MINUTES OF THE PLANNING AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

HELD AT EPPING HALL ON TUESDAY 6th NOVEMBER 2007

 

 

PRESENT       Councillors: K. Avey (Chairman); Miss O D Dunseath (Vice Chairman); J.A. Smith; R Macrae; J Lewis; N Hines (Town Mayor) and B.D. Murphy (Deputy Town Mayor)

 

IN ATTENDANCE     Mrs J Hedges

           

OFFICER        Gill Ratcliff (Senior Admin Officer)

 

 

Two members of the public were present.

 

 

246.     APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

Apologies were received from Miss M Starling.

 

247.     CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

 

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 23rd October 2007, were confirmed.

 

248.     DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

Councillor Murphy declared a personal interest in application EPF/2228/07.

 

249.     REPORTS AND INFORMATION NOT REQUIRING A DECISION OF COMMITTEE

 

There were no items of information not requiring a decision of Committee.

 

250.     PLANNING APPLICATIONS

 

Ten applications for planning permission were considered and the plans inspected. 

 

EPF/2171/07

5 Charles Street

Mr R Self

Two storey and single storey front, side and rear extensions

Committee had no objection to this application. However, it was felt that a one metre boundary should be maintained to prevent loss of amenity to the neighbouring property

 

 

EPF/2179/07

Land adjacent to Broadbents

Sth of  4 Buttercross Lane

A.J. Poulton (Epping) Ltd

Erection of one, two storey house.

Committee object to this application as it was felt that the proposed extension was an overdevelopment which would be out of keeping with the street scene particularly in view of conservation area considerations.

 

 

EPF/2182/07

TPO/31/90

Cedars

18A Beulah Road

Mr Marsh

Cypress: Fell,

Ash: 30% crown reduction

Committee had no objection to this application provided all work is carried out under the supervision of the District Council’s Arboriculturist.

 

 

EPF/2195/07

12 Ivy Chimneys

Mr Steve Pritlove

Loft Conversion with rear dormer

Committee had no objection to this application. 

 

 

EPF/2205/07

 

24 Coopersale Common

Mr Stephen Porcas

 

Single storey rear extension

Committee object to this application as it was felt that the proposed extension was an overdevelopment which would be out of keeping with the street scene. Committee also felt that the plans appear to be confusing.  A two storey side extension was refused permission in 2005.The plans accompanying the current application does not show a 2 storey side extension on the existing layout however one is shown on the proposed layout.

 

 

EPF/2228/07

8 Crows Road

Mr T. Brown

Garage conversion into habitable room

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

 

EPF/2237/07

130 High Street

Miss S Loton

Externally illuminated fascia sign

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

 

EPF/2285/07

6 Oak Road

Mr & Mrs J Nagle

Rebuilding of existing single storey structure at side and new single storey rear extension

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

 

EPF/2287/07

20 Brook Road

Mr P Norris

Dormer Window to side elevation

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

 

EPF/2152/07

TPO 6/83

(Amended Description Only)

33 St Alban’s Road

Coopersale

Fell 1 Hornbeam; repollard 2 Hornbeams (Previously stated “Fell 2 Hornbeams; Repollard 1 Hornbeam”)

Committee had no objection to this application provided all work is carried out under the supervision of the District Council’s Arboriculturist.

 

 

251.     CONSULTATION DRAFT OF EPPING CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTER APPRAISAL

 

Members received a presentation regarding the consultation draft of the Epping Conservation Area Character Appraisal from the Assistant Head of Planning (Paul Sutton) and the Assistant Conservation Officer (Lucy Davis) at Epping Forest District Council.  

 

Paul Sutton explained the District Council had a duty of care to prepare a character appraisal for all conservation areas in the district.  He said the document appraised the current situation, opportunities for enhancement, general guidance and a Management Plan for the future.    

           

            Committee thought the document was well thought out and prepared.  It provided a good stimulus to work from and Committee was particularly impressed that items for improvement had been highlighted.  Mr Sutton mentioned control of shopfronts, signs on buildings etc, and said the District Council have the power to control change plus enforcement action could also be taken if necessary but possible Appeals had to be borne in mind.  The question of extending the conservation area at the Bell Common end of the town was raised.   After a discussion it was felt that it would meet the requirements on one side of the road but not the other. 

 

Committee mentioned the lack of consultation generally between the District and County Councils with the Town Council and highlighted the kerb buildouts currently being erected in the High Street as an example. Committee said people were particularly aggrieved at the lost of nine parking spaces in the High Street and the introduction of a loading and unloading area.    Paul Sutton said he would take the comments back to the Highways Department.    It was also reported that the Water Fountain was tilting at 5 degrees from the vertical.  Committee mentioned the patched roads and state of the pavements in Epping.  It was felt that the money on the kerb buildouts could have been better spent and that other areas had been neglected. 

 

The question of the responsibility of TPOs going to County was raised.  Paul Sutton explained that the current Essex orders would not be rescinded and within two years new orders would be placed on the trees in question. 

 

It was also felt that there should be consultation meetings between the District, County and Town Councils.  Some Councillors felt that there was a threat to the Monday Market held in the High Street. 

 

Committee wanted to know what happened next.  Paul Sutton explained that the Management Plan addressed this but also raised the question of resources.  He said Planning Applications were now being looked at more closely.  He mentioned that sometimes resources were available under Section 106 for area enhancement, funded by developers. Although the EFDC had not consulted on the kerb buildouts, he said there was no intentional threat posed to the running of the market. 

 

The Chairman thanked Paul Sutton and Lucy Davis and Committee AGREED to defer consideration of this matter to its meeting on 4th December. 

 

252.     CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO HARLOW WALK-IN CENTRE AND THE A&E DEPARTMENT AT PRINCESS ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL NHS TRUST.

 

Committee considered this consultation document and AGREED to defer consideration of this matter to its meeting of 20th November.

 

253.     EFDC PLANNING DECISIONS

 

Committee NOTED the decisions of Epping Forest District Council Area Planning Sub-Committee East.

 

GRANTED:  

EPF/1969/07

(TPO/EPF/45/91)

EPF/1947/07

EPF/1923/07

EPF/1921/07

(Revised Appl)

 

EPF/1629/07

 

EPF/1555/07

TPO/10/76

 

 

 

REFUSED:

NONE