Agenda item

A Report by the Growth Manager

The Growth Manager presented the report acknowledging that most members would recognise it, having agreed that it be taken out for consultation on the 16 October 2019.

Consultation took place between the 22^nd October and 30^th November and 9 responses’ had been received and were detailed within the report.  Within the responses was commentary as to whether or not the check list would be updated as a result of the comments and the Council’s thoughts on those comments.

A number of responses had been anonymous which officer’s felt were from members of the public and not from consultees, although a number of consultees had responded as well.

A number of amendments were included between pages 105 – 153 of the report and highlighted in red for assistance for members’ reference.

Members were advised it was also recommended that following the printing of the report, further changes be to the householder check list to remove the landscaping scheme requirement and also to modify the parking and access arrangements so that the requirements were commensurate with the types of development bought forward. 

It was proposed that the landscaping scheme on page 150 be removed in its entirety and the parking and access arrangements it was proposed that it related more relevantly to householders as within it included servicing provision which for a householder would not apply.

Subject to committee’s agreement it was hoped the check list could be adopted which would assist planning officers in dealing with planning applications and once in place it was expected that the time period from receipt of the application to its determination would be quicker.  Furthermore for committee member’s it would allow them to have all the information required to make an informed decision on whether or not to call an application in.

Committee comments followed which included:

There was general agreement that both check lists would be of great benefit moving forward for both officer’s and for the committee members.  It was agreed that parking and access arrangements would assist immensely and include electric charging points and bear relevance when indicative plans were submitted whereby parking was not aside the residence but on another part of the site. 

The Growth Manager stated that as a point of clarification on the householder check list, which would include hard standings and out buildings and similar, it would be removed but would remain on the full and other applications, such as new and commercial applications.

Referencing appendix 2 the householder applications paged 141 – 153 a member noted that a householder wishing to extend their property would usually require any agent to draw up the plans and asked what were the new requirements listed for household applications that did not exist previously, or were there none.

The Growth Manager responded by advising that in the long term there were none other than them having to number their drawings.  The difference would be that the information would be submitted at the outset rather than an officer having to source it down further on.

The Legal Officer suggested that an amendment be made to the affordable housing statement.  He suggested a more generic phrase be used as the trigger point to allow flexibility.  At the current time the NPPF said 10 was the trigger point but the Inspector had said it should be 11 or more when the Local Plan was submitted.  He recommended committee consider inserting the phrase ‘to require all developments to be determined in line with the Local Plan or the NPPF’.

It was moved by Councillor Paul Skinner and seconded by Councillor Michael Cooper that committee approve adoption of the two check lists as per the officer recommendation, subject to the amendments identified in red within the report, subject to the removal of the further changes be to the householder check list to remove the landscaping scheme requirement and also to modify the parking and access arrangements and subject to the additional phrase within the affordable housing statement as suggested by the Legal Officer.

Vote:    In Favour 13.        Against:  0      Abstentions:  0

RESOLVED:   That committee agree adoption of the check lists subject to the following:

Planning and Other Applications:

1. Amend Affordable Housing Requirement to read:

Required for all developments in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework 2018 or the South Easy Lincolnshire Local Plan 2018.

2. Landscaping Scheme to be removed.

3. Parking and Access arrangements to be amended as follows:

Parking for the appropriate size and number of cars should be provided on a detailed plan.  Where parking provision would both comply with the Council’s care parking standards, any mitigation measures and impact to on-street parking should be assessed.  Details of secure cycle parking should be included within the submitted plans.