MINUTES OF THE PLANNING AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

HELD AT EPPING HALL ON TUESDAY 17TH JULY 2007

 

PRESENT      Councillors: K. Avey (Chairman); Miss O D Dunseath (Vice Chairman); Miss M. Starling;

                         J.A. Smith; R. Macrae, J Lewis, N. Hines (Town Mayor) and B.J. Murphy (Deputy Mayor)

 

OFFICER       Bob Whittome (Town Clerk)

 

 

96.       APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

There were no apologies for absence.

 

97.       CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

 

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 3rd July 2007, were confirmed.

 

98.       DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

No interests were declared in any item on this agenda.

 

99.       REPORTS AND INFORMATION NOT REQUIRING A DECISION OF COMMITTEE

 

The Clerk advised committee of an enforcement notice which had been served at ‘Brielands’, Kendal Avenue, in relation to the gates which were of excessive size and ornamentation. 

 

The Clerk also advised Members of the names to be given to the development adjacent to the veterinary service in Hemnall Street where ‘Forest Court’ had been selected by the developer. 

 

Councillor Smith reminded Members of the concert on Epping Green to take place on Sunday 29th July at 3pm.

 

The Clerk advised Committee of two appeal matters and requested Committee to consider these matters following the Planning Applications in accord with the agenda item.

 

100.     PLANNING APPLICATIONS

 

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

 

EPF1364/07

 

15 Stewards Green Road

L T Tucker Ltd

Single story rear extension

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

EPF1393/07

(Revised Appl.)

34 Coopersale Street

Simon Levy

Alterations to roof to include terrace at second floor, front and side dormers, removal of mock Tudor work to front and replace with render finish

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

EPF/1400/07

(Revised application)

8 Beaconsfield Avenue

Scott and Michelle Williams

Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension

Committee had no objection to this application provided Epping Forest District Council Planning Officers agree that the current development overcomes the reasons for the previous refusal notice.

 

EPF/1413/07

17 Beaconfield Avenue

John Knights

Two storey side extension

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

EPF/1419/07

6 Griffins Wood Cottages

High Road

Mr and Mrs Betts

Erection of a detached garage to front of property

Committee object to this application because it is detrimental to the street scene and to the character of the property.  Committee were concerned that,  in this gateway area to Epping, considerable care should be taken to ensure that the visual quality of this pleasant street scene was retained.

 

EPF/0815/07

TPO/4/97

Wayside Cottage

Bury Lane

Mrs B.M. Cuthbert

Oak: Reduce overhanging branches.

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

 

EPF/1434/07

24-26 Coopersale Street

Mr & Mrs Beckley

Single storey rear extension

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

LB/

EPF/1435/07

24-26 Coopersale Street

Mr & Mrs Beckley

Grade II listed building application for single storey rear extension

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

EPF/1452/07

224B High Street

Jennings Bet UK Ltd

 

Change of use from D2 to B1 for use as a telephone call centre at first floor

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

EPF/1465/07

99 Lindsey street

Mr & Mrs Nelson

Demolition of existing two storey rear extension and erection of new two storey rear extension

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

 

Planning Appeal Nero Holdings Ltd – Material Change of Use of the Property at Ground Level to a Mixed Use for Purposes Within Use Classes A1 & A3 – Café Nero, 271 High Street, Epping, Essex

 

Committee noted the public inquiry scheduled for 24th July 2007 at 10am in the Council Chamber, Civic Offices, High Street, Epping, Essex, and RESOLVED to instruct the Clerk to attend the inquiry and to speak in support of the District Council’s rejection of the Café Nero application.  Several Members also expressed an interest in attending the inquiry and Committee encouraged such attendance by Members.

 

McCarthy & Stone Developments Ltd 19-23 High Street, Epping Essex, CM16 4AY – Redevelopment to Form 28 Sheltered Apartments for the Elderly, Communal Facilities, Associated Car Parking and Landscaping

 

Committee noted that no date had yet been set for this public inquiry, however, a deadline of 7th August has been set for any written submissions to be made.  Committee RESOLVED to direct the Clerk to submit an evidence statement and to attend the appeal when called.

 

101.     PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY CONSULTATION – RIGHT TO APPLY FOR ORDERS TO EXTINGUISH AND DIVERT AND RIGHTS OF APPEAL

 

Committee considered this item which was deferred from the meeting held on 19th June 07.  Committee noted that the closing date for submissions on this item is 31st August 07 and RESOLVED to defer consideration of this item until the 14th August.  The Clerk was directed to prepare a draft of responses to this consultation in conjunction with any Member’s submissions.

 

102.     PLANNING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE - CONSULTATION

 

Committee considered the Clerk’s draft of responses to the White Paper and RESOLVED that these draft responses should be sent without alteration as Committee’s consultation response.

 

103.     CHANGES TO PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT – CONSULTATION

 

Councillor Hines made apologies and left the Chamber at this point.

 

The Clerk advised Committee of several other consultation matters which have been released for consideration along with the Government’s White Paper, ‘Planning for a Sustainable Future’.  These are ‘Planning Performance Agreements: A New Way to Manage Large Scale Major Planning Applications;’ ‘Planning Fees in England: Proposal for Change;’ ‘Improving the Appeal Process in the Planning System – Making it Proportionate, Customer Focussed, Efficient and Well Resourced.’  Committee noted that the closing date for comments on these documents is Friday, 17th August, however, Committee decided that it did not have the technical expertise or resources to respond to these consultation documents and RESOLVED that no response should be made.

 

In respect of the ‘Changes to Permitted Development’ consultation document, Committee considered the proposals and RESOLVED that the following comment should be made: ‘The proposals are fundamentally floored since a major motive for change is a reduction in the cost of running the planning system.  This approach tends to discount the cost of long term environmental damage that could be caused by making mistakes.  Bad development has the ability to blight local areas for a very long time and it is important that some ability to decide what development is appropriate in the local area should be held by the local community.  The proposals remove power from the local community and are therefore undesirable.’

 

104.      EFDC PLANNING DECISIONS

 

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

 

GRANTED:  

 

EPF/1009/07

EPF/1025/07

EPF/1032/07

(Revised Appl.)

EPF/0060/06

 

REFUSED:

 

NONE