STOWMARKET TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the PLANNING, CONSULTATION & STRATEGY COMMITTEE held in the John Milton Room, Milton House, Milton Road South, Stowmarket on Wednesday, 17th February, 2016 at 7.00pm.

Present: Councillor Mrs L M Mayes (Chair)

Councillors: G Betts-Davies

G M Brewster

J W C Curle

N G K Gowrley

B Humphreys MBE

D J Muller

Mx M G S N Row

B J Salmon

Mrs H Salmon

In attendance: Ms M L Marshall (Deputy Town Clerk)

Present: Mr M Allcock (Financial Administrator)

Mrs N Davies (Meeting Place Communications)

Mr R Eburn (Hopkins Homes)

Mr W Lusty (Savills)

315. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND NOTIFICATION OF SUBSTITUTIONS

An apology for absence was received from Councillor G Green.

Councillor N G K Gowrley attended the meeting in the absence of Councillor G Green.

316. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY OR NON-PECUNIARY INTERESTS

Councillor G M Brewster declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 320, items for planning permission, as a Member of Mid Suffolk District Council’s Development Control Committee A.

Councillor B Humphreys MBE declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 320, items for planning permission, as a Member of Mid Suffolk District Council’s Development Control Committee B.

Councillor Mrs L M Mayes declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 320, items for planning permission, as a Member of Mid Suffolk District Council’s Development Control Committee A.

Councillor D J Muller declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 320, items for planning permission, as a Member of Mid Suffolk District Council’s Development Control Committee B.

317. DISPENSATIONS IN RESPECT OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS

There were none.

318. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 3RD FEBRUARY, 2016

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the 3rd February, 2016 be approved and signed as a correct record.

319. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF 300 HOMES ON LAND SOUTH OF UNION ROAD

A presentation was received by Mr Robert Eburn of Hopkins Homes and Mr Will Lusty of Savills regarding a proposal to build 300 homes on land at the south of Union Road.

The site for the proposed new homes had been classified as a Reserved Site in the Stowmarket Area Action Plan.

An exhibition was held in December, 2015 and 100 people had attended, many of whom had provided feedback to the proposals including concerns of increased traffic movements. Following on from the exhibition, the developers had held discussions with Mid Suffolk District Council Planning Officers and had been working on a Development Brief.

Councillor B J Salmon raised the issue of the footpath on the south side of Finborough Road not being continuous. He spoke of the fact that Councillor Stephen Searle had set aside funds to create a crossing on Finborough Road near to the High School but said that there was no funding available to address the footpath issue.

Councillor B Humphreys MBE enquired whether there was scope to create a southern exit point upon Finborough Road. Mr Eburn confirmed that he had spoken to Suffolk County Council Highways regarding that matter, however, they had not felt that there would have been a significant benefit to the creation of such an exit.

Councillor G Betts-Davies enquired whether improvements would be made to the existing drainage system and the foul water system as it was unable to cope. Mr Eburn confirmed that conversations had already taken place with Anglian Water regarding the matter.

Councillor Mrs L M Mayes thanked Mrs Davies, Mr Eburn and Mr Lusty for taking the time to attend the meeting.

320. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

i) New Applications

Councillors G M Brewster, B Humphreys MBE, Mrs L M Mayes and D J Muller requested that it be noted that:

i)  their views were expressed on the limited information before them;

ii)  they will reserve judgement and the independence to make up their own mind on each separate proposal based on their overriding duty to the whole community and not just to the people in that area, ward or parish as and when it goes before the Mid Suffolk District Council’s Planning Committee and they hear all of the relevant information; and

iii)  they will not, in any way, commit themselves as to how they or others may vote when the proposal goes before the Mid Suffolk District Council’s Planning Committee.

Ref. No. / Details / Site & Applicant / Comments
0195/16 / Outline application for residential development of up to 75 dwellings and a new vehicular access off the B1115. All matters to be reserved with the exception of main site access. / Land west of Thorney Green Road for New Hall Properties (Eastern) Ltd. / RESOLVED: That no comments be made on the application.
0330/16 / Erection of single-story extension to rear elevation, with link to detached garage; Erection of new porch. / 5 Lowry Way for Mr D Angrave. / RESOLVED: That no objection be raised to the grant of planning consent. Councillors G M Brewster and Mrs L M Mayes abstained from the vote.
0392/16 / Erection of a two storey front extension and single storey side extension following demolition of existing single storey front porch. / 5 Boxford Close for Mr and Mrs Cooke. / RESOLVED: That no objection be raised to the grant of planning consent. Councillors B Humphreys MBE, Mrs L M Mayes and D J Muller abstained from the vote.
0477/16 / Erection of extension at first floor level (over existing garage); Erection of porch (following removal of existing porch). / 12 Combs Wood Drive for Mrs S Long. / RESOLVED: That no objection be raised to the grant of planning consent. Councillors B Humphreys MBE, Mrs L M Mayes and D J Muller abstained from the vote.
0480/16 / Erection of home office/studio in garden following demolition of summer house. / 4 River Gardens for Dr J Gardiner. / RESOLVED: That no objection be raised to the grant of planning consent. Councillors G M Brewster, B Humphreys MBE and D J Muller abstained from the vote.

ii) Decisions on applications previously considered

Ref. No. / Granted
4219/15 / Granted
4325/15 / Granted
4359/15 / Granted

iii) New Tree Preservation Orders

There were none.

iv) Other applications in hand but not listed

There were none.

321. ITEMS OF REPORT AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE

Councillor D J Muller reported that, at an earlier meeting of Mid Suffolk District Council’s Development Control Committee B, application 3308/15 - Erection of 97 dwelling houses and apartments, associated roads, car parking, public open space and landscaping including vehicle access from Wagtail Drive and cycleway access from Stowupland Road, had been refused planning permission.

Councillor D J Muller reported that, at an earlier meeting of Mid Suffolk District Council’s Development Control Committee B, application 4063/15 – Store extension, had been granted planning consent.

The meeting closed at 7.58pm.

CHAIRMAN

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