Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies noted (see above).

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 August 2024 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

All Members are invited to declare at this point any interests, including the nature of those interests, or lobbying in respect of any items appearing on this agenda.

Councillor Broadbank declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 4 of the agenda, as he was a Member of the Harrogate Civic Society, he confirmed that he would be keeping an open mind, and that he would speak and vote on the item.

Councillor Aldred declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 5 of the agenda, as he was a Member of both the Harrogate and District Cycle Action Group and the Hookstone and Stonefall Action Group.  He confirmed that he would be keeping an open mind, and that he would speak and vote on the item.

Planning Applications

The Committee considered reports of the Assistant Director - Planning relating to applications for planning permission.  During the meeting, Officers referred to additional information and representations which had been received.

Except where an alternative condition was contained in the report or an amendment made by the Committee, the condition as set out in the report and the appropriate time limit conditions were to be attached in accordance with the relevant provisions of Section 91 and 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

In considering the reports of the Assistant Director – Planning regard had been paid to the policies of the relevant development plan, the National Planning Policy Framework and all other material planning considerations.

Where the Committee granted planning permission in accordance with the recommendation in a report this was because the proposal was in accordance with the development plan the National Planning Policy Framework or other material considerations as set out in the report unless otherwise specified below. 

Report of the Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Services

The Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Services sought determination of an application for continued commercial use (Class E) or new drinking establishment use (Sui Generis) of basement, lower ground floor and part of upper ground floor; change of use of upper floors (including part of upper ground floor) from commercial use (Class E), and erection of rooftop extensions, to create a total of 34 apartments (Class C3); external alterations including removal and replacement of canopies and shop fronts, repairs (and replacement where necessary) to slate roof and windows in the early 20th century elements of the building, and removal and re-cladding of the facades of the 1960s elements of the building and replacement of all windows to those 1960s elements of the building on land at 22-30 Parliament Street, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2RQ.

The application had been referred to the Planning Committee because it was considered to raise significant planning issues such that it was appropriate to be considered by the Committee.

Providing an update to their report, the Principal Planning Officer advised Members on a number of minor changes to the conditions since publication of the committee report, as follows.

·       Condition 8 contained a typing error and should read, all rainwater goods, and not all rainwater good, as within the report.

·       Condition 10 regarding details of the windows had been updated at b) to clarify the scale of the elevations, sections and plans, which would be required at a scale of 1:5, of the proposed secondary glazing system to existing windows, including those identified in part a) of this condition above.

·       At Condition 11 the scale for the shopfronts and canopies had been clarified at a) All new/replacement shop fronts, including details of their materials, glazing and colour(s) (at least 1:10 scale); at b) All new/replacement canopies, including details of their materials, glazing and colour(s) (at least 1:5 scale); and at c) Any awnings proposed to any part(s) of the building (at least 1:5 scale).  The wording of the final paragraph of Condition 11 had been amended to read “The commercial and/or drinking establishment use hereby permitted shall not commence or be first occupied or brought into use until the parts of the development specified in parts a), b) and c) of this condition have been carried out and completed in accordance with the details thereby approved. Those works shall be retained as such thereafter”.

·       Condition 12 had been amended in order to clarify the required scale of the plans referred to (at least 1:20 scale).

·       The wording “or be occupied or brought into use” had been added twice at Condition 13, in both instances to clarify that the commercial and/or drinking establishment use hereby permitted ‘shall not commence or be occupied or brought into use’ until the relevant requirements of the condition have been met.

·       Condition 14 related to the communal areas, the first sentence of the condition remained unchanged from that which was contained in the Committee report.  The remainder of the condition had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

Report of the Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Services

The Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Services sought determination of an application for the erection of two covered padel tennis courts; and the installation of a parking area for up to 80 days of the year on land at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre, Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The application had been referred to the Planning Committee at the request of Division Member, Councillor Andrew Timothy.

The Principal Planning Officer highlighted that since publication of the agenda pack, the planning authority had received three additional letters of representation, the first with regard to a conflict with the pre-application advice.  The officer explained that the information within the initial pre-application had been very limited with regards to the siting of the padel courts and the impact on the trees and ecology.  The full application once received clarified many of the points outstanding and provided a landscaping scheme, ensured that there would be no light seepage from the padel courts and clarified the health of the goat willow tree which was proposed to be removed.  As such the proposal had evolved from the pre-application stage to the current application.

The second representation was in reference to car park management for larger events.  There had been concern that the proposal contravened the Travel Plan, however as the application was pending consideration and had not been determined the submitted Travel Plan was not currently enforceable unless the application was approved.  It was commented that it had been understood that only the Harrogate Flower Show and the Great Yorkshire Show would be classed as larger events, however larger events would not necessarily be restricted to these two events, and there could be other large events.

The third representation raised concerns regarding ecological impacts and highlighted a query around the age and adequacy of the submitted surveys with regard to the protection of the ancient woodland.  The Council’s Ecology team had assessed the surveys and found them to be sufficiently recent.  The surveys were also found to provide sufficient mitigation for a restriction of lighting and the Ecology team did not feel that it was proportionate to request further surveys.  Members noted that the buffer to be provided to the ancient woodland was in line with Natural England guidance. 

In addition, Councillor Haslam had submitted a list of queries to the officer regarding the level assessment on foul and water drainage.  The officer explained that the site did not fall within a high flood zone, and as the padel courts did not provide toilet or changing facilities, there was no direct impact on foul drainage.  The proposed padel courts were to be set on existing hardstanding which was not permeable at present and therefore the permeability of the site would not be compromised.  As such, neither of these matters were a material consideration. 

Lastly, the Principal Planning Officer read out an update from the Council’s Public Right of Way (PROW) team in response to a number of public representations received.  It was confirmed that there had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

Any other items which the Chair agrees should be considered as a matter of urgency because of special circumstances.

There were no other items.

Tuesday, 25 February 2025 at 2.00pm.

Tuesday 25 February 2025 at 2.00 pm.