Agenda item

Councillor Tony de Vere had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 he left the meeting during its consideration.

Councillors Matthew Barber, Terry Cox, Roger Cox, Richard Farrell, Richard Gibson, Jenny Hannaby, Angela Lawrence, Sue Marchant, Jerry Patterson, Terry Quinlan, Margaret Turner and John Woodford had each declared a personal interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 they remained in the meeting during its consideration.

The Committee recalled that consideration of this application had been deferred pending a report from an Independent Traffic Consultant.  It was noted that the Independent Traffic Consultant had concluded that the proposal was acceptable in highway terms.

Further to the report, the Committee was advised of an additional letter from the applicant making a recommendation regarding an additional condition to provide for the widening of the footway.

Martin Smith made a statement on behalf of the Town Council. He explained that the widening of the footway was welcomed but there were concerns regarding the inadequate parking provisions.  He explained that at the meeting of this Committee held on 26 November 2007, he had highlighted the discrepancies in the plans in terms of the parking provision and no regard had been taken of this. He commented that there would be displaced parking and that the application should be refused.

Mr J Rawling, speaking as Governor of John Mason School welcomed the widening of the footway commenting that this was essential.  He advised that boundary treatments should be dealt with at the outline stage of any application and as such he asked that should the Committee be minded to approve the application an additional condition be added to address boundary treatment.

Mr J Flawn made a statement on behalf of the applicant advising that further to the report a letter had been submitted making a recommendation regarding an additional condition regarding the widening of the footway and he asked the Committee to note this.

One Member welcomed an additional condition to widen the footway and he agreed with one of the speakers that a condition to address boundary treatment was needed.  However, he commented that some residents of Godwins Close had expressed concerns regarding overlooking and he asked that the applicant should have regard to the need to avoid overlooking.

Reference was made to the report of the Independent Traffic Consultant and it was suggested that this should be forwarded to the County Engineer for reference.  It was noted that the report might be beneficial in prompting the CountyEngineer to consider making suggestions when considering planning applications, such as widening footpaths.

One Member expressed concern regarding the design.  In response reference was made to a comment made at the last meeting regarding the need for an informative regarding design to advise that a building of quality should occupy the site.

By 15 votes to nil it was

RESOLVED

that the Deputy director (Planning and Community Strategy) be delegated authority in consultation with the Chair and/or Vice-Chair of the Development Control Committee to approve application ABG/20273-X subject to: -

(1)      the conditions set out in the report;

(2)      a condition to provide for boundary details;

(3)      a condition regarding the widening of the footway; and

(4)      an informative regarding design to advise that a building of quality should occupy the site.