To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Peter Hamblin, Stef Simmons and John Stone.

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

Councillor Robert Highfield acted as a substitute for Councillor Hamblin

Councillor Rebecca Tully acted as a substitute for Councillor Simmons

Councillor Roger Phillips acted as a substitute for Councillor Stone

To receive declarations of interests in respect of items on the agenda.

Councillor Richard Thomas declared a personal interest in agenda item no. 7, application 242591 – Land at Lower Woodend; the applicant was a known associate.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2024.

RESOLVED:   That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2024 be approved.

Councillor Matthew Engel joined the meeting at 9.40 a.m.

Proposed renovation, repair and refurbishment works required to Shire Hall including the introduction of a new library space within the Assembly Hall.

Applications approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

The Senior Planning Officer provided a presentation on the application and the updates/representations received following the publication of the agenda.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Mr Tristram spoke on behalf of Hereford City Council, Mr Milln, Chair of the Hereford Civic Society, spoke in objection to the application and Ms Lee, representative of the applicant, spoke in support.

In accordance with the Council’s constitution the local ward member spoke on the application. In summary, she explained that the proposal to incorporate the library and learning space into the Shirehall made best use of an historical building. The application concerned the repair, renovation and refurbishment of an historic building and it was noted that only one objection had been received from the Hereford Civic Society. The plans for the building were welcomed as an asset to the city of Hereford and the county as a whole.

In accordance with the Council’s constitution Councillor Jonthan Lester spoke on the application as a cabinet member. In summary, he explained that the works proposed to the Shirehall were a renaissance of a cultural element of Hereford. The restoration and repurposing of the building would be transformative for library and learning services and made best use of an historic building.

Councillor Lester left the meeting at 10:02 a.m.

The committee debated the application. The renovation, repair and restoration of the building as set out in both applications was supported by the committee. A point of clarification regarding the number of cycle spaces provided was requested.

The Development Manager Service Manager explained that the conditions attached to the application would be reviewed and clarified, in accordance with delegations to officers, including details on the number of cycle parking spaces provided on the site.

The local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate.

Councillor Dave Davies proposed and Councillor Richard Thomas seconded a motion that application 242506 be approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

Councillor Dave Davies proposed and Councillor Richard Thomas seconded a motion that application 242507 be approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

The motions were both put to the vote and were both carried unanimously.

RESOLVED -

242506/CD3

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions and any other further conditions or amendments to the below conditions, considered necessary by officers named in the scheme of delegation to officers:

Change of use of land to plant hire business and erection of a pole barn associated with this use, and erection of an additional building for a mixed use of plant hire business and domestic use. (Retrospective)

Application approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

The Senior Planning Officer provided a presentation on the application.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Mr Arundale, local resident , spoke in objection to the application and Mr Green, applicant’s agent, spoke in support.

In accordance with the Council’s constitution the local ward member spoke on the application. In summary, he explained that the application concerned a local enterprise that could be considered consistent with paragraph 88 of the national planning policy framework and core strategy policy RA6. The application had been considered by the local parish council which was in favour but with the imposition of appropriate conditions to limit the hours of operation and safeguard road users. There were however concerns from local residents to the site who had raised objections to the application concerning: the unsuitability of the local highway network and the absence of passing places leading to the site; the potential for the future expansion of the site; the noise, lighting and working hours of the site causing a detrimental impact on residential amenity; the discharge of water from the site onto the local highway and the risk of flooding and surface damage; and the impact on the landscape. It was important that the committee consider reasonable and appropriate conditions to protect residential amenity during its deliberations on the application.

The committee debated the application. There was division among the members of the committee regarding the acceptability of the application. The following principal points were raised during the debate:

·       The conditioning of improvements to the highway and the provision of passing places;

·       It was noted that the reasons for refusal to an earlier application, concerning the site, had been overcome by the conditions in the current application;

·       Concern was expressed that further growth of the enterprise might render the current location unsuitable;

·       The extent of the local objections suggested that the business was too big for its current location and situated in the wrong place; and

·       The impact of traffic on rural lanes and the enforcement of limits on vans accessing the site.

The Development Management Service Manager and the Highways Adviser provided the following clarification:

·       The condition of the local highway surface could not be resolved through conditions on the application:

·       The impact of the development on the local highway had not been considered sufficiently severe to required the provision of passing places;

·       The applicant had agreed to the conditions proposed with the current application; and

·       The condition relating to the access of three vans could be extended to include a requirement for the applicant to keep a schedule of all vehicles accessing the site.

The local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate. He explained that if the committee was minded to accept the officer recommendation and approve the application a number of conditions should be considered including: limits on the number of people allowed on site; limits on the number of trips generated by the site; mitigation of noise emanating from the site; and control of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.