Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director Planning – Community Development Services

Considered :-

The Head of Development Management – Community Development Services sought determination of an application for planning permission for the change of use of land to holiday accommodation and the erection of two holiday cabins with associated infrastructure. Members were informed that following a site visit, an update report had since been circulated addressing matters raised during that visit, including parking arrangements, refuse collection, accessibility and archaeological considerations.

The Planning Officer advised that the site lay partly within a Scheduled Monument and that further consultation had been undertaken with Historic England and the Council’s archaeological advisers following the site visit. Members were informed that both organisations were satisfied with the proposal subject to conditions, including archaeological monitoring and controls over the removal of imported material within the proposed parking area. It was emphasised that the cabins would be constructed using no-dig techniques and had been positioned away from the most sensitive archaeological features.

In accordance with public speaking arrangements at planning committees, the following speaker addressed the committee.

Objecting to the application:

John Gentry – representing Moulton Parish Meeting.

In considering the proposal, Members discussed the separation distances between the cabins and neighbouring properties, the effectiveness of landscaping and screening measures and the implications for the Scheduled Monument. Members noted that following further investigation and consultation, no statutory or technical consultee objections remained. Particular weight was given to the advice of Historic England, the Principal Archaeologist and the Highway Authority, all of whom were satisfied that the proposal could proceed subject to appropriate controls.

Members concluded that the proposal represented a modest tourism development which would support the local economy whilst safeguarding the archaeological significance of the site through carefully worded planning conditions. It was noted that the proposal had undergone significant scrutiny following the site visit and that all outstanding concerns had been appropriately addressed.

It was proposed by Councillor Sedgwick and seconded by Councillor Moorhouse that the application be granted as set out in the officer’s report and update report.

The Decision –

That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the conditions as listed in the committee report and the additional conditions set out within the update report relating to refuse, and recycling storage and the implementation of the proposed parking and turning area.

Voting Record:
The motion was carried unanimously.

A short comfort break was taken from 11.11am until 11.15am.

After the break Councillor Hugill mentioned his earlier declaration and alluded to the fact that he had been subject to complaint about breaching the Code of Conduct.  He had replied to the Monitoring Officer querying whether he had or hadn’t breached the Code of Conduct which had been due to voting to defer item  ZD25/00383/FULL.  Until he had heard this application he didn’t feel that he could be judged so had made the decision to step out of the room to avoid any further repercussions from that initial Code of Conduct complaint, which was dismissed.  He was still awaiting full written reasons why.  In order to protect himself he decided to leave the room.

The Chair, Councillor David Webster stated he had also been referred to the Monitoring Officer regarding the Code of Conduct and as there was no further action to be taken against him, he had made the decision to remain.

Councillor Karin Sedgewick stated that she was unsure about what she could and couldn’t say as she had also been queried about her Code of Conduct but held she was only doing her job as a Committee Member on Planning.  She listened with an unbiased ear and reacted in an unbiased way.  Councillor Sedgewick asked the legal officer if she should step out of the room.  The legal officer advised Members that it was important for them to consider the application before them that was for determination and that the complaints issue was separate.