North Yorkshire Council
Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Planning Committee
Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 28th May, 2024 commencing at 2.00 pm.
Councillor John Mann in the Chair plus Councillors Chris Aldred, Philip Broadbank, Mike Schofield and Robert Windass.
Officers present: Catriona Gatrell – Head of Legal (Property, Planning and Environment), Nick Turpin – Planning Manager (Development Management), Andy Hough – Senior Planning Officer, Harriet Clark, Senior Democratic Services Officer; and Dawn Drury, Democratic Services Officer.
Apologies: Hannah Gostlow and Peter Lacey
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Copies of all documents considered are in the Minute Book
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Apologies for Absence
Apologies noted (see above).
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Minutes for the Meeting held on 7 May 2024
The minutes of the meeting held on 7 May 2024 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.
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Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
The Chair informed Members that following the meeting of Full Council on 15 May 2024, there had been two membership changes on the Committee. Councillor Paul Haslam had come off the Committee, with Councillor Peter Lacey replacing him.
The Chair thanked Councillor Haslam for his service and contribution to the Planning Committee, and welcomed Councillor Lacey, and also Councillor Mike Schofield, who had now received the necessary training, to enable him to take part in the meetings.
Planning Applications
The Committee considered a report of the Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Services relating to an application for planning permission. During the meeting, Officers referred to additional information and representations which had been received.
The conditions as set out in the report and the appropriate time limit conditions were considered.
In considering the report of the Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Services, regard had been paid to the policies of the relevant development plan, the National Planning Policy Framework and all other material planning considerations.
The Committee resolved that they were minded to approve the grant of planning permission, but delegated the final decision to be taken by the Assistant Director – Planning, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee.
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23/00214/FULMAJ - Land comprising field at 436940 462883 - Minskip Road, Staveley, North Yorkshire
Considered :-
The Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Services sought determination of a full planning application for the erection of 76 No. residential dwellings and associated infrastructure on land at 436940 462883, Minskip Road, Staveley, North Yorkshire.
The Senior Planning Officer advised Members that since publication of the agenda pack, the County Ecologist had recommended two additional conditions be included to cover a construction and environmental management plan, and a long-term enhancement plan for the development site. Together with the suggested inclusion within the S106 agreement that the biodiversity and enhancement management plan be a living document which progressed throughout the lifetime of the application.
In addition, two further representations had been received by the authority, but it was confirmed that neither objection had raised any issues which had not already been referred to within the Committee report. Staveley and Copgrove Parish Council had also reiterated their objection to the application; this referred to unstable land and highlighted concerns regarding development and suggested that the land would not have been allocated in the Harrogate District Local Plan 2014-2035, had Gypsum been a known issue at that time.
Members heard that the developer had produced King’s Counsel opinion that the issue of unstable land had been satisfactorily addressed under the provision of Policy NE9, and provided two independent engineers reports, as required by the Policy.
The Solicitor asked that the officer reiterate the recommendation as set out in the Committee report.
John Carter spoke objecting to the application.
Graham Bowland spoke on behalf of Staveley and Copgrove Parish Council objecting to the application.
The applicant’s agent, Matt Burrow, spoke in support of the application.
The Chair allowed the applicant’s agent to speak again, over the three minutes given to each speaker, in response to a request from a Committee Member that the speaker be allowed to finish his submission. The two representors were offered the same consideration, with just Mr Carter adding to his submission.
During consideration of the above application, the Committee discussed the following issues:-
· Clarification on the points of pedestrian access to the site. · Members queried if the 20 mile per hour national road speed limit on the main road applied to the whole length of road adjacent to the site, and if not, was there scope to request that the speed limit applied to the entire length of the road. It was confirmed that should the planning application be approved, that officers could take back Members comments to the Highways Authority for examination. · The distance between the application site and the Nature Reserve. · Discussion took place regarding the availability of pupil school places at Staveley Primary School. · Clarification was sought on whether some of the affordable housing to be provided on the site would be shared ownership, and if so, what proportion would be for rent and shared ownership. · Members raised concerns around the unstable ground conditions and the possibility of Gypsum being present at the site. · If there was considered to be a demand for housing in this particular area. · Would public transport be available to the site, and how regularly the bus service travelled through the area, daily. · Clarification was sought on biodiversity, and in particular the hedgerow on the boundary of the site. · In terms of ground stability, it was queried if a condition could be added that an excavation be carried out at the application site.
The Decision :-
That the Committee was minded to approve the application subject to the conditions set out in Section 12 of the committee report and a Section 106 agreement and delegates the decision to the Assistant Director – Planning in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee, including the finalisation of conditions and the terms of the Section 106 to include:
Affordable Housing Travel Plan contributions BNG management Education Contributions Village Hall Contributions Open Space Contributions
Members amended the officer recommendation to require the decision of the Assistant Director – Planning to be in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee, including the finalisation of conditions and the terms of the Section 106.
Voting Record
A vote was taken, and the motion was declared carried with 3 votes for, 1 vote against and 1 abstention.
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Any other items
There were no urgent items of business.
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Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday 25 June 2024 – Civic Centre, Harrogate
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The meeting concluded at 3.26 pm.