Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence and details of any Councillor nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the Committee.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Peter Anderson, Malcolm Hall, Robin King and Brenda Quinney.

To invite Councillors to declare any interest they may have in the items on the Agenda.

No declarations of interest were made.

To confirm, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 10th August 2011.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the committee held on 10th August 2011 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider a Planning Application for a mixed development of 171 dwellings, public open space and outline application for 4,738 square metres of Class B1 (Business) floorspace and access.

Applicant:  Persimmon Homes Ltd

(Report and Site Plan attached)

Mixed use development of 171 dwellings,

public open space and

outline application for 4,738 square metres

of Class B1 (Business) floorspace and access

Applicant:  Persimmon Homes Ltd

The following people addressed the Committee under the Council’s public speaking rules:

Mr R Lee                       -     Objector representing Brockhill Action Group

Mrs M Muckle              -     Objector representing Batchley Support Group

Miss V Kendrick          -     Objector representing CPRE – Redditch

Mrs King                       -     Objector representing CPRE – Bromsgrove

                                             and Wyre Forest

Mrs D Snaddon           -     Objector representing Rowney Green Association

Mr A MacPherson       -     Objector representing Mettis Aerospace

Cllr L Stephens           -     Ward Councillor and objector representing local residents

Mr M Sackett                -     Applicant’s Agent

In addition to the named registered speakers above, the Chair exceptionally allowed objectors, Dr P Merricks and Mr N Ahmed, local residents registered to speak who had withdrawn to allow Mr Lee to speak on their behalf, an opportunity to make brief representations to the Committee on points they considered had not yet been made by other speakers.  In view of the number of objectors permitted to speak, the applicant’s agent was allowed a commensurate length of time to express support for the application.

During the debate, The Chair also exceptionally allowed Mr B Sharp (a Worcestershire County Council Highway Engineer present at the meeting), to briefly respond to a number of Members; questions in relation to highways matters.

RESOLVED that

having regard to the Development Plan and to all other material considerations, authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Regeneration to GRANT planning permission subject to: 

1)         the completion of a Section 106 Planning Obligation to ensure

a)         on-site open space is provided and maintained in perpetuity;

b)        arrangements are put in place for a potential future contribution towards equipped play facilities to be paid to the Borough Council;

c)         74 residential units are provided for the provision of affordable housing in perpetuity;

d)        a financial contribution is paid to Worcestershire County Council towards the future provision of a school in the vicinity of the site; 

e)         provision of land for a community Orchard;

2)         the conditions and informatives as summarised in the man report; and

3)         the following additional conditions and informative:

            Conditions

            “20.     Protection of Hedgerows

              21.     Removal of Permitted Development rights relating to impervious hard standings.”

            “Informative

              7.       Request for earliest adoption of highways. “

Or:

4)         In the event that the Planning Obligation cannot be completed by
30th September 2011, authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Regeneration to REFUSE the Application on the basis that, without the Planning Obligation, the proposed Development would be contrary to Policy and therefore unacceptable, due to the resultant detrimental impacts it could cause to community infrastructure by a lack of provision for their improvements, and that none of the dwellings could be restricted to use for affordable housing in line with current Policy requirements. 

(In considering the Planning Application and representations made by public speakers, the Committee acknowledged the importance of protecting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

To receive an information report in relation to statistics showing enforcement activity for the previous six months.

(Report and Appendices attached)

Members received a report which detailed statistics in relation to general enforcement activity, delegated authorisations and notable results for the period January to June 2011.    

RESOLVED that

the information in the Appendices to the report be noted.