Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 9 June 2011.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 9 June 2011 were approved as a correct record and signed by the chair.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for this meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Committee.

No urgent decisions were reported.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair of the Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice. (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the cards provided. These are available at the meeting and at local libraries and Information Centres)

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Visiting Team held on Monday 4 July 2011.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which were circulated) containing the recommendations made by the Visiting Team on Monday 4 July 2011.

Councillor White expressed concern that part of the Visiting Team’s recommendation had not been included with the report.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and that the Democratic Services Manager be requested to include all the recommendations made by the Visiting Team in future reports.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Regeneration).                                   

(a) To consider development applications where members of the public have attended the meeting in order to hear the Committee's deliberations.

(b) To consider the remaining development applications.

Officer contact: Emma Curle on 0161 474 3542, e-mail emma.curle@stockport.gov.uk

Development applications were submitted.

(NOTE: Full details of the decisions including conditions and reasons for granting or refusing planning permission and imposing conditions are given in the schedule of plans. The Corporate Director, Communities, Regeneration & Environment is authorised to determine conditions and reasons and they are not therefore referred to in committee minutes unless the committee makes a specific decision on a condition or reason. In order to reduce printing costs and preserve natural resources, the schedule of plans is not reproduced within these minutes.  A copy of the schedule of plans is available on the council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/planningdecisions.  Copies of the schedule of plans, or any part thereof, may be obtained from the Communities, Regeneration & Environment Directorate upon payment of the Council’s reasonable charges).

Variation of condition 1 of DC018808.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

In respect of plan no. 46291 for the variation of condition 1 of DC018808 at Brookside Primary School, Ashbourne Drive, it was

RESOLVED - That planning permission be granted.

Detached subterranean garage with patio above.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

In respect of plan no. 46779 for the detached subterranean garage with patio above at Dean Fold, Threaphurst Lane, Hazel Grove.

Councillor David Wilson left the meeting and took no part in the discussion or vote on the item, it was

RESOLVED - That planning permission be granted.

Proposed change of use of existing premises at 144 Dialstone Lane (Zantec catering and refridgeration Services Ltd) from B2/B8 to D1, including reconfigeration of carparking, access, landscaping and creation of new pedestrian link to the Dial House Medical Centre.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

In respect of plan no. 46947 for the proposed change of use of existing premises at 144 Dialstone Lane (Zantec catering and refridgeration Services Ltd) from B2/B8 to D1, including reconfigeration of car parking, access, landscaping and creation of new pedestrian link to the Dial House Medical Centre, it was

RESOLVED - That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions contained in the report and the additional conditions:-

• Lighting and landscaping conditions to be incorporated to minimise the impact on the occupier of 146 Dialstone Lane.

• A replacement tree to be planted for each tree felled on site.

• Both car park access gates on Dialstone Lane and Mile End Lane to be lockable and to be locked when the premises are not in opera

Single storey rear extension and single storey side and rear extension.

The Committee is recommended to grant planning permission.

In respect of planning no. 46954 for the single storey rear extension and single storey side and rear extension at 10 Cavendish Road, Heaton Mersey.

Councillor David Wilson left the meeting and took no part in the discussion or vote on the item, it was

RESOLVED - That planning permission be granted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Legal & Property).                                                  

This report summarises recent appeal decisions, lists current planning appeals and dates for local inquiries and informal hearings according to Area Committee.

The Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Joy Morton on 0161 474 3219, e-mail joy.morton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Legal & Property) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising recent appeal decisions, listing current Planning Appeals and dates for local inquiries and informal hearings according to Area Committees.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Development).                                                  

This report details a brief update to Members on current government proposals insofar as they affect the planning system including the Localism Bill, Planning for Growth, Proposals for National Planning Guidance, Local Fee Setting and Planning Costs Recovery and other matters.

The Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Steve Burns on 0161 474 2648, e-mail steve.burns@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Regeneration) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing an update on current government proposals insofar as how they affect the planning system including the Localism Bill, Planning for Growth, Proposals for National Planning Guidance, Local Fee Setting and Planning Costs Recovery and other matters.  The following issues were raised:-

• Amendment to the Community Infrastructure Levy.
• Review of the ‘Use Classes Order’ to improve flexibility.
• The proposal to streamline the planning application process to a guaranteed 12 months from application to determination, including any appeal.
•  Whether the Council had the resources in order to facilitate the anticipated changes.
• The need to educate local residents, communities and Neighbourhood Forums about Government proposals.
• Engagement and working with local residents, communities and developers was of paramount importance to the Council.
• Local fees setting and planning costs recovery.
• How the Local Neighbourhood Forum would be constituted – Constitution and a membership of least 21 people.
• The Neighbourhood Plan would be in accordance of the Local Development Framework Core Strategy.
• The Localism Bill needs a great deal of consideration as local Councils operated differently to one another. 
• Raised concern in respect to the Neighbourhood Forums and that developers could potentially influence the local planning infrastructure, which could lead to manipulation of future planning applications. 

RESOLVED - That the report be noted and that regular updates on the Localism Bill be submitted to future Planning & Highways Regulation Committee meetings. 

To consider a report of the Service Director (Legal & Property).                                                  

This report details appeal statistics for 2010 / 2011.

The Committee is recommended to note the report.

Officer contact: Joy Morton on 0161 474 3219, e-mail joy.morton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Legal & Property) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing appeal statistics for 2010/2011

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

(Note: The Chair was of the opinion that this item although not included on the agenda should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100 B 4 (b) of the Local Government Act 1972 to allow the Committee to discuss as a matter of urgency the criteria of why a site visit would be recommended to the Planning & Highways Visiting Team.

Councillors expressed concern in respect to certain planning applications for which Area Committees had referred for a site visit.

The Chair explained the procedure of how and why Area Committees resolve to send the Visiting Team to assess the nature of a site.

A representative of the Service Director (Legal & Property) explained the role of the Planning & Highways Committee and referenced the Constitution’s Code of Practise (January 2008) stating that Area Committees could recommend site visits, which had regard to the following criteria:-

(i) Applications which require the judgement of members based on site characteristics or visual interpretation – e.g. impact of amenity, effect on highway safety and traffic flows, effect on the character of an area, effect on the character or setting of a listed building or conservation area, effect on townscape, landscape, vegetation or other aspect of environment etc;

(ii) Proposals which relate to new or novel forms of development and which may require a visit to an existing establishment as well as to the site of the proposal in order to appreciate the potential planning implications; and

(iii) Developments which had been commenced or completed, which if refused permission would normally require enforcement action to remedy the breach of planning control and a site inspection would assist in determining the expediency of such action, and should state the reasons for the recommendation.

Members suggested that a detailed resolution from the Area Committee to why the development application had been recommended for a site visit was necessary.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Service Director (Legal & Property) be recommended to review the criteria of why a site visit would be recommended to the Planning & Highways Visiting Team and report back at the next Planning & Highways meeting.

(2) That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to organise Planning Training for Members and distribute the Code of Practice to the Chair and Members of the Area Committees.

(Note: The Chair was of the opinion that this item although not included on the agenda should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100 B 4 (b) of the Local Government Act 1972 to allow the Committee to agree as a matter of urgency the date of the ‘Review of Outcomes Tour 2011’.

A representative of the Service Director (Regeneration) reported that the ‘Review of Outcome Tour 2011’ would take place on Friday, 10 October 2011.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.