Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director – Community Development Services, attached.

Considered:

The committee considered a report of The Corporate Director – Community Development Services relating to planning application 2022/24304/FUL.

The case officer informed the Committee that previously this application was presented to Committee on 3^rd October, 2023 with a recommendation of approval.  The Planning Committee resolved to defer the application to allow the public to consider the revised working hours of 18:00 to 03:00 hours Mon-Fri and for the applicant to demonstrate a better bio-diversity net gain and increase the new trees to be planted by at least a ratio of 5:1.

The case Officer reported that only one comment had subsequently been received regarding operational hours since the last meeting and the Council’s Trees Officer had also reviewed the proposal and was satisfied with the number of new trees being proposed.

Tania Weston, Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) Programme Delivery Manager, spoke on behalf of the applicant, North Yorkshire Council, in support of the application.  The Committee expressed disappointment that the two issues the matter had been deferred for at the last meeting had not been fully addressed in this update. 

During consideration of the above application, the Committee noted that the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) had prioritised nine “Gateways” for improvements as part of the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) bid which included Skipton and discussed the following issues in relation to the Skipton TCF scheme:

• Members expressed concern that further details of the existing funding source allocated for tree replacements had not been shared with the Committee.

• Members were made aware that Skipton Railway was the second largest (in terms of usage) in North Yorkshire and the current frontage and forecourt was dominated by car parking;

• Noted the plans to improve interchange linkages in the plans by improving rail, bus and taxi links.

• Concerns that working hours for the scheme hadn’t been adequately addressed and asked that hours of work be kept under review to minimise any disruption to local businesses that the works would cause;

• Note the inclusion of ten Electric Vehicle (EV) charging car parking bays in the proposals;

• Members wished to see improvements to pedestrian safety and there was no mention of the connection and link between the station and the industrial areas down Engine Shed Lane.

•  A comment whether the scheme was delivering Value for Money (VfM).     

Members commented further on the application and a number of views were put forward including a suggestion for the use of saplings for replacement trees where appropriate and it was moved and seconded that the application be approved

The decision:

That planning permission be APPROVED.

Reason:

The Committee approved the application, subject to the conditions as outlined in the Corporate Director – Community Development Services submitted report and also additional conditions delegated to the Planning Manager, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair in relation to 5:1 replacement trees; in relation to the hours of work and the inclusion of a “considerate constructors condition”,     

Voting Record

For Approval 5, Abstention 1

(Councillor Andy Solloway declared for this item he was the divisional ward representative for this application and that he had previously expressed views when the matter was considered and deferred at the October meeting of this Committee. He was a substitute member at today’s Committee meeting but on this item spoke as division Member and did not take part in the debate or vote).

(Councillor Andy Williams left the meeting at 2.25pm at the conclusion of the consideration of this application).

(The Committee held a short adjournment at this juncture at 2.25pm and reconvened at 2.35pm)