To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors JW Hope MBE, LO Barnett, JP French, TM James, and P Jones CBE [amended at the meeting of the NAPSC on 21 October 2009]

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

There were no declarations of interest made.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 August 2009.

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 August 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To be noted.

The Sub-Committee noted the Council’s current position in respect of planning appeals in the northern area of Herefordshire.

Change of use of land from agriculture to a one family traveller site, including stationing of one mobile home, two touring caravans and day/washroom - part retrospective

Change of use of land from agriculture to a one family traveller site, including stationing of one mobile home, two touring caravans and day/washroom - part retrospective

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr Marsden spoke on behalf of Humber, Stoke Prior & Ford Group Parish Council, Mr Hubbard spoke in objection to the application and Mr Baines spoke in support.

Councillor KG Grumbley, the Local Ward Member, was of the view that the development was unauthorised and on a green field site and said that it was also the second retrospective application by the occupants.

In response to a number of questions from the Local Ward Member, The Central Team Leader said that he had no way of confirming how many people lived on the traveller’s site. In response to concerns regarding access to the site, he advised that a mobile home could still be regarded as being “mobile” if it was delivered in two parts. In response to Councillor Grumbley’s comments on the site’s outbuildings, the Central Team Leader agreed that there was definite room to improve the condition of the building and stables. He also agreed that the planning status of the ancillary buildings including the stable block needed to be investigated [amended at the meeting of the NAPSC on 21 October 2009]

Councillor Grumbley said that he could not support the development as he felt there was insufficient need for it. He proposed that planning permission be refused as he regarded it as an unnecessary development on green field land which would contravene Herefordshire’s Unitary Development Plan E15. He said that a scrutiny review undertaken by the Environment Scrutiny Committee revealed that existing travellers’ pitches in Herefordshire were under occupied by some 28%. He said that he was not satisfied that the occupants of the site fulfilled the criteria for travellers.

Councillor WLS Bowen said that he felt it was essential that the applicants should prove beyond doubt that they did satisfy the criteria. He also asked why existing empty pitches were not in full use. The Central Team Leader said that a number of supporting documents had been received with the planning application and that the Planning Authority was satisfied that the applicant had met all the required merits. Regarding the unoccupied pitches, the Central Team Leader confirmed that there was still a shortfall within the county. He added that the application site met the criteria for becoming a travellers’ site as it was close enough to relevant amenities.

Councillor R Mills said that a similar application had been submitted in his own ward which the local community opposed. He said that the fears were unfounded and proposed that a time limited permission should be granted for perhaps 1 to 2 years. In response to Councillor Mills’ suggestion the Central Team Leader said that if the site was suitable, a time limited planning permission would risk a lost appeal.

Councillor RJ Phillips pointed out the potential cost of a lost appeal when it appeared  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

21 October 2009

18 November 2009

21 October 2009

18 November 2009