Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed members of the public to the meeting and outlined the procedures and arrangements adopted by the Council to enable persons to address the Sub-Committee, in relation to the determination of applications for planning permission. The Sub-Committee noted the advice provided for the public and speakers in attendance at Council Planning Sub-Committee meetings.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 4 January 2017.

Resolved:

(1)        That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 January 2017 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to minute (48) Development Control – Report Item 10 EPF/3015/16 – 21 The Broadway, Loughton, condition 5 removing the words ‘open to customers’ and replaced with ‘operational’ and ‘Friday’ to be replaced with ‘Saturday’.

(Director of Governance) To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

(a)          Pursuant to the Council’s member Code of Conduct, Councillor C C Pond declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda by virtue of attending a meeting with applicant with regards to the viability of Loughton High Road and at no point was the application discussed. The Councillor had determined that his interest was non-pecuniary and that he would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

·         EPF/3318/16 – 188-194 high Road, Loughton.

(b)           Pursuant to the Council’s member Code of Conduct, Councillor H Kauffman  declared a personal interest in the following item of the agenda by virtue of attending a meeting with applicant with regards to the viability of Loughton High Road and at no point was the application discussed. The Councillor had determined that his interest was non-pecuniary and that he would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the application and voting thereon:

·         EPF/3318/16 – 188-194 high Road, Loughton.

(c)          Pursuant to the Council’s member Code of Conduct, Councillor S Watson  declared a prejudicial interest in the following items of the agenda. The Councillor had determined she would leave the meeting for the consideration of the applications and voting thereon:

·         EPF/2832/16 – 18 Albion Park, Loughton

·         EPF/3134/16 – 41 Scotland Road, Buckhurst Hill.

Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, requires that the permission of the Chairman be obtained, after prior notice to the Chief Executive, before urgent business not specified in the agenda (including a supplementary agenda of which the statutory period of notice has been given) may be transacted.

The Sub-Committee noted that there was no other urgent business for consideration.

(Director of Governance)  To consider planning applications as set out in the attached schedule

Background Papers:  (i)  Applications for determination – applications listed on the schedule, letters of representation received regarding the applications which are summarised on the schedule.  (ii)  Enforcement of Planning Control – the reports of officers inspecting the properties listed on the schedule in respect of which consideration is to be given to the enforcement of planning control.

The Sub-Committee considered a schedule of applications for planning permission.

            RESOLVED:

            That the planning applications numbered 1 – 13 be determined as set out in the attached schedule to these minutes.

Exclusion: To consider whether, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended) or are confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, which came into effect on 1 March 2006, requires the Council to consider whether maintaining the exemption listed above outweighs the potential public interest in disclosing the information. Any member who considers that this test should be applied to any currently exempted matter on this agenda should contact the proper officer at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Background Papers:  Article 17 - Access to Information, Procedure Rules of the Constitution define background papers as being documents relating to the subject matter of the report which in the Proper Officer's opinion:

(a)        disclose any facts or matters on which the report or an important part of the report is based;  and

(b)        have been relied on to a material extent in preparing the report and does not include published works or those which disclose exempt or confidential information and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

The Council will make available for public inspection for four years after the date of the meeting one copy of each of the documents on the list of background papers.

The Sub-Committee noted that there was no business which necessitated the exclusion of the public and press.