To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M.R. Cunningham, Brig. P. Jones CBE and R.I. Matthews.

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

The following substitutions were made:

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 26th November, 2004.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 26th November, 2004 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman.

The Chairman reported on the following matters:

(a)Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan Public Inquiry

The Inquiry was due to open on Tuesday 8th February, 2005 at the Hereford Group Training Association, Holmer Road Hereford.  There had been a change of Inspector since the pre-Inquiry meeting in November, the new Inspector was Mr. Andrew Freeman who would be assisted by Mr David Richards, appointed as Assistant Inspector for a period of six weeks.  The Inquiry was programmed to end on Friday 24th June, 2005 and details had been placed on the Council’s website, including:

·                     map of the Inquiry venue

·                     Inquiry programme (the programme was subject to regular change, and updates would be posted on the website at regular intervals)

(b) Staffing Changes

The following appointments had been made in the Development Control Department:

Team Leader Central

Senior Planning Officer Southern Team

Information Support Officer

Interviews would shortly be held for Planning Officer Central and recruitment authorisation was being sought for a Principal Planning Officer and a Development Supervisor/Enforcement Officer.

To receive the attached report of the Northern Area Planning Sub-Committee meeting held on 1st December, 2004 and 5th January, 2005.

RESOLVED: That the report of the meetings held on 1st December, 2004 and 5th January, 2005 be received and noted.

To receive the attached report of the Central Area Planning Sub-Committee meeting held on 15th December, 2004 and 12th January, 2005.

RESOLVED: That the report of the meetings held on 15th December, 2004 and 12th January, 2005 be received and noted.

To receive the attached report of the Southern Area Planning Sub-Committee meeting held on 24th November 2004 and 22nd December 2004.

RESOLVED: That the report of the meetings held on 24th November, 2004 and 22nd December, 2004 be received and noted.

To consider a planning application which has been referred to the Committee by the Head of Planning Services because the Southern Area Planning Sub-Committee is minded to approve it, contrary to the Council's Planning Policies and officer recommendations.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Mrs. Morris of Orcop Parish Council and Mr. Griffin the agent acting on behalf of the applicant both spoke in favour of the application.

The Development Control Manager said that the Southern Area Planning Sub-Committee was mindful to approve the application and that it had been referred to the Committee by the Head of Planning Services because approval would be contrary to the Council’s planning policies.  He advised that the likely outcome would be that the cost of the proposed housing would be beyond the reach of local people.  The Head of Strategic Housing Services said that the Council’s Housing Needs Survey had revealed there to be a demand for affordable housing at Orcop at a price of up to £90,000.  The Development Control Manager said that although the Sub-Committee intended that the planning permission should make proviso for the dwellings to be sold at a discount of 25% of market value, the price was still likely to be in the region of £130,000 and did not constitute affordable housing. 

The Committee discussed details of the application, the improvements that could be carried out on the site to provide housing and enable unsightly poultry houses to be removed.  The Committee felt that there were considerable advantages to be derived if the application was to be approved because of the favourable impact on the environment together with provision of housing.  A motion that the application should be refused was lost and the Committee decided that the application should be approved with the proviso that the housing would be permitted at a 30% discount of market value in perpetuity.

RESOLVED:

That:   (a)     The County Secretary and Solicitor be authorised to complete a planning obligation under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to ensure that the affordable/market housing will be available at a discount of 30% below the current open market value and that this discount will be available in perpetuity to purchasers to contribute to meeting local housing requirements, and any additional matters and terms as she considers appropriate.

            (b)     Upon completion of the aforementioned planning obligation, the officers named in the Scheme of Delegation to Officers be authorised to issue planning permission subject to the following conditions:

1.      A02 (Time limit for submission of reserved matters (outline permission))

         Reason: Required to be imposed by Section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2.      A03 (Time limit for commencement (outline permission))

Reason: Required to be imposed by Section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

3.      A04 (Approval of reserved matters)

         Reason: To enable the local planning authority to exercise proper control over these aspects of the development.

4.      A05 (Plans and particulars of reserved matters)

         Reason: Required to be imposed by Section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

5.      F17 (Scheme of foul drainage disposal)

Reason: In order to ensure that satisfactory drainage arrangements are provided.

6.      F20 (Scheme of surface water  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

To inform members of the consultation and to recommend comments to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Wards: County-wide

The Team Leader (Minerals and Waste) reported on an announcement from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) that it intended to review all its mineral planning and policy guidance and to separate its guidance on practical implementation from its policy statements.  MPS 1 would set out the Government’s key policies and principles for minerals planning and would replace the existing MPG 1.  The policy elements of other MPGs concerned with planning for the supply of significant minerals would be revised and be published as annexes to MPS 1.  Later annexes would deal with other significant minerals, such as oil and gas, brick clay and building stone.  He outlined the proposals for consultation about Draft MPS 1, Draft Good Practice Guidance and a Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment.  He said that that the fundamentals of modern minerals policy were to meet the national need for construction materials, meet the environmental cost, cut waste, promote reuse/recycling and safeguard the most sensitive habitat and heritage areas.

He felt that these aims were reflected in the new policy and he provided the Committee with details of a proposed response to the ODPM.

RESOLVED: That the Committee endorse the proposed response and recommend to the Cabinet Member (Environment) that the ODPM be informed accordingly.

To inform members of the consultation process undertaken on the Tanyard Lane Development Brief and to consider the proposed amendments that have been made to the Brief as a result of the consultation feedback that has been received. A copy of the Brief is enclosed separately for Members of the Planning Committee and is also available in the Members lounge.

Ward: Ross-on-Wye East

The Team Leader Local Planning presented the report of the Forward Planning Manager about a consultation process undertaken on the Tanyard Lane Development Brief and proposed amendments to be made as a result of the feedback that had been received.  He said that the site was is located in Ross on Wye and formed a housing allocation for 150 units within the emerging Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan (UDP).  He advised the Brief had been prepared jointly between the Council and developers of the site.  It provided additional information to supplement the policies of the UDP and would eventually be adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance.  He provided details of the consultation process and the comments received.  He drew particular attention to the fact that in order to protect the residential amenity of residents living in bungalows adjoining the northern boundary of the site, the Brief had been amended to include an amenity protection zone within which only single storey development could be built.  He suggested that this should be the minimum that should be provided.  The brief also included a cross reference to the related text in the UDP and he anticipated that all objections relating to Tanyard Lane would be debated at the UDP Public Inquiry which commenced in February.  He advised that objections centred around access/traffic, flooding, affordable housing, landscape, design, greenfield/brownfield issues, and the capacity of the local infrastructure.  The Brief aimed to progress and develop proposals in the Plan in relation to these and other issues relating to the development of the site.

RESOLVED: That the changes proposed to the Brief set out in the report of the Forward Planning Manager be approved and that the Tanyard Lane Development Brief be adopted as supplementary information to the emerging Unitary Development Plan.

To inform members of the progress of the implementation of the scheme by Building Control.

The Head of Planning Services presented his report about the progress of implementation of the Local Authority Building Control Partner Authority Scheme by the Council’s Building Control service.  He said that the Council had participated in the Scheme for the past four years.  The scheme had provision for the Council to act as a Building Control Inspecting Authority on behalf of partner clients who included Border Oak, Leominster Construction, Collins Engineering and Kingspan and that  discussions were underway with a potential fifth partner.  He outlined the benefits of the scheme which provided for regular provision of advice and consultation with partners and clients who could be kept up to date with building regulation issues.  The Council had the benefit of pre-submission meetings to explain and educate the client or agent about the requirements of the regulations prior to a formal building regulation submission being made.  It was agreed that it should be when the resources become available the scheme should be fully implemented.

RESOLVED: That the Committee endorse the report and recommended to the Cabinet Member (Environment) that when resources permit the scheme be fully implemented.

To consider the Eardisley Group Parish Plan for adoption as further planning guidance to supplement the emerging Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan (UDP).

The Eardisley Group Parish Plan had been prepared as Interim Supplementary Planning Guidance to the emerging Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

The Committee expressed its appreciation for the hard work undertaken by the local community in helping to prepare the document.

RESOLVED: That it be recommended to the Cabinet Member (Environment) that the planning elements of the Eardisley Group Parish Plan be adopted as Interim Supplementary Planning Guidance as an expression of local distinctiveness and community participation.

To note that the next meeting will be held on 2nd March, 2005 instead of 4th March 2005.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on Friday 22nd April, 2005.