Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S. J. Baxter and C. A. Hotham.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman announced that a Committee Update had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting commencing, with a paper copy also made available to Members at the meeting.

Members indicated that they had had sufficient time to read the contents of the Committee Update and were happy to proceed.

The application was brought to Planning Committee for consideration at the request of Councillor K. Taylor, Ward Councillor.

Officers presented their report and in doing so drew Members’ attention to the presentation slides, also detailed on pages 16 to 22 of the main agenda pack. Members were informed that the presentation slides also included some recent photographs taken two weeks previously. The site had changed considerably during recent works and post works.

The application was retrospective and was for the importation of material to re-profile and level land at Sumach, Priory Road, Dodford, Bromsgrove, B61 9DA.

The site lay to the northern side of Priory Road within the Dodford Conservation Area. The site was situated within the Green Belt.

Officers referred to the relevant planning history, as detailed on pages 9 and 10 of the main agenda pack.

Members’ attention was drawn to page 10 of the main agenda pack, which detailed ‘Background’ information.

The application site was located within the Green Belt. Paragraph 142 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) highlighted that the Government attached great importance to Green Belts, and this was further emphasised within Paragraph 153, which stated that local planning authorities should ensure that substantial weight was given to any harm to the Green Belt.

Policy BDP4.4 of the Bromsgrove District Plan and Paragraphs 154 and 155 of the NPPF set out exceptions to inappropriate development.

The works which had taken place were considered to constitute engineering operations. It was considered that whilst land levels had been raised in the rear garden area serving the property Sumach, the engineering operations did not in themselves result in harm to the openness of the Green Belt.

The five purposes of the Green Belt, as set out at paragraph 143 of the NPPF, were detailed on page 11 of the main agenda pack.

Officers highlighted that this retrospective application would not conflict with any of the five purposes of the Green Belt.

Worcestershire Archive and Archaeological Service had raised no concerns, with their comments being included on pages 8 and 12 of the main agenda pack.

Members’ attention was further drawn to the comments received from North Worcestershire Water Management (NWWM), in respect of drainage and contamination matters. They had referred the Parish Council and Ward Member for the area to the Environment Agency since any issues related to contamination of the watercourse was a matter for the Environment Agency to investigate. The Environment Agency were consulted with on the application and having visited the site, had commented that materials imported into the site were not contaminated, as detailed on page 12 of the main agenda pack.

As highlighted in the Officers conclusion, in the report, the largely completed works were not considered to result in harm to the openness of the Green Belt or harm to the character of the Conservation Area. The resultant works were not considered harmful in terms of heritage matters, residential amenity or drainage. The seeding of the site had served  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15/25

It was noted that Planning Application 24/00960/FUL had been withdrawn from the agenda and would be considered at a future meeting of the Planning Committee.

The application was brought to Planning Committee for consideration at the request of Councillor K. J. May, Ward Councillor.

Officers drew Members’ attention to pages 3  and 4 of the Committee Update, which detailed further comments from Worcestershire County Council (WCC),  Highways, with regards to footways, speed concerns, impact on the highway, and car parking. Further comments from Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) in respect of noise and odour. Amended Plans received for this proposal, which had resulted in Condition 2 being updated, as two of the Plans previously stated in Condition 2 needed to be substituted.

A copy of the Committee Update was provided to Members and published on the Council’s website prior to the commencement of the meeting.

Officers presented their report and in doing so drew Members’ attention to the presentation slides, also detailed on pages 90 to 92 of the main agenda pack. It was noted that the presentation slides, shown at the meeting, had been updated to include the amended plans.

The application was for the demolition of the existing covered yard and timber shed to be replaced with a new timber building to create a new restaurant area and internal alterations which included the conversion of an existing storage area to a kitchen.

As detailed in the Committee Update, the amended plans and amendments related to the existing fencing that currently surrounded the covered courtyard and timber shed, where the proposed extension would be sited. It was unclear from the proposed plans, whether this fencing would be retained. The plans had now been amended so that it was now clear that the fencing surrounding this area would be removed. The fencing would only be retained around the bin storage area to the rear of the proposed extension.

Officers informed the Committee that 8 representations, in objection to the application had been received, the reasons for the objections were detailed on page 83 of the main agenda pack. Bournheath Parish Council had also submitted a representation in objection to the application, as detailed on pages 82 and 83 of the main agenda pack.

The comments received from WCC Highways and WRS, who had raised no objections, were detailed on pages 81 and 82 of the main agenda pack.

Concerns over highways safety, traffic and parking provision had been received from neighbouring occupiers and Bournheath Parish Council. Members were asked to note, that WCC, Highways had raised no objection to the proposal. Having noted that the site currently had 85 car parking spaces, which was considered to be more than sufficient for the existing and proposed floor areas.

Having received notification that one of the Public Speakers was unable to attend the meeting, the Chairman invited the Council’s Legal Advisor to read out the statement received from Mrs. L. Danckert-Curtis, in objection to the application.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor S. T. Nock, Ward Councillor also addressed the Committee. Having addressed the Committee, Councillor S. T. Nock then left the meeting room.

Members then  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17/25

There was no urgent business on this occasion.