Agenda for Development Management Committee on Tuesday 21st May 2019, 7.30 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL8 6AE

Contact: Marie Lowe 

Items
No. Item

1.

APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN

To note that the Council at their Annual Meeting on 20 May 2019 will be appointing a Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee for 2019/20.

Minutes:

It was noted that Councillors J.Boulton and S.Wrenn were elected Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively for the Municipal Year 2019/2020.

2.

SUBSTITUTIONS

To note any substitution of Members made in accordance with Council Procedure Rules 19-22.

Minutes:

The following substitutions of Committee Members had been made in accordance with Council Procedure Rules 19-22:

 

Councillor M.Cowan for Councillor J.Ranshaw.

Councillor L.Musk for Councillor A.Chesterman

3.

APOLOGIES

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A.Chesterman and J.Ranshaw.

4.

MINUTES

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 April 2019 (previously circulated).

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 25 April 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

5.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST BY MEMBERS

To note declarations of Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests, non-disclosable pecuniary interests and non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on the Agenda.

Minutes:

Councillor M.Cowan declared that he would withdraw from the meeting during the discussion of Item 7 - Units 9-12 Peartree Farm, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 3UW - 6/2019/0166/FULL as he had been the Member who had called-in the application.

 

 

The Chairman announced that, following legal advice circulated to all Members of the Council, the Conservative Members of the Committee would withdraw from the room during consideration of Item 8 - Maynard House, 1 The Common, Hatfield, AL10 0NF - 6/2018/2552/Full, on the agenda. 

 

The Conservative Members considered that they had a non-declarable pecuniary interest in this application as the Welwyn Hatfield Conservative Association had had the tenancy for Maynard House.

 

Councillor M.Larkins would take the Chair for this item.

6.

UNITS 9-12 PEARTREE FARM, WELWYN GARDEN CITY, AL7 3UW - 6/2019/0166/FULL - CONSTRUCTION OF COACH WORKSHOP AND OFFICE WITH 2 PARKING SPACES, RESURFACE OF YARD/WASH DOWN AREA FOLLOWING DEMOLITION OF EXISTING OFFICE AND GARAGE pdf icon PDF 507 KB

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Minutes:

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the construction of a coach workshop and office with two parking spaces, resurfacing of the yard/wash down area following demolition of the existing office and garage.

 

The application site comprised units 9 – 11 Peartree Farm which was currently used as a coach and minibus hire business with all activities associated with that use such as office functions, coach/minibus parking and vehicle repair and maintenance currently taking place mainly in the open air within the yard area.  This open area was being used for open vehicle repairs and storage at the time of the Officer’s site visit.

 

Members noted that it was proposed to demolish the existing buildings on the site and to replace them with: -

 

1.       A single storey office building backing onto the east boundary with Peartree Lane gardens measuring 14.5m by 4.25m, 2.4m to the eaves and 3.28m to the ridge.  This would be constructed using red brick and pantile roofing.  No windows would face the adjoining houses.

 

2.       A taller workshop building in place of the end of terrace offices and portable building on the west side of the site measuring 8.5m wide by 14.25m deep and 5.88m to eaves and 6.325m to ridge.  The building would be covered in pale olive green cladding with high level windows for illumination only.  The application proposed it would be constructed to current building regulation standards with heating and soundproofing to standards stipulated in Building Regulations.

 

3.       The open area between the two proposed buildings was described as a yard/wash-down area with two car parking spaces created at the end of the single storey office unit.  The site would have security gates and fencing at the frontage onto Peartree Farm.

 

The submitted plans show no changes to the open area north of the buildings.

 

Councillor Cowan had called in the application on the grounds the previous application had been recommended for approval, but was refused by Members and upheld on appeal.  “This application appears to have the same problems”.

 

Mr Duncan Jones, spoke as an objector on behalf of the Hydeway and Peartree Lane Residents Association reiterating the concerns set out in the report of Officers.

 

Following discussion, it was proposed by Councillor S.Kasumu, seconded by Councillor B.Fitzsimon and

 

RESOLVED:

(Unanimous 12 voting for the Officer’s recommendation)

 

That planning permission be refused for the reasons set out in the report.

 

(Note: Councillor M.Cowan had withdrawn from the meeting).

7.

50 REYNARDS ROAD, WELWYN, AL6 9TP - 6/2018/1983/FULL - ERECTION OF ACOUSTIC SHELTER AND WASH FACILITY AND INSTALLATION OF BIOLOGICAL WASHDOWN WATER TREATMENT AND RECYCLING SYSTEM TO THE SOUTH WEST SIDE OF THE EXISTING WORKSHOP pdf icon PDF 484 KB

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Minutes:

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the erection of acoustic shelter and wash facility and installation of biological washdown water treatment and recycling system to the south west side of the existing workshop.

 

The application site was a parcel of land located off Reynards Road to the north of Welwyn.  The front of the site was an open grassed area beyond which was a line of tall trees spanning most of the site width.  The trees partially screened the rear of the site from view from the front and Reynards Road.  The rear of the site, set back from Reynards Road, related to the maintenance and storage of vehicles, machinery and equipment in connection with an existing landscaping and grounds maintenance business of John O’Connor.  There was an existing workshop building in the north of the site with an area of hardstanding to the front and side.  To the front of this workshop there was an existing jet wash area.

 

To the north east and the south west of the application site were residential properties, whilst to the rear of the site was an agricultural field.

 

Members noted that planning permission was sought for the erection of an acoustic shelter and a wash down facility and the installation of biological water treatment and recycling system to the south west side of the existing workshop building.

 

The acoustic shelter would be to house wash down equipment.  It would have an approximate floor area of 2.5 sqm, its height would be 2.7m with brick sides, a flat roof and acoustic door.  It would attach to the side of the existing workshop.

 

Planning permission had also sought for the use of a wash down facility to be located adjacent to the existing workshop at the south west of the site.  The facility would be sited on an existing concrete surface which would be modified to enable drainage falls.  It would be open and have no roof or canopy and have an approximate area of 68 sqm.

 

Although having no roof or canopy, the wash down facility would have a 2m high close-boarded set of opening gates to screen it.  These gates would be located to the south.  The height of the fence/gate at 2m would mean it would not require planning permission and was subsequently not assessed as part of this application.

 

The south west boundary fence adjacent to the proposed wash facility would be maintained as existing but would have a set of Perspex panels applied to control water spray.  The Perspex panels would be applied to an existing 2m high fence.  No details had been provided with regard to the panels, but given the Agent had confirmed they would be no higher than an existing boundary fence (2m high), they did not require planning permission and did not form part of this assessment either.

 

In addition, just to the southern edge of this proposed wash down facility, it was proposed to install a biological  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

MAYNARD HOUSE, 1 THE COMMON, HATFIELD, AL10 0NF - 6/2018/2552/FULL - ERECTION OF SECOND FLOOR EXTENSION TO CREATE 8 x 2-BEDROOM APARTMENTS FOLLOWING PART DEMOLITION OF EXISTING BUILDING AND REMOVAL OF GROUND FLOOR SOCIAL CLUB (D1) pdf icon PDF 669 KB

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Minutes:

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the erection of second floor extension to create 8 x 2 bedroom apartments following part demolition of existing building and removal of ground floor social club (D1).

 

The application site is located at the junction of The Common and Wellfield Road, north of Hatfield Town Centre, an area that was to be redeveloped.

 

The application had been presented to the Development Management Committee because it has been called in by Councillor G.Hayes on the following grounds:

 

“I wish to call this in for the following points. This application does nothing to assist the regeneration of the town centre and enhance its vitality and viability. The design is based on the current out of date building and not the modern up to date look we expect from our developers. This is against our D1 policy. It cites flat roof buildings around it however these are out dated buildings in desperate need of modernisation. Instead the developer should look to the residential building next to it with a modern fresh look with a pitched roof. With that in mind a 2 story pitched roof would be more in keeping. Because the developer states the materials used will reflect the existing building again it will look outdated.

 

The proposal is in Zone 1 however the nearest bus hub is located at the train station for this reason 1.5 spaces per dwelling should be used as there is no on street parking on this road for significant amounts of time. If this is not acceptable then a 1 car/car free purchaser legally binding agreement should be enforced and supported as per our guidelines. Plans do not show a dedicated disabled space with side access for a wheelchair. The development goes against policy TCR20 as it is removing leisure facilities and not providing an alternative. I and the public would expect as a minimum all conservative councillors to declare a financial interest in this proposal as they are all members of this club and would benefit by this. Then they should leave the room. Leaving a minimum quorum to complete the business. To sum up this is an outdated development that will do nothing to enhance our town but will serve to keep it looking tired for many more years.”

 

The applicant had submitted amended drawings on 5 March 2019 to address concerns raised by Officers and Councillor G.Hayes.  Following re-consultation, Councillor G.Hayes confirmed that the amendments did not satisfy the original reason for the call-in.

 

Members expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed design and the missed opportunity to develop this sight in harmony with the proposed redevelopment and regeneration of Hatfield Town Centre.

 

Mr S.Rackham (Agent) spoke in support of the application.

 

Councillor G.Hayes (Ward Member) spoke against the application reiterating his concerns regarding the poor quality of design of the proposal which would be out of keeping with the proposals outlined to redevelop Hatfield Town Centre.

 

Following discussion, it was proposed by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

APPEAL DECISIONS pdf icon PDF 53 KB

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Minutes:

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) detailing recent appeal decisions for the period 10 April 2019 to 7 May 2019.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That appeal decisions during the period 10 April 2019 to 7 May 2019 be noted.

10.

PLANNING UPDATE - FUTURE PLANNING APPLICATIONS pdf icon PDF 133 KB

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) providing Members with a summary of planning applications that might be presented to the Committee over the next one or two months.  Members noted that if the call-in or application was withdrawn, the item would not be presented to Committee.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That future planning applications which might be considered by the Committee be noted.

11.

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

The Committee is asked to resolve:

 

That under Section 100(A)(2) and (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be now excluded from the meeting for Items 14 and 15 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of confidential or exempt information as defined in Section 100(A)(3) and Paragraphs 2 (Information likely to reveal the identity of an individual), and 6 (Statutory notice or order)  of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended).

 

In resolving to exclude the public in respect of the exempt information, it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That under Section 100(A)(2) and (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be now excluded from the meeting for item 14 (Minute 12 refers) on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of confidential or exempt information as defined in Section 100(A)(3) and Paragraphs 2 (Information likely to reveal the identity of an individual), and 6 (Statutory notice or order) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act (as amended).

 

In resolving to exclude the public in respect of the exempt information, it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

12.

ENFORCEMENT CASES MONITORING REPORT

Exempt report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Minutes:

The exempt report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) provided an update on ongoing planning enforcement cases and sought authorisation of the enforcement of the cases.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the contents of the report be noted.