To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors H Davies and WJ Walling.

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

There were no substitute members present at the meeting.

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

7. DMSW/100855/F - Land at or near Windmill Hill, Pencoyd Court & Trevase Farms, also Court Farm at Much Birch, Herefordshire, HR2.

Councillor DW Greenow, Personal, Acquaintance of the applicant.

8. DMS/101334/CD - Hampton Dene Primary School, Church Road, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR1 1RT.

Councillor JE Pemberton, Personal, Council appointed school governor.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 11 August 2010.

RESOLVED:   That the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 August 2010 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman.

The Chairman introduced all of the Officers present at the meeting.

To be noted.

The Committee noted the report.

Proposed erection of polytunnels (retrospective).

Proposed erection of polytunnels (retrospective).

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application and updates / additional representations received following the publication of the agenda were provided; the schedule of committee updates is appended to these minutes.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr Murphy, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support.

In accordance with paragraph 4.8.2.2 of the Council’s Constitution, Councillor RH Smith, the local ward member, commented on a number of issues, including:

• That the application was complex and sensitive and sought to ratify and formalize the current usage of the site.
• Work had commenced on the application 3 years ago, it had taken a considerable amount of time due to the complexity of the material considerations; the number of policies to be considered; the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment; and the applicants’ intent to submit and acceptable application.
• Each of the eight principal planning issues had been met and addressed.
• Buffer zones around neighbouring residents’ homes would address some concerns from the local people.
• The application would not result in increased traffic movements.
• The application should be approved as recommended by the Planning Officer.

The Committee noted the visual impact of the polytunnels but also discussed the essential role they played in the soft fruit growing process. The Committee noted the conditions and felt that compliance of the conditions would alleviate the concerns raised in respect of landscaping. They also requested that the Council’s enforcement team monitor the site closely to ensure compliance.

Councillor Smith was given the opportunity to close the debate in accordance with the Council’s Constitution. He reiterated his opening statements in support of the application.

RESOLVED

It be recorded that the Environmental Statement and associated documents including the Statement of Community Consultation have been taken into account in making this recommendation.

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

1          No more than 20 hectares of Zone 1 shall be covered with polytunnels, or any part or parts thereof excepting the legs at any one time, for which purposes any uncovered hoops in a row shall be measured from the first to the last to be included in this coverage.

Reason: In order to safeguard and maintain the the visual amenity of the area and to ensure that the development conforms with Policies DR1, LA2, LA5 and LA6 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

2          No more than 25 hectares of Zone 2 shall be covered with polytunnels, or any part or parts thereof excepting the legs, at any one time, for which purposes any uncovered hoops in a row shall be measured from the first to the last to be included in this coverage.

Reason: In order to safeguard and maintain the visual amenity of the area and to ensure the development conforms with Policies DR1, LA2, LA5 and LA6 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan 2007.

3          No more than 10 hectares of Zone 3 shall be covered with polytunnels, or  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

Replace existing pre school nursery mobile accommodation with a newmobile in same location, and provide signage at pedestrian gate entrance.

Replace existing pre school nursery mobile accommodation with a newmobile in same location, and provide signage at pedestrian gate entrance.

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application.

In accordance with paragraph 4.8.2.2 of the Council’s Constitution, Councillor AP Taylor, one of the local ward members, advised the Committee that he was in support of the application.

In response to a question the Principal Planning Officer advised that a 5 year temporary permission was being sought in order to address some of the concerns raised by Sport England.

RESOLVED

a)         That the Committee does not propose to refuse this application; and

b)         a consultation is undertaken with the Secretary of State, as required by the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2009; and

c)         subject to the Secretary of State notifying the Council that it is not intended to issue a direction in respect of the application the officers named in the Scheme of Delegation to Officers be authorised to grant planning permission subject to the conditions as set out below, and any other conditions considered necessary.

1          F18 Temporary permission.

2          B06 Implementation of one permission only.

3          B01 Development in accordance with the approved plans.

4          H30 Travel Plans.

INFORMATIVES:

1          N15 Reason(s) for the Grant of PP/LBC/CAC.

Retention of two existing and siting of one further mobile home to be occupied by seasonal agricultural workers.

Retention of two existing and siting of one further mobile home to be occupied by seasonal agricultural workers.

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application and updates / additional representations received following the publication of the agenda were provided; the schedule of committee updates is appended to these minutes. An additional email of objection had been received subsequent to the preparation of the updates sheet, the email was summarised for Members.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr Soble, the applicant, had registered to speak in support of his application but was not present at the meeting.

In accordance with paragraph 4.8.2.2 of the Council’s Constitution, Councillor GFM Dawe, the local ward member, commented on a number of issues, including:

• That the site was home to a large agricultural complex which fell within the AONB.
• The impact of the application on the site and the surroundings warranted a Member site visit.

Councillor Dawe was given the opportunity to close the debate in accordance with the Council’s Constitution. He reiterated his opening statements in support of a site visit to the application site.

RESOLVED

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

1          F21 Temporary permission – ten years (mobile home/caravan). The caravans should also be removed from the site in the event that the existing business ceases.

2          The occupation of the caravans shall be limited to persons employed in agriculture at Whitethorn Farm, Carey, HR2 6NG.

Reason: The accommodation and associated development proposed under this application is only considered acceptable on the basis of the functional need associated with the growing of fruit and vegetables on the land surrounding the application site and to comply with Policy H8 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

3          Within two months of the date of this permission, the colour including the BS number for all exterior surfaces of the mobile homes hereby permitted shall be submitted for approval in writing of the local planning authority. The existing mobile homes shall be coloured in accordance with the approved details within four months of the date of this permission and the additional mobile home coloured in accordance with the approved details prior to being occupied.

Reason: To protect the visual amenities of the area and to ensure the development conforms with Policies LA1 and DR1 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

4          Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 or any Order revoking or re-enacting that Order with or without modification, no other caravans shall at any time be placed on the land identified in blue outlined on the plan titled 'Farm Regime' and dated May 2010.

Reason: To prevent the further proliferation of mobile homes in order to safeguard the visual amenity of the area and to ensure the development conforms with Policies LA1 and DR1 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

5          F31 Static holiday caravan occupancy (November to March inclusive).

Informatives:

1  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

Conversion of outbuilding to residential dwelling.

Conversion of outbuilding to residential dwelling.

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application and updates / additional representations received following the publication of the agenda were provided; the schedule of committee updates is appended to these minutes.

In accordance with paragraph 4.8.2.2 of the Council’s Constitution, Councillor WLS Bowen, the local ward member, commented on a number of issues, including:

• The officer’s presentation addressed the application thoroughly
• The site was visible from the highway and was of importance to the village of Kingsland.
• The cider mill would be retained as a feature for the garden area.
• The dwelling would be occupied by local residents.
• The new dwelling would share an entrance from the highway with the existing dwelling.

Members discussed the application and felt that it would improve the existing building greatly. They thoroughly supported the application.

Councillor Bowen was given the opportunity to close the debate in accordance with the Council’s Constitution. He reiterated his support for the application and thanked the Committee for their comments.

RESOLVED

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

1          The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of one year from the date of this permission.

Reason: To comply with the provisions of Section 91(1) (b) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) and to reflect the decision of the Local Planning Authority on 4 March 2009 to suspend (effective from 1 April 2009) the requirements of the Authority's 'Planning Obligations' Supplementary Planning Document (February 2008) in relation to residential developments of five dwellings or less.

2          B01 Development in accordance with the approved plans.

3          C01 Samples of external materials.

4          C08 Amended Plans

5          D04 Details of window sections, eaves, verges and barge boards.

6          D05 Details of external joinery finishes.

7          D12 Repairs in situ.

8          Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved a detailed schedule of the repairs to the timber frame shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To ensure that the integrity of the building as one in a conservation area and of local interest is preserved and to ensure compliance with Policies HBA12 and HBA13 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

9          Before the first occupation of the dwelling, the cider press shall be re-located to the position as shown on the approved plan and shall be thereafter retained in perpetuity unless first agreed in writing with the local planning authority.

Reason: To ensure that the integrity of the building as one in a conservation area and of local interest is preserved and to ensure compliance with Policies HBA12 and HBA13 of the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan.

10        The truss and dwarf wall shown to be retained on the plans hereby approved shall be retained in perpetuity and shall not be removed or altered unless first agreed in writing with the local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Date of next site inspection       Tuesday 21 September 2010 [to be confirmed]

Date of next meeting                  Wednesday 22 September 2010

Members noted that the meeting of the Planning Committee scheduled for 22 September 2010 had been cancelled.

The next meeting would therefore take place on 13 October 2010 with a training session scheduled at the conclusion of the meeting.