MINUTES OF THE PLANNING AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

HELD AT EPPING HALL ON TUESDAY 28th AUGUST 2007

 

PRESENT                 Councillors: K. Avey (Chairman); Miss O D Dunseath (Vice Chairman); J.A. Smith; R.

                                     Macrae; Miss M Starling, J. Lewis, N. Hines (Town Mayor) and B.D. Murphy (Deputy Town

                                     Mayor)

 

IN ATTENDANCE    Cllr Mrs J. Hedges

 

           

OFFICER                    Bob Whittome (Town Clerk)

 

 

 

142.     APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

No apologies were received.

 

143.     CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

 

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 14th August 2007, were confirmed.

 

144.     DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

No interests were declared in any item of this agenda.

 

145.     REPORTS AND INFORMATION NOT REQUIRING A DECISION OF COMMITTEE

 

Councillor Macrae requested information in regard to a change of use planning application for Le Chateau, a High Street shop.  He also requested that a further letter be sent to the County Highways in regard to damage to railings and street furniture around Epping.  The matter of Club 195 and its associated clubs was raised following a significant issue of public unrest emanating from attendance at these clubs.  The Clerk advised Members that he had already made some enquiries of the licensing authorities, and an agenda item would be appearing in regard to these premises in due course.  Cllr Smith requested that a notice be placed on the outside of the Conference Room doors advising members of the public of the public nature of the meeting which would assist when the Conference Room doors are closed because of noise from other activities in the building.

 

The Clerk advised Members of a letter received in regard to parking arrangements in the High Street, from Mrs B.J. Lane. The Clerk advised Members that details on this matter would also be sent to the Essex County Highways Section to assist with their review.  The Clerk advised Members of a Tree Preservation Order implemented at Harness Cottage, Lower Bury Lane, in regard to seven trees.  The Clerk advised Members of the withdrawal of planning application EPF/1400/07.  A Tree Preservation Order at St Margaret’s Hospital was advised to Members.  Information from the Essex County Council Highways Section on a temporary prohibition of traffic order for Woodside, Epping, where work was to start on 3rd September and last until 23rd September was advised to Members.  The Clerk advised Committee that scheduled public exhibitions in regard to the M25 Widening of Section 4, Junctions 27 to 30 by the Highways Agency have now been deferred and further information regarding new dates for these exhibitions will be advised in due course.  Committee were advised of the withdrawal of planning application EPF/1307/07 by the applicant.

 

146.     PLANNING APPLICATIONS

 

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

 

EPF/1693/07

(Revised Appl)

 

Land adjacent to Harness Cottage

Sylvia Tunstall

Erection of 4 semi-detached environmentally friendly homes

Committee object to this application and note that although the application has been revised, essentially it remains an overdevelopment of the site because the access to the site and traffic arrangements in this area do not appear adequate for the scale of development proposed.  The extra traffic would be disruptive and cause a loss of amenity to adjacent properties.  It appears that the proposal would result in significant overlooking of adjacent property’s gardens and the proposals are likely to marginalise the importance of trees at this site.  Committee noted that in the past two houses have achieved planning consent on this site.  Members are still of the opinion that two houses would be a reasonable capacity for the site and that two houses would result in less problems with access and cause less disturbance to neighbouring properties.

 

 

EPF/1716/07

7a Station Road

A J Poulton (Epping) Ltd

Alterations to planning approval EPF/1227/05, to include providing additional two apartments by splitting flats 5 and 6, moving refuse and cycle stores, relocating fire escape stairs and adding additional dormer window to top floor.

Committee object to this alteration.  The extra units created by this arrangement are very small and in terms of occupancy of the site, the arrangements represent an overdevelopment with a loss of amenity space for all occupants and a likely deterioration from lack of parking.  It is also felt that four floors are too dominant in this location and potentially damaging to the street scene.

 

 

LB/

EPF/1720/07

24-26 Coopersale Street

Simon Beckley

Grade II listed building application for secondary double glazing.

Committee had no objection to this application provided all work is supervised by the District Council’s Conservation Officer.

 

 

EPF/1723/07

High Meadow

Coopersale Street

Mr & Mrs Mosley

Replacement covered parking

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

 

EPF/1736/07

75 Hemnall Street

Mr & Mrs Shepherd

Single storey rear extension

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

 

EPF/1738/07

81 High Street

CWS Retail Financial Services

Two fascia signs and one projection sign (signs B and C illuminated).

Committee  object to this application because it appears that some of the signs proposed are internally illuminated and internal illumination of signs is not approved within the conservation area.

 

 

EPF/1551/07

1 Coronation Hill

Mr John Burke

First floor extension and single storey side extension for attached garage and utility room and the enclosure of the existing open porch.

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

 

EPF/1758/07

10 Ravensmere

D Macaree

Installation of window to flank wall

Committee had no objection to this application, however, Committee did request the District Council’s Planning Officers give consideration to whether the window required obscure glass and should be a fixed frame in view of the possible potential for overlooking neighbouring property.

 

 

147.     CONSULTATION - LICENSING ACT 2003  LICENSING POLICY

 

Committee considered the consultation document and noted that the submission date for comments is 10th December 2007.  Committee therefore RESOLVED to defer this item for consideration in six weeks time.

 

148.     CONSULTATION – PLANNING PROTOCOL

 

Committee considered the consultation documents and noted that the submission date for any comments is 28th September 2007.  Committee therefore RESOLVED to defer this item for consideration at the next meeting.

 

149.     EFDC PLANNING DECISIONS

 

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

 

GRANTED:  

 

EPF/0815/07

TPO/4/97

EPF/1299/07

(Revised Appl.)

 

EPF/1318/07

(Resubmitted Appl)

 

 

REFUSED:

 

EPF/1383/07