REDBOURN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of the Planning Committee held on Tuesday 3 May 2011, at 7.30 pm, in the Council Chamber, Redbourn Village Hall, High Street, Redbourn.
PRESENT: Cllrs Mrs M Maynard (Chair), D Fenton, R Gray, D Mitchell and Mrs V Windle
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs P Allcroft (Parish Clerk’s Assistant), Mr R Crocker
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: None.
- NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS
1.1Planning and Treework Applications: The Chair agreed that the following items received after the publication of the agenda could be considered at the meeting:
1.1.1Planning Applications (to be considered under Item 7)
5/11/0710 – 12 Lybury Lane, Redbourn.
5/11/0668 – St Lawrence Place, 7 Meadow View, Dunstable Road, Redbourn.
5/11/0791 – 15 Lords Meadow, Redbourn
1.1.2Notification of Planning Permission (to be noted under Item 6.4.1)
5/10/2670 – The Sycamore, Nicholls Farm, Lybury Lane, Redbourn
5/11/0340 – 62 Crouch Hall Lane, Redbourn
5/11/0311 – 3 The Meadow, Pondsmead, Redbourn
1.1.3Discharge of Conditions (to be noted under Item 6.4.3)
5/10/1456 – 1 St Mary’s Close
1.2Other business for consideration the meeting: The Chair agreed that the following items received after the publication of the agenda could be considered:
1.2.1Kane Haulage – letters and e-mails of objection (to be considered under Item 12.2)
1.2.2Response to introduction of proposed new paperless planning system (to be considered under Item 12.1)
1.2.3Letter from Cerda (to be noted under Item 12.3)
2.DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
2.1Cllr Gray declared an interest as a District Councillor and will reconsider applications that come before Plans North.
3.OPEN SESSION FOR THE PUBLIC
Mr Crocker had attended to speak against the proposal to replace the existing bungalow with a two storey dwelling at 12 Lybury Lane. He felt the proposal would result in over-development of the site and the proposed building would be overbearing in relation to neighbouring properties which were all bungalows. It was noted that there was a covenant on the land restricting building to bungalows. However, members agreed that this was not a material planning consideration, and if necessary the covenant would have to be enforced legally at a later stage.
As the Parish Council had not received official notification of this planning application, and as it had not been published on the agenda, it was agreed that:
i)No planning recommendation should be proposed and agreed at this meeting
ii)The planning application should be listed on the agenda for the next meeting;
ii)An extra meeting should be scheduled for Wednesday 1 June in order that all interested parties would have the opportunity to speak at the parish planning meeting and a recommendation could be made by planning members based on discussions then;
iii)A district counsellor should call in the application if officers are minded to grant the application, so that any recommendations forwarded after the meeting on Wednesday 1 June could be noted by the Case Officer and put on file.
4.MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS held Monday 11 April 2011 were approved as correct records of the meetings and duly signed by the Chairman.
6.REPORTS FROM PLANS NORTH: The following were noted:
6.1Applications Approved
6.1.15/2011/0197 – Longacre, Waterend Lane, Redbourn: Replacement existing rear dormer
windows and additional side dormer window (resubmission following refusal of 5/2010/1792). Approval dated 07/04/2011.
6.1.25/2011/0106 – Redhall, The Common, Redbourn, AL3 7NB: Single storey rear
extension and alterations to openings. Approval dated 24/03/2011.
6.1.35/2011/0307 - 83 High Street, Redbourn, AL3 7LW: Listed Building Consent –
Replacement front window. Approval dated 25/03/2011.
6.1.45/2011/0221 - 18 Crecy Gardens, Redbourn, AL3 7BQ: First floor side and rear
extensions and insertion of pitched roof to existing garage and front porch. Approval dated 30/03/2011
6.1.55/2010/2937 - 7 Saberton Close, Redbourn, AL3 7DS: Garage conversion, first
floor rear and side extension with pitched roof to replace existing flat roof and ground floor rear extension. Approval dated 06/04/2011.
The following extra applications approved were also noted:
6.1.65/10/2670 – The Sycamore, Nicholls Farm, Lybury Lane, Redbourn: Garage (retrospective). Approval dated 14/01/11.
6.1.75/11/0340 – 62 Crouch Hall Lane, Redbourn: Single sltorey extension, extensions
to front porch, garage conversion and outbuilding to front/retrospective amendment to planning permission 5/2010/1908). Approval dated 14/01/11.
6.1.85/11/0311 – 3 The Meadow, Pondsmead, Redbourn: Single storey rear extension and alterations to openings. Approval dated 11/01/11.
6.2Applications Refused (None notified)
6.3Certificate of Lawfulness (None notified).
6.4Discharge of Conditions
6.4.15/2011/0697 - Land R/O Bell and Shears PH, 77 High Street, Redbourn:
Discharge of Conditions 3 (samples of materials), 11 (additional details/Listed Building/Conservation Area consent), 12 (details of solar panels), 13 (details of vehicular access), 17 (archaeological scheme of investigation) and 19 (landscape design proposals) of planning permission 5/2010/2002 dated 23/03/2011 for the erection of two detached and two semi-detached two storey dwellings with associated parking and landscaping (resubmission following refusal of 5/10/0862)
6.4.25/2011/0711 – Redhall, The Common, Redbourn, AL3 7NB: Discharge of
Condition 4 (Protection of Trees - Foundation Details and Excavation for Services) for planning permission 5/2011/0106 dated 24/3/2011 for single storey rear extension and alterations to openings.
6.4.35/10/1456 – 1 St Mary’s Close, Redbourn: Discharge of Condition 15 (soft
landscape works)
6.5 Applications Withdrawn
6.5.15/2011/0469 - St Mary's Church, Church End, Redbourn, AL3 7DU: Internal
alterations and loft conversion with rooflights. Withdrawal dated 07/04/2011.
7.PLANNING APPLICATIONS
7.15/2011/0587 – Redbournbury House, Redbournbury Lane, Redbourn: Listed Building
Consent – Demolition of garden wall, removal of door and replacement with window.
7.25/2011/0585 – Redbournbury House, Redbournbury Lane, Redbourn AL3 6RS:
Listed Building Consent - Installation of french drains
7.35/2011/0589 -Redbournbury House, Redbournbury Lane, Redbourn, AL3 6RS:
Listed Building Consent - Repairs to fabric.
7.45/2011/0590 -Redbournbury House, Redbournbury Lane, Redbourn, AL3 6RS:
Listed Building Consent - Conversion of first floor bedroom to ensuite.
No objections to any of the above. Members felt that renovations of this kind should be encouraged.
7.55/2011/0528 – 19 Crouch Hall Lane, Redbourn: Detached garage.
No objections.
7.65/2011/0567 - Shafford Mill, Redbourn Road, St Albans, AL3 6LB: Installation of photovoltaic equipment to garage block roof.
Members did not consider this planning application as it falls within St Michael’s Parish.
7.75/2011/0614 - 22 High Street, Redbourn, AL3 7LL: Change of use of ground
floor from Class A1 (retail) and internal alterations to form one Class A2 (financial and professional services) unit fronting High Street and Class C3 (residential) to provide one self-contained flat at rear of building.
Refusal recommended because members felt the loss of a retail outlet would be detrimental to the High Street (Pol 56), and that the proposed plan did not offer a suitable office environment as it was too small and the toilet facilities were beyond the living accommodation, with no internal access. (Pol 22). With regard to the proposed flat, the proposed wc and bathroom were accessible only through the kitchen. Members asked that District Cllr Gray call in the planning application if officers were minded to grant the application.
7.85/2011/0770 - 22 High Street, Redbourn, AL3 7LL: Listed Building Consent –
Internal alterations including insertion and removal of partitions to create one office unit and one self-contained flat.
Refusal recommended because members felt the loss of a retail outlet would be detrimental to the High Street (Pol 56), and that the proposed plan did not offer a suitable office environment as it was too small and the toilet facilities were beyond the living accommodation, with no internal access. (Pol 22). With regard to the proposed flat, the proposed wc and bathroom were accessible only through the kitchen. Members asked that District Cllr Gray call in the planning application if officers minded to grant the application.
The following late applications were considered:
7.95/11/0668 – St Lawrence Place, 7 Meadow View, Dunstable Road, Redbourn: Single storey rear conservatory.
No objections.
7.105/11/0791 – 15 Lords Meadow, Redbourn: Part single, part two storey side and rear extrension, single storey front extension and alterations to openings.
No objections.
8.TREEWORKS (None notified).
9.ATTENDANCE AT PLANS NORTH MEETING - The meeting scheduled to take place on Monday 9 May 2011 had been cancelled because of the elections.
10.PLANNING LOG (to be updated and forwarded)
11.SPATIAL STRATEGY – This item is now discussed at Full council Meetings, and
members agreed it should be taken off future Planning Committee Agendas.
12.CORRESPONDENCE
12.1Members discussed the proposal received from Heather Cheesbrough regarding cessation of current practice of sending plans to parishes. Responses to the proposal were required by 24 May 2011, and members agreed that the Planning Clerk should respond noting the following:
- Redbourn Parish Council supports the idea of a paperless planning system and using technology to achieve this;
- To date we have been unable to use the system satisfactorily and have written to the Planning Office recording the difficulties being experienced: these have not yet been resolved;
- All Planning members and the Clerk and the Planning Clerk would welcome training, preferably at the Parish Centre on the equipment to be used.
- The Parish Centre had a screen and wi-fi but will need a lap top, faster processors with good graphics and disk drives, and A3 printer, and will also need to update software used by the Clerk and the Planning Clerk.
- To enquire whether some funding for improving the parish council’s technological facilities may be available, as whilst appreciating the need for the District Council to save public money, it seemed unreasonable to expect the entire costs to be borne by Redbourn Parish Council from their precept.
- Until such time as training had been received, appropriate equipment put in place, and the system seen to be working well, Redbourn Parish Council would prefer to receive paper copies of planning documents.
12.2Members noted the letter written by Cllr Swendell to St Albans City & District Council entitled “Noise Nuisance – Kane Group Site, Old Station Yard, Redbourn”. Further copies of letters and e-mails being written to Mr R Egan at Hertfordshire County Council, and officers of St Albans District Council were being received daily.
It was noted that the noise nuisance from Kanes Haulage had continued though not at the same rate, and residents were still keeping nuisance diaries. Mr Kane had submitted a retrospective planning permission to Herts County Council claiming that he has been grinding for 25 years. This has been refuted by residents who have lived nearby for the same number of years; grinding has only been happening since October 2010. It has always been a base for haulage vehicles with no permission to carry out any other business. County Cllr Crawley has been informed, and members asked the Planning Clerk to request her to check out the application for planning permission, and the progress on the environmental investigation into the resulting noise and dust . The Planning Clerk was also asked to let Mr Egan know that the grinding operation had started again.
12.3A letter from Cerda offering advice to Parish Councils in the positive management of the for Local Development Framwork process was noted.
13. ANY OTHER BUSINESS (None)
14 DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF NEXT MEETING: An extra planning meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday 1 June 2011, at 7.30 pm at the Parish Centre.
The meeting closed at 9.25 pm.
Signed: …………………………………………………… Date: ……………………………….
Minutes of Meeting held on 8 November 2010 remain draft until signedPage 1