Agenda and minutes

County Councillor M. Feakins informed the Committee that he has discussed applications DC/2017/00159 and DC/2017/00188 at a Monmouth Town Council meeting prior to his election as a county councillor and therefore left the meeting taking no part in the discussion or voting thereon.

The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting dated 6^th June 2017 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence, which was recommended for approval subject to the two conditions, as outlined in the report.

Members had raised concerns at the site inspection regarding the lack of marketing information available in respect of this application and that a more comprehensive marketing exercise was required to assess if there was demand for holiday let accommodation. 

It was therefore proposed by County Councillor M. Feakins and seconded by County Councillor R.J. Higginson that we be minded to defer consideration of application DC/2016/00537 to a future meeting to allow officers to request a more comprehensive marketing exercise with a view to assessing if there is demand for holiday let accommodation.

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Upon being put to the vote, the following votes were recorded.

For deferral               -           15

Against deferral        -           0

Abstentions               -           0

The proposition was carried.

We resolved that we be minded to defer consideration of application DC/2016/00537 to a future meeting to allow officers to request a more comprehensive marketing exercise with a view to assessing if there is demand for holiday let accommodation.

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence, which was recommended for approval subject to the five conditions, as outlined in the report and subject to a Section 106 Agreement in relation to an affordable housing contribution.

The local Member for Dixton with Osbaston, attending the meeting by invitation of the Chair, outlined the following points:

Flooding and Drainage

·         The area is at risk of summer flash floods, as well as flooding in winter due to the heavy clay soil and the degree of the slope.

·         The local Member has personal experience of flash floods.

·         Of the Highfield Road objectors, there is only one objector from above Cae Elga, with five objectors situated below the property. All of these objectors have mentioned the issues of drainage and flooding.

·         The properties on Agincourt Road, which overlook this site, did not object to the application.

·         A sustainable drainage system (SUDS) might not be able to cope with the effects of a summer flash flood.

·         Modern houses abutting the site also have existing drainage issues.

·         Perhaps a soil survey needs to be undertaken prior to approval of the application to assess the viability of SUDS.

Sewage

·         Local residents have informed the local Member that a sewage pipe that runs under Highfield Road is below adoptable standards, which was originally refused for adoption by Welsh Water but had subsequently been adopted.

·         As Cae Elga has a septic tank and the proposed new dwellings are below the road level, concern was expressed that the current sewage system might not be able to cope with the three new dwellings attached to it.

·         The septic tank has broken in the past causing problems for a number of properties, for a period of time.

·         A pump system would be required for the new dwellings. Future potential mechanical failure might result in sewage release affecting local properties.

Scale of Development

·         Local residents are not in favour of the proposed scale of development.

·         Removal of trees, the tightness of the plots from a parking perspective, the removal of an appropriate amount of amenity space for a building of the scale of Cae Elga.  Residents would find it more acceptable if the applicant returned with an application for a single dwelling rather than two dwellings.

Ms. K. Potts, representing objectors to the application, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

·         Highfield Road is steep, narrow and without a pavement.

·         Healthy living encourages walking.

·         Parents with young children and pushchairs walk to the local primary school, older children walk to the three senior schools and elderly people walk to the local bus stop, keeping active to help reduce traffic pollution by not using vehicles.

·         The location is already hazardous for pedestrians, especially at peak school and work times.

·         There are large volumes of traffic traversing up and down the hill, often travelling at excessive speeds at these peak times.

·         The number of traffic movements that will be generated daily by the new parking spaces  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence, which was recommended for approval subject to the eight conditions, as outlined in the report and subject to an additional condition, as outlined in late correspondence regarding the protection of trees. Also, subject to a contribution towards off-site affordable housing provision via a Section 106 Agreement.

In noting the detail of the application, it was proposed by County Councillor P. Murphy and seconded by County Councillor R. J. Higginson that application DC/2017/00188 be approved subject to the eight conditions, as outlined in the report and subject to an additional condition, as outlined in late correspondence regarding the protection of trees. Also, subject to a contribution towards off-site affordable housing provision via a Section 106 Agreement.

Upon being put to the vote, the following votes were recorded:

For approval              -           11

Against approval      -           0

Abstentions               -           2

The proposition was carried.

We resolved that application DC/2017/00188 be approved subject to the eight conditions, as outlined in the report and subject to an additional condition, as outlined in late correspondence regarding the protection of trees. Also, subject to a contribution towards off-site affordable housing provision via a Section 106 Agreement.

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence, which was recommended for approval subject to the four conditions, as outlined in the report.

In noting the detail of the application, it was considered that condition 3 should be amended to omit reference to the gates being set back by five metres,as they already are. Condition 3 should be amended to ensure that the gates are painted a dark green colour within three months of the date of permission, should the Committee approve the application.

Concern was expressed regarding the health and safety issues in respect of the ‘spiked’ gates.  The Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer informed the Committee that this was not a Planning consideration.  However, it was a safety issue which should be addressed by the applicant.

It was therefore proposed by County Councillor R.J. Higginson and seconded by County Councillor P. Murphy that application DC/2017/00257 be approved subject to the four conditions, as outlined in the report and that condition 3 should be amended to omit reference to the gates being set back by five metres,as they already are. Condition 3 should also be amended to ensure that the gates are painted a dark green colour within three months of the date of permission.

Upon being put to the vote, the following votes were recorded:

For approval              -           13

Against approval      -           0

Abstentions               -           1

The proposition was carried.

We resolved that application DC/2017/00257 be approved subject to the four conditions, as outlined in the report and that condition 3 would be amended to omit reference to the gates being set back by five metres, as they already are. Condition 3 would also be amended to ensure that the gates are painted a dark green colour within three months of the date of permission.

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence, which was recommended for approval subject to the eight conditions, as outlined in the report and subject to resolving the necessary bat mitigation conditions with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the County Council’s Ecology officer. Also, subject to achieving funding towards a Section 106 Agreement for affordable housing.

Having considered the report of the application, it was proposed by County Councillor A. Davies and seconded by County Councillor P. Murphy that application DC/2017/00444 be approved subject to the eight conditions, as outlined in the report and subject to resolving the necessary bat mitigation conditions with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the County Council’s Ecology officer. Also, subject to a contribution towards off-site affordable housing provision via a Section 106 Agreement.

Upon being put to the vote, the following votes were recorded:

For approval              -           13

Against approval      -           0

Abstentions               -           1

The proposition was carried.

We resolved that application DC/2017/00444 be approved subject to the eight conditions, as outlined in the report and subject to resolving the necessary bat mitigation conditions with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the County Council’s Ecology officer. Also, subject to a contribution towards off-site affordable housing provision via a Section 106 Agreement.

We received the Planning Inspectorate report which related to an appeal decision following a site visit that had been made on 11^th May 2017. Site: White House, Pant y Rheos Road, Gwehelog, Usk.

The appeal was allowed and planning permission was granted for existing agricultural building (goat barn) attached to an existing outbuilding at White House, Pant y Rheos Road, Gwehelog, Usk, in accordance with the terms of the application, Ref. DC/2016/01221, dated 21 October 2016, subject to the following condition:

1) The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans and documents: 1238(2)/PLN/01 (Goats Barn as Built); 1238(2)/PLN/02 (Goats Barn Site Layout).

We received the Planning Inspectorate report which related to an appeal decision following a site visit that had been made on 11^th May 2017. Site: Caxton Tower, Newbolds Farm, Rockfield, Monmouth.

The appeal was allowed and planning permission was granted for ‘Amendment to existing planning permission DC/2013/00623. Rehabilitation and extension of former hunting lodge to provide 1 no 3 bed dwelling to include the construction of an outbuilding and underground service route to connect the dwelling and outbuilding at Caxton Tower, Newbolds Farm, Rockfield, Monmouth. Following refusal of application for non-material amendment’ at Caxton Tower, Newbolds Farm, Rockfield, Monmouth, in accordance with the terms of the application, Ref. DC/2016/01131, dated 27^th September 2016, subject to the conditions set out in the schedule to the decision letter.