MINUTES OF THE PLANNING AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

HELD AT EPPING HALL ON TUESDAY 3RD JUNE 2008

 

 

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

                         Smith, R Macrae, J. Lewis, B D Murphy (Town Mayor), Mrs J Hedges (Deputy Town Mayor).

 

OFFICER:      Bob Whittome  (Town Clerk)

 

 

29.       APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

There were no apologies for absence.

 

30.       CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

 

Committee RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting on 20th May 2008.

 

31.       DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

On behalf of Councillor Mrs Hedges, the Clerk advised Committee of Mrs Hedges’ request for an entry to be made in the minutes, to make it clear that as a member of both the Town and District Councils, she will consider all matters at District level taking into account all relevant evidence and representation at the District tier.  Therefore, she cannot be bound in any way by any view expressed in the parish tier or by the decisions of this Committee.

        

32.       REPORTS AND INFORMATION NOT REQUIRING A DECISION OF COMMITTEE

 

The Clerk advised Members of receipt of a Notice of Road Closure affecting Rye Hill Road for five days from Monday, 9th June.

 

33.       PLANNING APPLICATIONS

 

The Clerk requested Committee to deal with a consultation note from the County Council Highways Section in respect of Lack of Public Footway at 24-28 Lindsey Street, Epping.  The Clerk advised Members that this matter could be dealt with under the agenda arrangements for other applications and that the response date was Friday, 6th June 2008.

 

Committee considered the removal of the lay-by at this location and AGREED that Council object to removal of the lay-by and would prefer County Council obtain a strip of land immediately adjacent to the lay-by so as to provide a formal footpath if this is really considered necessary.  Members did not feel that the current arrangements required a remedy.

 

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

 

EPF/0831/08

 

HSBC

194 High Street

Illuminated fascia sign

Committee object to this application since it would allow an internally illuminated sign within the conservation area contrary to the conservation arrangements.

 

 

TPO/

EPF/0950/08

 

19 Hartland Road

Mr T Kinsey

TPO/EPF/21/01/T1: Cedar: selective crown reduction as specified.

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

 

 

EPF/0956/08

(Revised Appl)

 

2 & 3 Griffins Wood

Mr & Mrs Burt and

Mr & Mrs Jones

Replacement garage block

Committee object to this application.  The proposed arrangements are considerably larger than the existing arrangements.  Committee noticed that the plans showing the existing arrangements include garden fencing as part of the built environment and this merely seems to confuse the issue.  Overall, Committee considered that such a large structure would be inappropriate within the green belt.

 

 

EPF/0984/08

 

 

31 Kendal Avenue

Mrs F Tennyson

Two storey (part replacement) rear extension and small single storey side extension.

Committee had no objection to this application. 

 

Cllr Miss O.D. Dunseath requested her objection be noted in the minutes.

 

 

EPF/1027/08

 

7 Coopersale Street

Mr Chris Clemens

Single storey rear and two storey infill extension

Committee had no objection to this application.

 

 

34.       PUBLIC CONSULTATION – REMOVAL OF PAYPHONES

 

Committee considered the removal of a pay-phone at Steward Green Road, Epping, postcode reference CM16 7DA, Tel. No. 01992 572240.  Members considered the further removal of payphones to be a retrograde step and expressed concern that although the accompanying letter suggests that this pay-phone has a very low level of usage, no details were given as to usage figures relative to other pay-phones in Epping.  Usage information is clearly an important part of proper consultation for this facility.

 

35.       EFDC PLANNING DECISIONS

 

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

 

GRANTED:

EPF/0356/08

 

EPF/0379/08

EPF/0380/08

 

EPF0445/08

(Amended Appl.)

EPF/0546/08(

TPO/EPF/0573/08

EPF/0686/08

 

 

REFUSED:

None