To authorise the Chairman to sign the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 12 November 2020 as a correct record of the proceedings.

The Chairman was authorised to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2020 at a later date as a correct record of the proceedings.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor J.M. Johnson. 

It was noted that Councillor J. Barnes was present as substitute for Councillor Johnson.

To receive any disclosure by Members of personal and disclosable pecuniary interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Member regards the personal interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.  Members are reminded of the need to repeat their declaration immediately prior to the commencement of the item in question.

Declarations of interest were made by Councillors in the Minutes as indicated below:

J. Barnes                     Agenda Item 7 – Personal Interest in so far as he was Chairman of Etchingham Parish Council but had not taken part in discussions.

                                    Agenda Item 8 – Personal Interest in so far as he was an Elected Member of East Sussex County Council.

Mrs Barnes                  Agenda Item 7 – Personal Interest in so far as she was a Member of Etchingham Parish Council but had not taken part in discussions.

Dixon                           Agenda Item 7 – Personal Interest in so far as he was a Director of Sea Change Sussex.

Mier                             Agenda Item 7 – Personal Interest in so far as he was a Member of Guestling and Icklesham Parish Councils but had not taken part in discussions.

Prochak                      Agenda Item 7 – Personal Interest in so far as she was a Member of Robertsbridge and Salehurst Parish Council but had not taken part in discussions.

Vine-Hall                     Agenda Item 7 – Personal Interest in so far as he was Chairman of Sedlescombe Parish Council but had not taken part in discussions. 

Outline planning permissions are granted subject to approval by the Council of reserved matters before any development is commenced, which are layout, scale, appearance, access and landscaping.  Unless otherwise stated, every planning permission or outline planning permission is granted subject to the development beginning within three years from the date of the permission.  In regard to outline permissions, reserved matters application for approval must be made within three years from the date of the grant of outline permission; and the development to which the permission relates must begin no later than whichever is the later of the following dates: the expiration of three years from the date of the grant of outline permission or, the expiration of two years from the final approval of the reserved matters, or in the case of approval on different dates, the final approval of the last such matters to be approved.

In certain circumstances the Planning Committee will indicate that it is only prepared to grant or refuse planning permission if, or unless, certain amendments to a proposal are undertaken or subject to completion of outstanding consultations.  In these circumstances the Head of Service Strategy and Planning can be given delegated authority to issue the decision of the Planning Committee once the requirements of the Committee have been satisfactorily complied with.  A delegated decision does not mean that planning permission or refusal will automatically be issued.  If there are consultation objections, difficulties, or negotiations are not satisfactorily concluded, then the application will have to be reported back to the Planning Committee.  This delegation also allows the Head of Service Strategy and Planning to negotiate and amend applications, conditions, reasons for refusal and notes commensurate with the instructions of the Committee.  Any applications which are considered prior to the expiry of the consultation reply period are automatically delegated for a decision.

RESOLVED: That the Planning Applications be determined as detailed below.

DECISION: It be RESOLVED to GRANT (OUTLINE PLANNING)

CONDITIONS:

1.   Before any part of the approved development is commenced approval of the details of the access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of the site, (hereinafter called "the reserved matters"), shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Development shall be carried out only as approved.

Reason: In accordance with section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended by section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).

2.   Application for approval of the reserved matters shall be made to the Local Planning Authority before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

Reason: In accordance with section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended by section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).

3.   The development hereby permitted shall be begun either before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission, or before the expiration of two years from the date of approval of the last of the reserved matters to be approved, whichever is the later.

Reason: In accordance with section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended by section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).

4.    The site shall not be occupied by any persons other than gypsies and travellers as defined in Annex 1 of DCLG “Planning Policy for Traveller Sites” (revised version published August 2015).

Reason: To comply with Policy BEX3c of the Rother Development and Site Allocations Local Plan 2019.

5.    No more than two static caravans and two tourers, as defined in the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 and the Caravan Sites Act 1968 shall be stationed on the site at any time.

Reason: To conserve the natural beauty of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in accordance with Policies EN1(i) and LHN6 of the Rother District Local Plan Core Strategy.

6.    No commercial activities shall take place within the site.

Reason: To preserve the amenities of the locality, in accordance with Policy OSS4(ii) of the Rother District Local Plan Core Strategy.

7.    If during development contamination not previously identified or expected is found to be present then no further development (unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority) shall be carried out until the developer has submitted to the Local Planning Authority for approval, a method statement to: identify, risk assess and mitigate the suspected contaminants.

Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment in accordance with Policy Paragraphs 118, 170 and 178 of the National Planning Policy Framework and Policy OSS3 (viii) of the Rother Local Plan Core Strategy.

8.    Prior to occupation of the development hereby approved, electric services suitable for caravan use shall be installed on site. Electric services shall then be maintained as such throughout the lifetime of this development. No petrol or diesel generators shall be  ...  view the full minutes text for item PL20/64.

DECISION:It be RESOLVED to GRANT (FULL/OUTLINE PLANNING) DELEGATED SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OF A SECTION 106 AGREEMENT: FOR PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, LANDSCAPE/ECOLOGY WORKS AND MAINTENANCE, LOCAL EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS PLAN AND HIGHWAY WORKS.

CONDITIONS:

1.   Approval of the details of layout, appearance, landscaping and scale (hereinafter called "the reserved matters") shall be obtained from the Local Planning Authority in writing before development commences.

Reason: In accordance with the requirements of Article 4(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) Order 2010.

2.   Plans and particulars of the reserved matters referred to in condition 1 above shall be submitted in writing to the Local Planning Authority and shall be carried out as approved.

Reason: In accordance with the requirements of Article 4(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) Order 2010.

3.   Application for approval of all the reserved matters shall be made to the Local Planning Authority before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

Reason: In accordance with section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended by section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).

4.   The development hereby permitted shall be begun either before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission, or before the expiration of two years from the date of approval of the last of the reserved matters to be approved, whichever is the later.

Reason: In accordance with section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended by section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).

5.   Subject to the details required by Condition 1, the development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved drawings and documents:

23817A/01, dated March 2019

23817A/02 rev.B, dated March 2019

7500-304 rev.C, dated 15/08/2019

Ecological Impact Assessment by The Ecology Consultancy, dated 16/06/2019

Arboricultural Impact Assessment, by The Ecology Consultancy, dated 03/06/2019

Transport Assessment by GTA Civils dated March 2019 and Addendum dated 15 April 2019

6004/500, dated January 2019

6004/501 rev.B, dated 02.04.2019

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

6.   The number of dwellings permitted within the site as defined by this outline planning permission shall not exceed 220.

Reason: To ensure a properly planned development in accordance with the application and Policy BT2 of the Rother District Local Plan.

7.   The new spine road and site access points from The Spinney in the south and Harrier Lane in the north, shall be in the position shown on drawing no. 7500-304 rev. C, dated 15/08/2019 and Drawing Nos. 6004/500, dated January 2019 and 6004/501 rev.B, dated 02.04.2019. The spine road shall be designed and constructed in accordance with details to be agreed under Conditions 8 and 10 of this permission, to a standard approved by the Local Planning Authority in accordance with Highway Authority’s standards with a view to its subsequent adoption as publicly maintained highway.

Reason: To ensure the safety  ...  view the full minutes text for item PL20/65.

Members noted the report on the current status of 19 undetermined Major Planning Applications.  Six were under consideration, eight were subject to a Section 106 obligation, one report was due to be revised and reported to a forthcoming committee, two were to be amended and readvertised and permission was expected to be issued for two by the end of 2020.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

Members gave consideration to the report of the Head of Strategy and Planning on the planning statistics for the quarter July to September 2020 which included a summary of planning statistics for 2020/21.

Members noted the difference between the total number of decisions made (360) and the total number of applications on hand (595), which highlighted capacity issues within the planning department.  Members attention was also drawn to the number of complaints received by enforcement officers (148) which was almost three times the normal amount, possibly due to the recent lockdown.  The number of active complaints on hand was 456 against the Service Plan target of 200.

Members also noted the increase in Local Land Charge Searches received, likely to have been due to the relaxation in Stamp Duty charges.

A recruitment exercise had been undertaken with two successful appointments made, but there remained a national shortage of planning officers.  A Local Government Association Peer Review was due to take place of the planning process at the Council

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

Members noted the report on Appeals that had been started, allowed or dismissed since the Committee’s last meeting, together with the list of forthcoming Hearings and Inquiries. 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

Tuesday 12 January 2021 at 8:30am departing from the Town Hall, Bexhill.

– Tuesday 12 January 2021 at 8:30am departing from the Town Hall, Bexhill.