Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Atkinson, Dodd, Griffiths, Mahon, Tonkiss and Tweed, and Councillors Brady, Friel, Gibson and Page (Substitute Members)

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

The following declarations of interest were received:

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 April 2012 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Services recommending that the above Prior Notification Procedure application for the erection of a 15m. high telecommunications mast, ground based equipment cabinet and ancillary apparatusbe granted subject to the conditions and for the reasons stated or referred to in the report. A number of further objections to the application had been circulated in the Late Representations document together with a letter from Formby Parish Council objecting to the application.

Prior to consideration of the application, the Committee received a petition from Mr. Doyle on behalf of objectors against the proposed development and a response by the applicant’s agent, Mr. Schofield.

RESOLVED:

That this item be deferred for further consideration of the representations submitted under Late Representations and, in view of the deadline for the decision to be made, the item be referred to the Urgent Referrals Sub-Committee with a recommendation that a meeting take place prior to 29 May 2012.

RESOLVED:

That the following applications be approved, subject to:-

(i)         the conditions (if any) and for the reasons stated or referred to in the Head of Planning Services’s report and/or Late Representations; and

(ii)        the applicants entering into any legal agreements indicated in the report or Late Representations:

Report of the Head of Planning Services

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Serviceson the results of the undermentioned appeals and progress on appeals lodged with the Planning Inspectorate.

Members referred to the appeals involving Houses in Multiple Occupation which had been successfully defended and expressed thanks to the officers concerned in achieving a successful outcome.

RESOLVED:  

That the report be noted.

Report of the Head of Planning Services

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Services on the enforcement workload of his Department for the period January to March 2012 and which updated on the progress of cases where formal action had been taken/authorised.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       the volume of enforcement activity and progress as set out in the schedules attached to the report be noted; and

(2)       the areas of outstanding enforcement/monitoring work as set out in paragraphs 1 to 6 of the report and the action being taken, be noted.

To consider passing the following resolution:

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the Press and Public.

RESOLVED:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the press and public.

Report of the Head of Planning Services

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Services informing members of an on-going investigation in connection with unauthorised importation of waste materials.

RESOLVED: That the report and proposed action to be taken be noted.