Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to this face-to-face meeting of the Planning & Regulatory Committee in the New Council Chamber. In line with public health recommendations to exercise caution and the council’s health and safety advice, the number of councillors, officers and members of the public in attendance in the Chamber was still limited to ensure the meeting could take place safely.

He also confirmed that the new committee and meeting arrangements were now in place following Council approval of the recommendations from the Planning Peer Review.  This Committee now comprised 13 members, together with an agreed pool of substitute members to be called on where standing committee members were unable to attend.  There were also new arrangements in place for speaking on planning applications under Standing Order 17A, with speakers to be invited to address the committee immediately before an application rather than at the start of the meeting.

The Chairman then introduced those officers present at the meeting and explained that any non-committee members in attendance may be invited to speak but did not have a vote.

Please note that following changes to SO17A, public speaking about applications for planning permission will be at the start of relevant agenda items rather than at the start of the meeting.  Time limits and notification deadlines remain unchanged, as set out below. 

To receive and hear any person who wishes to address the Committee. The Chairman will select the order of the matters to be heard. Each speaker will be limited to a period of five minutes for public participation on non-planning matters (up to a maximum of 30 minutes) and three minutes for the applicant/supporters and three minutes for objectors on a planning application (up to a maximum of 30 minutes). 

If there is more than one person wishing to object to an application, the Chairman will invite those persons to agree a spokesperson among themselves. In default of agreement the Chairman may select one person to speak. 

Requests to speak must be submitted in writing to the Assistant Director Legal and Governance and Monitoring Officer, or to the officer mentioned at the top of this agenda letter, by noon on the day before the meeting and the request must detail the subject matter of the address. 

Please ensure that any submissions meet the required time limits and can be read out in five minutes for public participation on non-planning matters (up to a maximum of 30 minutes) and three minutes for applicant/supporter statements and three minutes for objector statements on a planning application (up to a maximum of 30 minutes). Members of the public are advised that 400 words at normal speaking speed equate to a three minute statement. 

It was noted there were no speakers under Standing Order 17.

Two requests to speak had been received under Standing Order 17A and the speakers would be invited to address the committee immediately prior to consideration of the application in question (agenda item 6).

A Member must declare any disclosable pecuniary interest where it relates to any matter being considered at the meeting. A declaration of a disclosable pecuniary interest should indicate the interest and the agenda item to which it relates. A Member is not permitted to participate in this agenda item by law and should immediately leave the meeting before the start of any debate.

If the Member leaves the meeting in respect of a declaration, he or she should ensure that the Chairman is aware of this before he or she leaves to enable their exit from the meeting to be recorded in the minutes in accordance with Standing Order 37.

None declared.

16 February 2022, to approve as a correct record (attached)

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting be approved as a correct record.

Section 2 report of the Director of Place Directorate (attached)

At the invitation of the Chairman, Anthony Lindley, for the applicant, addressed the committee speaking in support of the application.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Tom Vaughan, local resident, spoke against the application.

“The Director of Place’s representative presented the report.  He also drew members’ attention to the update sheet which had been published the previous Friday.  Updated comments from the Highways Officer included that the proposed development would reduce the deficit in car parking provision and provide 9 car parking spaces. At the time of the update sheet 59 additional letters of support had been received. The principal planning points made under additional third-party comments were that the application would be positive for the local area to support refugees and good use of a derelict site. He subsequently provided a further verbal update concerning a letter that had been received from Residents Welcome North and the total number of representations received in support - 141 and objection – 154 to the proposals.”

At the invitation of the Chairman, the ward member Councillor Cherry addressed the committee.

Following debate, it was

Resolved: that the application be APPROVED (for the reasons stated in the report) subject to the following conditions:-

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiry of three years from the date of this permission.

Reason: In accordance with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country

Planning Act 1990.

2. The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the

approved plans and documents to be listed on the decision notice.

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interest of proper planning.

3. Prior to commencement of use a scheme for the management of the use of the site to include provision for a designated manager to be on site at all times during which the accommodation hereby approved is occupied shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The site will only thereafter be occupied in accordance with the approved scheme.

Reason: To ensure that the House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is managed to

avoid any anti-social behaviour that would harm the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring dwellings and the character of the area and in accordance with policy DM39 of the North Somerset Sites and Policies Plan.

4. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) and the Schedule ot the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) (or any Orders revoking and re-enacting those Orders, with or without modification), the premises shall be used as a House of Multiple Occupation for a maximum of 25 residents (sui generis use class) and for no other purpose.

Reason: The Local Planning Authority wishes to retain control over the use of the

premises in the interests of the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring

dwellings and the character of the area and in accordance with policy DM39  ...  view the full minutes text for item PAR 53

Section 3 report of the Director of Place Directorate (attached)

The Director of Place’s representative reported on appeal decisions and appeals that had been lodged since the date of the last meeting.

Resolved:

(1) that the report be noted;

(2) that an all Member Briefing session be organised to discuss the 5 year supply and appeal situation.

None