Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Rich Maw.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2025 were confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct 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.

Each Member of the Committee present declared a personal non-pecuniary interest as the applicant’s wife was a fellow Councillor.

Report of the Head of Development Management – Community Development Services

The Head of Development Management – Community Development Services sought determination of an application for planning permission for the siting of a caravan/lodge to provide agricultural workers’ accommodation, including the creation of amenity/garden space and vehicle parking/turning area at Chelson Fields, Killerby, Scarborough.

The application was reported to Committee because the applicant was the spouse of a North Yorkshire Councillor.

Presenting the report, the Senior Planning Officer advised that:

·       The application site fell outside the Development Limits of Cayton or any other settlement as defined in the Scarborough Local Plan, as such it is regarded as 'countryside'. The site fell within Flood Zone 1.

·       The agent stated that the caravan was required for an agricultural worker and the supporting information stated that this was an existing agricultural enterprise.

·       Planning permission for a caravan for a temporary period of 3 years was allowed in 2016 to allow for the agricultural enterprise to be developed and for information to be collected to demonstrate the case for a permanent dwelling.

·       No evidence had been submitted with the current application to demonstrate that the agricultural enterprise existed, or if it did, that it was currently economically viable or that the proposed dwelling was linked to an existing, financially sound enterprise.

·       Officers considered there was no justification for the siting of a caravan for agricultural worker or a permanent dwelling on the site based on the needs of the existing operations or the operations set out in the supporting information.

·       The agent had requested that the application be deferred to allow for additional information to be submitted and stated there were errors in the report but has not specified what these errors were, or what additional information they intended to submit. However, officers were of the opinion that no additional information could be submitted that would overcome the first and second reasons for refusal and did not consider that a deferral would be warranted. Officers recommended refusal on the grounds set out in the report with the exception of the minor amendment of reason (iii).

The application was recommended for refusal on three grounds, as follows:

       i.         It was not demonstrated that the proposed development was essential for farming; neither was it demonstrated that the proposed development related to the functional needs of an established rural business.

     ii.         the negative Impact to visual amenity and character of the open landscape setting

    iii.         No information was provided regarding the Biodiversity Net Gain baseline figure for the existing site. As such the deemed biodiversity net gain condition required by the Environment Act 2021 could not be discharged.

The agent had requested that the application be deferred to allow for additional information to be submitted and stated that there were errors in the report. The agent did not specify what information they intended to submit or what the errors were in the report.

Officers were of the opinion that no additional information could be submitted that would overcome the first and second reasons for refusal and did not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 147.

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

There were no items of urgent business.

Councillors discussed the fact that they no longer received the weekly list of planning applications in their division, since the migration of the legacy Council systems into one new system.

They were reminded that they could set up notifications of applications in areas of interest via the Public Access system and officers would provide any assistance required, regarding the new method of providing this information.

Thursday, 12 March 2026 at 2.00pm

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Thursday, 12 March 2026.