Shrewsbury & Atcham
Borough Council

PRESENT: Councillor Mrs Williams* (Chairman)

Councillors Adams*, Mrs Allaway*, Bebb, Mrs Brennand*, Bushell*, Durnell*, Freestone*, Jetson*, Mrs Jones*, Owen, Mrs Parsons, Sheppard*, Townsend* and Ms Wild.

(* Denotes attendance at site visits that day).

Also in Attendance: Councillors Wagner and S J Williams.

Officers in Attendance: Planning Services Manager, Head of Development Control, Senior Area Planning Officer, Senior Solicitor and Committee Services Officer.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillors Price (Councillor Sheppard attended as his substitute) and Rees (Councillor Mrs Jones attended as his substitute).

MINUTES: 8^th January 2008 – confirmed.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: The following members declared their personal and/or personal and prejudicial interests in the items shown below:

Consideration was given to a report of the Planning Services Manager in respect of alterations and erection of an extension including pitched roof to allow conversion of existing cottage and ex-post office into two cottages and formation of new vehicular and pedestrian accesses at the Old Post Office Cottage, Welshpool Road, Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury.

That the drawing reference HB.05.06 received on 9^th November 2007, be accepted as an amendment to the planning permission reference 07/0534/F approved on 20^th June 2007 in respect of alterations and erection of an extension including pitched roof to allow conversion of existing cottage and ex-post office into two cottages and formation of new vehicular and pedestrian accesses at the Old Post Office Cottage, Welshpool Road, Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury.

The Planning Services Manager submitted a schedule of applications for development with his recommendations detailed thereon. In addition to the objections and representations detailed on the schedule, the Committee also considered further schedules of additional objections/representations received, copies of which are attached to the signed minutes, which were circulated at the meeting.

Members had made visits to the following sites prior to the start of the meeting:

• Country Friends, Main Road, Dorrington, Shrewsbury;
• Land opposite Broomhill Farm, Holyhead Road, Nesscliffe, Shrewsbury;
• Unit 26 Pride Hill, Shrewsbury;
• 41 Alberbury Drive, Shrewsbury;
• 5 Darwin Gardens, Mountfields, Shrewsbury;
• Gate House, Charlton Hill, Wroxeter, Shrewsbury; and
• 12 Condover Park, Condover, Shrewsbury.

The following Members spoke on the applications stated:

The following members of the public were permitted to speak on the applications stated in accordance with the Council’s scheme for public speaking on planning applications:

(Councillor Townsend was not in attendance for Minute 13/08 in its entirety and took no involvement in the discussion or decision made by the Committee on this item).

(Councillor Ms Wild was not in attendance for Minute 11/08 (Item 7) in its entirety and took no involvement in the discussion or decision made by the Committee on this item).

That, subject to the amendments set out below, the recommendations of the Planning Services Manager, as contained in the Schedule of Applications (a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes), be approved:

Members of the Development Control and Environmental Protection Committee determined that the application be refused for the following reason:

The proposal is contrary to interim affordable housing policy HS7 in that the Council considers the site to be large enough to accommodate three smaller units which would enable the provision of one affordable housing unit.

The Development Control and Environmental Protection Committee requested that the Head of Development Control send a letter to the County Council as owners of the access drive requesting that they investigate whether lighting can be provided for the benefit of the existing and proposed user.

Include the following additional conditions:

At no time shall there be more than 450 customers on the premises.

Reason: In order to ensure that the potential for crime and disorder disturbances are minimum.

The 216 tables / chairs as set out on plan AL01/E dated November 2007 and received on 22^nd January 2008 shall be the minimum provided and shall be permanently available for use at all times during opening hours.

Reason: In order to ensure that the venue does not unacceptably lead to crime and disorder problems.

No deliveries or servicing of the premises shall take place other than via the Pride Hill rear servicing access.

Reason: In order to ensure pedestrian and highway safety in the vicinity of the front entrance is not affected.

Include a S106 agreement relating to the cleaning of the land up to 50 metres from the premises after closure each day.

Include a S106 agreement relating to the linking of the proposed private CCTV system to the Council’s town centre system on a permanent basis.

Consideration was given to the appeal decisions by the Planning Inspectorate in respect of the following sites which had been received by the Planning Services Manager:

(a)  Land at rear of 81 Monkmoor, Shrewsbury – Appeal against refusal to grant planning permission for new house Ref: 07/0014/F – appeal dismissed 22^nd January 2008.

(b)  70 Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury – Appeal against refusal of consent to fell two Corsican Pines, or fell one and lift the crown of the other by 50% Ref: 07/0347/TPO and 07/0349/TPO – appeal dismissed 16^th January 2008.

(c)  Lower Edgebold Farm, Edgebold, Shrewsbury – Appeal against refusal of planning permission to allow change of use of agricultural land to provide parking area in connection with existing industrial units and formation of landscaped earth bund Ref: 07/0250/F – appeal dismissed 21^st January 2008.

(d)  4 Oak Tree Drive, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury – Appeal against refusal of consent to fell one oak tree Ref: 07/0312/TPO – appeal dismissed 27^th December 2007.

That the decisions in respect of the above appeals be noted.

(The Senior Solicitor confirmed that the report on the Scheme of Delegation should be considered in public as it did not contain any information which fell into any of the exempt information categories as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

Consideration was given to a report of the Planning Services Manager in relation to the Development Control Scheme of Delegation relating to referrals to Committee and the need to critically review the practice and procedures adopted by the Local Planning Authority in determining planning applications.

RESOLVED:

1. That the wording in Section 3.3 (point 3) of the Planning Services Manager’s report be amended to read "a Town or Parish Council submits a representation contrary to the officer recommendation and this is supported with reasons such as planning policy or other material considerations unless, it can be overcome with appropriate planning conditions".
2. That the interim scheme of delegation as set out in Section 3 of the Planning Services Manager’s report be subject to a process of consultation with stakeholder groups and representations reported for consideration by the Development Control and Environmental Protection Committee and the Standards Committee prior to a recommendation to Council.

5.55 p.m. – 8.00 p.m.

Chairman…………………………….

Date………………………………….