis on the restaurant and the provision of guest bedrooms.  The scale and nature of the proposal was inappropriate for a small village like Marden.

·        The Volunteer Inn had a C18 core and was of heritage value.  She referred to the comments of the Service Manager Built and Natural Environment (Historic Buildings Officer) noting that he did not support the proposal.

·        Part of the development would be outside the settlement boundary and in the open countryside.

·        The parking provision would be insufficient leading to traffic problems.

·        The access was on a narrow section of road opposite a bus stop.  There were problems with speeding on the road and concern that increased traffic would create difficulties.

·        The proposal was contrary to the principles of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in that it did not support the social role of development because the community had not been consulted and was contrary to the environmental role because it involved the demolition of the existing building. Weight should also be given to the Marden Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP).

·        The application should be refused because it was contrary to policies M5, M1 and M3 of the NDP, Core Strategy Policies RA6, RA3 and SS1 and the principles of the NPPF.

In the Committee’s discussion of the application the following principal points were made:

·        Mindful of the difficulties public house businesses faced, the proposal appeared to be the best way to secure the future of such a business in that location.

·        It was regrettable that the local community and Parish Council were so opposed to the application.  The applicant could do more to engage with the local community.  It was requested that the applicant should give consideration to how the building could be used as a community facility meeting local needs as well as those of others.

·        The Historic Buildings Officer  ...  view the full minutes text for item 111.

Demolition and clearance of existing operational buildings and erection of new headquarters/administrative office building (uco class b1), including ancillary staff canteen/mess facilities, dedicated staff and visitor car parking and modifications to form two separate vehicular accesses (to the new offices and to the operational farmstead/packhouse.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation with additional conditions.

(Demolition and clearance of existing operational buildings and erection of new headquarters/administrative office building (uco class b1), including ancillary staff canteen/mess facilities, dedicated staff and visitor car parking and modifications to form two separate vehicular accesses (to the new offices and to the operational farmstead/packhouse).)

(Councillor Guthrie fulfilled the role of local ward member and accordingly had no vote on this application.)

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr R Brook of Marden Parish Council spoke in opposition to the Scheme.  Mr T Gregory, a Director of S & A Produce UK Ltd, spoke in support.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor KS Guthrie spoke on the application.

She made the following principal comments:

·        There had been no consultation with the local community.

·        There was concern about the overall size and scale of the complex which implied substantial expansion of the business was planned especially in the context of a number of current planning applications on the site as reflected in section 3 of the report on the planning history.  Marden was a small village and the scale of development was too great. The Parish Council had observed that the proposed office accommodation was over 50% larger than the existing provision.  It would support a much smaller proposal.

·        The access was off a narrow road and there was speeding traffic.  The roads in the area generally were too small for a large and expanding business.  The fabric of two grade II* listed bridges were also threatened.

·        It was accepted that the existing office accommodation was not fit for purpose but any replacement should be of a smaller scale. The design was also not appropriate for a rural area.  The proposal was therefore contrary to policy M7 of the Marden Neighbourhood Development Plan.  It was also contrary to Core Strategy policies E1 and RA6.

·        She drew attention to concerns expressed by the Transportation Manager at section 4.6 of the report.

·        If the application were to be approved the 30mph speed limit needed to be extended to the north encompass the lorry access point. 

In the Committee’s discussion of the application the following principal points were made:

·        The condition of the existing accommodation was poor and unsuitable for the company and its image.  The proposal would benefit the business

·        It would assist in keeping the business in Herefordshire.

·        The applicant should improve its engagement with the local community.

·        There was a consensus that the 30mph speed limit needed to be extended.

·        The access represented an improvement.

·        There would be benefit to the community in requiring the applicant to produce a travel plan.

·        There was a question as to whether the expansion of the business and the scale of development on the site was such that it was no longer sustainable development and some of the business should be relocated, noting the narrowness of the road network and the dissatisfaction of the local community.

·        It would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 112.

Proposed 2-storey classroom block (attached to existing building), to provide 10 no. Classrooms to replace existing mobile classroom accommodation.    

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

Proposed 2-storey classroom block (attached to existing building), to provide 10 no. Classrooms to replace existing mobile classroom accommodation.

(Councillor Holton fulfilled the role of local ward member and accordingly had no vote on this application.  Councillor Kenyon had left the meeting.)

The Senior Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor EL Holton spoke on the application.  She commented that the school needed to expand.  It had explored the options and the proposal was the best.  It was considered that given the distance between the proposed development and the nearest properties there would not be a detrimental impact on the amenity of neighbouring residents.

In discussion it was suggested that the school could usefully take the opportunity provided by the development to educate pupils in the planning process and engage them with it.

Councillor James proposed and Councillor Greenow seconded a motion that the application be approved in accordance with the printed recommendation.  The motion was carried with 13 votes in favour, none against and no abstentions.

RESOLVED: That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions and any other conditions considered necessary by officers named in the scheme of delegation to officers.

1.         A01 Time limit for commencement (full permission)

2          B02 Development in accordance with the approved plans

            Plan numbers 230-09; 230-02; 230-01; 230-06; 230-07; 230-08

3.         C03 Matching external materials

4.         F01 Restriction on hours of working – 0800-1800 Mondays to Fridays and       0800-1300 on Saturdays.

5.         H13 Access, turning area and parking

6.         H21 Wheel Washing

7.         I18 Scheme of foul drainage disposal

8.         The mobile classrooms shall be removed prior to the first use of the new classrooms approved subject of this application.

INFORMATIVES:

1.               The Local Planning Authority has acted positively and proactively in determining this application by assessing the proposal against planning policy and any other material considerations, including any representations that have been received. It has subsequently determined to grant planning permission in accordance with the presumption in favour of sustainable development, as set out within the National Planning Policy Framework. 

2.         HN01 Mud on Highway

3.         HN10 No drainage to discharge to highway

4.         HN24 Drainage other than via highway system