To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs J Davis, R.I. Matthews and Mrs J.E. Pemberton.

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

Councillor Ms. G.A. Powell was appointed named substitute for Councillor R.I. Matthews:

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 22nd April, 2005.

RESOLVED:            That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd April, 2005 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan – Public Inquiry

The Public Inquiry into objections to the UDP had opened in Hereford on February 8th and was expected to close on June 24th.  The Inspector had dealt with almost 4,000  objections with some 25% of these having been heard at the Inquiry through  formal and informal hearings.  The remaining 75% of objections were being addressed by written representations. The final day would be hearing objections into flooding at Ewyas Harold, at the end of which the Inspector would close the Inquiry. The Inspector's Report should be available towards the end of the year. 

Staffing and Recruitment

Staffing levels were approaching full establishment with two new enforcement officers in post and a third one due to commence shortly.  Two of the officers had been recruited internally.

There were some excellent applicants for the post of Development Control Manager and an appointment had been made with the new officer due to take up his post on 15th August, 2005.

To receive the attached report of the Northern Area Planning Sub-Committee meetings held on 20th April, 2005 and 18th May, 2005.

RESOLVED: That the report of the meetings held on 20th April, 2005 and 18th May, 2005 be received and noted.

To receive the attached report of the Central Area Planning Sub-Committee meeting held on 4th May, 2005.

RESOLVED: That the report of the meeting held on 4th May, 2005 be received and noted.

To receive the attached report of the Southern Area Planning Sub-Committee meeting held on 11th May, 2005.

RESOLVED: That the report of the meeting held on 11th May, 2005 be received and noted.

To consider an application for the erection of a three bedroomed two storey detached dwelling and detached garage/store.

Ward: Mortimer

RESOLVED:

That consideration of the application be deferred pending a site inspection on the following grounds.

(a)               the character or appearance of the development itself is a fundamental planning consideration;

(b)               a judgement is required on visual impact; and

(c)        the setting and surroundings are fundamental to the determination or to the conditions being considered.

To inform Members of the existence and contents of the report

Wards: County-wide

An information report was received by the Committee about Minerals Policy Statement 2 which had been issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as part of its programme of modernising the Planning system.  It was noted that the Statement had been issued following a detailed consultation process and that it had superseded Mineral Planning Guidance Note II “The Control of Noise at Surface Mineral Workings” (1993).  The officers appraisal about each aspect of the Statement and its implications for the extraction of minerals in Herefordshire was noted.  Copies of the Statement and related annexes had been placed in the Members Room at Brockington.

RESOLVED THAT the report be received and noted.