Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor E. J. Murray.

Councillor C. B. Taylor declared a personal interest in application ref.: 11/0661-DMB (Land at Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove) as he was a Member of the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority.

The minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 10th October 2011 were submitted.

RESOLVED that the minutes be approved as a correct record.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr. D. Jones addressed the Committee and spoke in support of the application whilst Mr. T. Flynn spoke against the proposals on behalf of Lickey and Blackwell Parish Council.

RESOLVED that permission be granted subject to the conditions set out on pages 12 and 13 of the report.

The Head of Planning and Regeneration Services reported the views of Severn Trent Water, together with additional comments received from the Strategic Housing Manager, and stated that two further letters of objection had been received.

She informed the Committee that the terms of an agreement, under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, had been agreed with the developer and requested Members to note that Worcestershire County Council's Education Services were no longer seeking an educational contribution in respect of the proposals.  Furthermore, she stated that design amendments to the scheme had been agreed with the applicant.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr. J. Cypher addressed the Committee and spoke in opposition to the proposals on behalf of Alvechurch Parish Council, whilst Mr. D. Stentiford spoke in favour of the development.

RESOLVED

(a)       that authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Regeneration Services to determine the application upon the completion of an agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, in respect of financial contributions relating to:

(i)         play space provision;

(ii)        the securing of 10 affordable housing units;

(b)       that upon the completion of the agreement referred to in (a) above, permission be granted subject to any reasonable conditions and notes considered necessary by the Head of Planning and Regeneration Services.

As requested at the Committee's site visit to the dwelling the subject of the application, the Head of Planning and Regeneration Services reported the details of a previous application (B/2005/0670) relating to similar issues.  She outlined the circumstances in respect of the Committee's decision and the subsequent appeal, but stated that the case in point was not necessarily directly comparable to this current application.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr. R. Temple-Cox spoke in support of the application.

RESOLVED that permission be refused for the reason set out on pages 39 and 40 of the report.

The Head of Planning and Regeneration Services reported the views of West Mercia Constabulary's Crime Risk Manager, and stated that two further letters of objection had been received.  In addition, she reported the receipt of further information from the applicant's agent in respect of sustainability issues.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Ms. K. Ventham addressed the Committee and spoke in support of the proposals.

RESOLVED that the Reserved Matters be approved subject to the conditions and notes set out or referred to on pages 49 and 50 of the report.

(NOTE: The Chairman agreed to the consideration of this item of business as a matter of urgency because the application was an integral part of a complex transaction involving various parties and the vacation of the land in the town centre to assist with the town centre regeneration.  The Council had been advised by the applicant that any further delay of the decision on the application could jeopardise the delivery of the wider project proposals.  Therefore, a decision was required on the application before the next meeting of the Committee.)

The Head of Planning and Regeneration Services reported the receipt of additional information from the applicant in support of the application in respect of sleeping accommodation and staffing levels, together with further details on the use of sirens by vehicles leaving the proposed Police/Fire Station.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr. J. Stobie, Head of Estates Services for West Mercia Constabulary, addressed the Committee and spoke in support of the application.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Regeneration Services to determine the application upon the completion of an agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, in respect of financial contributions relating to public realm improvement works to School Drive, Bromsgrove; and

(b)       that upon the completion of the agreement referred to in (a) above, permission be granted subject to any reasonable conditions and notes considered necessary by the Head of Planning and Regeneration Services.

Consideration was given to a report which outlined the decisions reached in two planning appeals, details of which had been received since the last meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.