Council and democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6SL. View directions

Contact: Wendy Le, Democratic Services Officer  Email: Direct.Democracy@thurrock.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

44.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 107 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 19 September 2019.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the Planning Committee held on 19 September 2019 was approved as a true and correct record.

45.

Item of Urgent Business

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

46.

Declaration of Interests

Minutes:

Councillor Sammons declared an interesting in planning application 19/00563/FUL, in that although she was one of the Members to call-in the application she was still of an open mind to hear the application.

47.

Declarations of receipt of correspondence and/or any meetings/discussions held relevant to determination of any planning application or enforcement action to be resolved at this meeting

Minutes:

There were no declarations of receipt of correspondence and/or any meetings/discussions relevant to any planning application to be resolved at the meeting.

48.

Planning Appeals pdf icon PDF 156 KB

Minutes:

Jonathan Keen, Strategic Lead for Development Services, presented the report which outlined the planning appeals performance.

 

The Committee was satisfied with the report.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Committee noted the report.

49.

19/00725/FUL Treetops School, Buxton Road, Grays, RM16 2WU pdf icon PDF 506 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Principal Planner presented the application and in doing so first updated the Committee that since the agenda had been published 3 additional objections had been received citing access to the site and an increasing in traffic.

 

 

He went on to explain the application constituted a major application. Given the location of the site in the Green Belt and the nature of the scheme this would constitute a departure from the Core Strategy and NPPF and if Members were minded to approve, the application it would need to be referred to the Planning Casework Unit.  Members heard the application proposed the development of a new school for up to 140 pupils aged between 5 and 16 with special education needs with alterations and extensions to the existing car park. 

 

The Principal Planner continued to highlight the application proposed a new

School building which would be a single storey structure and would comprise new classrooms, school halls, staff floorspace and ancillary accommodation arranged around an internal courtyard. The site area included a large part of the existing car park serving the existing Treetops School and Beacon Hill post-16 facility and the proposals included alterations to the layout of this area as well as new parking areas.  Within the ‘red-line’ application site there were currently 121 car parking spaces, this included spaces for disabled users, as well as drop-off / pick-up areas for vehicles.  The proposal would increase the number of car parking spaces within the application site by 111 to a total of 232 spaces. Access to the remodelled and extended car park being via the existing route via Buxton Road.

 

It was stated that the Planning Statement also noted that, due to the specialist nature of the school, there was a higher staff to pupil ratio and both pupils and staff would originate from a wider catchment area.

 

During discussions the Chair queried as to the footprint of the old school against the current application. It was stated that Officers wouldn’t want to estimate as the former school building were demolished a number of years ago, however in general it was deemed that the old school buildings  be bigger in footprint. The Principal Planner advised that detailed work had been undertaken relating to access routes, school transport and drop off points in response to highways issues.

 

Councillor Fletcher commented on the report which stated that highways shouldn’t greatly increase in traffic. Officers commented that there were no objections from Highway Officers and work had been undertaken as to the creation of the new car park, which would create a single access point.

 

Councillor Shinnick stated the turning at the end of Buxton Road was a nightmare. She further stated that she felt another road junction should be put in place, as there was not the infrastructure required for this application.  The Principal Planner commented that the site had been used as a school for a number of decades and access had always been through Buxton Road. He further commented that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

50.

19/01206/FUL Green House, Robinson Road, Horndon on the Hill, Essex, SS17 8PU pdf icon PDF 516 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The application was introduced by the Principal Planner, who explained permission was sought for the construction of two detached 3-bedroom bungalows. He continued to explain the proposal included separate vehicular access and both dwellings would be well set back from the street frontage.  

 

Members heard the application site was approximately 30m wide and fronts onto Robinson Road. In addition the site was generally flat and was within an area that included buildings of sporadic spacing with varied design, scale and appearance.

 

It was highlighted that the site was located in the Green Belt. The Principal Planner continued to advise the Committee, one of the principal reasons the applicant had given for the application was infilling in a village.  The applicant therefore relied on paragraph 145(e) of the NPPf to justify the proposal. However the site in question was not deemed by officers to be within the village itself. It was explained to Members that when assessing the issue of whether the site was within the village of Horndon on the Hill, officers had exercised their judgement and deemed it was not, given the boundary lines of the application.  It was relevant that this matter had been considered by a Planning Inspector in 2018.

 

Martin Leyland, the Agent, presented his statement in support of the application.

 

Councillor Fletcher queried as to regardless of whether the application was located in a village or not as to the reason for refusal. Officers explained that the application was located within the Green Belt and it had been decided that in Officers opinions special circumstances did not apply to the application.

 

Councillor Sammons stated she was confused as to if along the same road there were other buildings and properties, why this application was for refusal. The Principal Planner explained there were other buildings, stables and a gas compound down Robinson Road,

However as the proposals comprised new buildings within the Green Belt the usual Green Belt tests applied.  It was considered that the development was inappropriate, was also harmful to the Green Belt and there were not factors amounting to the very special circumstances required to justify a departure from national and local policies.

 

During the debate it was remarked that it was right for the application to be presented to the Committee for consideration. Members agreed that the application site did not form part of a village and therefore could not benefit as one of the exceptions from inappropriate development.

 

 

During the debate it was remarked that it was right for the application to be presented to the Committee for consideration. Members agreed that whether the application be in the village or not the application was on Green Belt land. 

 

The Chair proposed the Officer’s recommendation for refusal and was seconded by Councillor Churchman. The Committee moved on to the vote.

 

For: (5) Councillors Tom Kelly (Chair), Chris Baker, Colin Churchman, David Potter and Sue Shinnick

 

Against: (2) Councillors Mike Fletcher (Vice-Chair) and Sue Sammons

 

Abstained: (0)

 

Planning application 19/01206/FUL was refused planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

51.

19/00563/FUL 5 King George VI Avenue, East Tilbury, Essex, RM18 8SL pdf icon PDF 239 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Principal Planner introduced the application which sought permission for the erection of a two storey side extension, single storey rear extension and the change of use from a residential property to a children’s day-care nursery.

 

Members heard the application site was a semi-detached residence on the western side of King George VI Avenue. The site was located within East Tilbury Conservation Area.

 

It was enquired as to number of objections the Planning department had received from residents. Officers confirmed they had received 29 objective letters to the application.

 

Councillor Massey, Ward Councillor, presented his statement in objective to the application.

 

Gregory Brennan, Resident Representative, presented his statement in objection of the application.

 

The Chair of the Committee remarked that he had some concerns as to the change of use of the property and the impact of traffic for a residential street.

 

Councillor Churchman, agreed with the Chair and further commented that although there may be a need for childcare within the borough, this application was not appropriate.

 

Councillor Churchman proposed the Officer’s recommendation for refusal and was seconded by Councillor Shinnick. The Committee moved on to the vote.

 

For: (7) Councillors Tom Kelly (Chair), Mike Fletcher (Vice-Chair), Chris Baker, Colin Churchman, David Potter, Sue Sammons and Sue Shinnick

 

Against: (0)

 

Abstained: (0)

 

Planning application 19/00563/FUL was refused planning permission following Officer’s recommendation.