Apologies were received from Councillors PA Andrews, AM Atkinson, AN Bridges, KS Guthrie and JG Lester.

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

In accordance with paragraph 4.1.23 of the Council’s Constitution, Councillor JF Knipe attended the meeting as a substitute member for Councillor AN Bridges and Councillor DB Wilcox substituted for Councillor JG Lester.

Mr K Bishop, Development Manager, declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 7:  land at Merton Meadow, Edgar Street, Hereford, as a holder of a small number of shares in Hereford United Football Club.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2013.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2013 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman paid tribute to the late former Councillor Josie Pemberton.  The Committee stood in silence in her memory.

The Chairman informed the Committee that Mr Ricky Clarke, Democratic Services Officer, had been successful in obtaining a new post.  The Chairman expressed his appreciation for Mr Clarke’s excellent support to him as Chairman and to the Committee and, on behalf of the Committee, wished him every success in the future.

The Chairman informed the Committee of the opportunity to sponsor members of the Planning Team who were undertaking a sponsored walk for charity.

Redevelopment of site, including demolition works to provide residential development comprising up to 192 units including a 60 bed extra care home and ancillary uses, new public realm and landscaping.

The application was approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

The Strategic Applications Officer gave a presentation on the application. He clarified that condition 36 listed in the recommendation should refer to a maximum of 192 units, not 191.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr O’Brien, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application.

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

·         The application was for outline planning permission.  In principle he accepted the development of a brownfield site within walking distance of the city centre and to its economic benefit, although a site further to the south would have been preferable.

·         He urged great caution over the risk to the site of flooding, which he considered inevitable, and emphasised the need for the Committee to satisfy itself, when considering the detailed application, that the proposed mitigation measures would be effective.  There were a number of examples across the Country of new developments that had suffered flooding.

·         The Environment Agency had identified the need to provide flood free access to the northern part of the site.

·         Several plots of land required for the scheme were not in control of the Council.  He asked how it was proposed to ensure that the scheme was deliverable.

·         He expressed regret at the closure or relocation of a number of local businesses.

·         With reference to the Transportation Manager’s comments in the report at paragraph 4.5, he questioned whether it was legally possible, as proposed, to make the progress of the scheme conditional upon the development of the link road.  When the planning application for the retail quarter had been considered it had been suggested that such a condition could not be imposed

·         Access to the extra care facility for elderly pedestrians and mobility impaired people needed to be addressed.

·         The report should have stated that the ratio of parking spaces to properties would be 1.3 and not rounded up the figure to 1.5.  This was a significant difference.

·         Planning permission needed to be conditional on a travel plan, either at the outline or detailed stage.

·         It was essential that the development provided for high quality cycle parking.

·         Further consideration needed to be given to the provision of adequate public open space.  The suggestion in the report by the Parks and Countryside Manager that enhanced facilities should be provided at the King George V playing fields was not acceptable.  He expressed concern that this aspect had not been discussed with him as ward member.

In response to the points raised the Strategic Applications Officer commented:

·           There had been a detailed flood risk assessment.  The Environment Agency and the Council’s drainage engineer were content that the scheme could proceed. 

·           Condition 33 required safe access in the event of flooding to be provided across the whole site including the northern section.

·           Regarding land ownership the majority of the site was either owned by the Council or would be secured through the link road Compulsory Purchase Order.  There  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

Redevelopment of site to provide a public car park with associated lighting, signage and parking meters.

The application was approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

The Strategic Applications Officer gave a presentation on the application. An additional representation received following the publication of the agenda was provided in the update sheet, as appended to these Minutes.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr Ledlie, representing Rail for Herefordshire, spoke in objection to the application.

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

·         There remained a complete lack of an integrated transport system in Hereford.  Until this was addressed and connections between the City and the rest of the County were improved the County’s economy would not grow as it might.

·         In principle he supported the proposal as a transitional measure given that the link road had planning permission and there was a loss of car parking associated with development in the City.  However, a better vision for an improved future transport strategy was required.

The debate opened and the following principal points were made:

·         There was a clear need for the car park.  However, the Link Road was expected to be completed by 2015.  It was therefore proposed that the temporary permission should be for three years rather that five as was being recommended.

·         The proposal for a transport hub remained part of the plan for the development of the Edgar Street Grid and it was important that this was progressed.

·         Landscaping was discussed.  It was acknowledged that little could be done given the temporary planning permission.  However, it would be important for businesses in Commercial Road that landscaping was restored to its original condition once the temporary permission ceased.

Councillor Hubbard was given the opportunity to close the debate.  He supported the application, whilst highlighting the need for an improved strategy and the development of a transport hub. 

RESOLVED:

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

Part retrospective change of use of rearing of game birds, cold storage of associated equipment, storage of animal feeds and agricultural chemicals, seed and fertiliser, including the erection of 2 feed silos.

The application was approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

The Development Manager gave a presentation on the application.

In accordance with paragraph 4.8.2.2 of the Council’s Constitution, Councillor J Hardwick, the local ward member, commented on the application.  He reported that, whilst the Parish Council and others had objected to the application, there were no objections to the business as such.  Several objections related to the proximity of pens for rearing game birds in fields adjacent to the site to residential properties.  The applicant had offered not to erect pens within 50 metres of another property.  This offer was not enforceable but had been well received and should be recorded.

The debate opened and the following principal points were made:

·         It was proposed that the applicant’s offer not to erect pens within 50 metres of another property should be included as an informative with the Committee’s resolution.

·         Intensive farming should not be supported.

·         There would be smell associated with the activity.

·         Landscaping of the site was discussed. The Development Manager commented that the site itself was relatively well screened.  A number of Members referred to the comments of the Conservation Officer in the report that there was an opportunity to provide landscape enhancement.  The Development Manager advised that most of the issues raised by the Conservation Officer related to matters outside the application site and a condition to give effect to the Conservation Officer’s comments could not be proposed.

RESOLVED:

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

Erection of commemorative weathervane/sculpture.

The application was approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

The Senior Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr Hoskins, Chairman of Much Cowarne Parish Council, spoke in support of the application.

A Member congratulated the Parish Council on its initiative.

RESOLVED:

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

INFORMATIVES:

Date of next site inspection:   27 August 2013

Date of next meeting:             28 August 2013