Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Waterfield.

Members are requested at a meeting where a disclosable pecuniary interest or personal interest arises, which is not already included in their Register of Members' Interests, todeclare any interests that relate to an item on the agenda.

Where a Member discloses a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, he/she must withdraw from the meeting by switching their camera and microphone off during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest, except where he/she is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of a dispensation.

Where a Member discloses a personal interest he/she must seek advice from the Monitoring Officer or staff member representing the Monitoring Officer by 12 Noon the day before the meeting to determine whether the Member should withdraw from the meeting room, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest or whether the Member can remain in the meeting or remain in the meeting and vote on the relevant decision.

In accordance with Paragraph 9 of the Council’s Code of Conduct, the following declarations of personal interest were made and the Members concerned remained in the room during the consideration of the item and voted thereon:

Minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Planning Officer recommending that the above application for the change of use of ground floor from retail (E) to a bar/café with the provision of outdoor seating (Sui Generis) be granted subject to the conditions and for the reasons stated or referred to in the report.

Councillor Atkinson, as Ward Councillor, made representations on behalf of objectors against the proposed development and a response was received from the applicant.

Members discussed the application in detail and were concerned about noise from customers consuming drinks and spilling out onto the pavement around the premises, especially in warm weather, and considered that it would be difficult to prevent or control this.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendation be not approved and the application be refused on the grounds of the unacceptable impact on the living conditions of the neighbouring properties through general noise and disturbance which was contrary to Policies HC3, EQ2 and EQ10 of the Sefton Local Plan.  

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Planning Officer recommending that the above application for Installation of a 20m high mast supporting 6 antennas, 2 no. 0.3m dishes and ancillary equipment, 2 equipment cabinets and development ancillary thereto be granted subject to the conditions and for the reasons stated or referred to in the report.

A previous application reference no. DC/2020/00477 had been granted on 11 May 2020 and the applicant had begun to implement the associated extant scheme with the installation of a cabinet but this was later removed. An amendment to condition 3 was consequently set out in late representations to cover this particular set of circumstances and a further minor amendment was circulated at the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendation be approved and the application be granted subject to the conditions and for the reasons stated or referred to in the report and in Late Representations and in the addendum to Late Representations and subject to condition 3 being amended to read:

“The mast and associated equipment for which prior approval was granted on 11 May 2020 under reference no. DC/2020/00477 shall not be erected / installed”.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Planning Officer recommending that the above application for the erection of a two-storey extension classroom block, extending of existing hall to new kitchen area and raising of hall roof; erection of single storey extension to form office with linking corridor extension, new playground area, expansion of car parking area, and installation of low level and perimeter fencing to match be granted subject to the conditions and for the reasons stated or referred to in the report.

Arising from the discussion, concern was expressed that the increase in pupil numbers and continued use of the pedestrian access to Summerhill Primary School would have a detrimental impact upon the living conditions of the residents of Grange Park. Members did not accept that any of the approaches outlined in the report to manage the noise and disturbance would be effective in addressing their concerns.  

RESOLVED:

That the recommendation be not approved and the application be refused for the reason that the proposal would result in increased noise and disturbance created by the comings and goings along Grange Park and would be contrary to Policy EQ2 2. c. of the Sefton Local Plan.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Planning Officer recommending that the above application for the demolition of all existing structures and erection of a Use Class E food store with new vehicular access from/egress to Formby Bypass (A565), new internal vehicular access road, car parking, servicing area, public realm, and hard and soft landscapingbe refused for the reasons stated or referred to in the report.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendation be approved and the application be refused for the following reasons

(1)           The proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, by virtue of the harmful impact it would have on openness and conflict with the purposes of including land within the Green Belt, due to the scale and mass of the proposed building, construction of the access and car parking and the associated activities of the proposed use. This harm would not be clearly outweighed by the other considerations, consequently very special circumstances do not exist to justify the proposal. The development is contrary to Policy MN7 of the Sefton Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.

(2)           Insufficient information has been provided to demonstrate that the proposed development would not have a severe impact on the highway network, not have an unacceptable impact on highway safety, or that it meets the minimum requirements for accessibility. The development is contrary to Policy EQ3 of the Sefton Local Plan, Policies GA2 and GA3 of the Neighbourhood Plan, the National Planning Policy Framework, and inconsistent with the Sustainable Travel and Development Supplementary Planning Document.

Members requested that it be recorded that the above decision was unanimous.

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

RESOLVED:  

That the report be noted.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Planning Officer which advised that the undermentioned sites had been inspected by the Visiting Panel on 24 July 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the report on the sites inspected by the Visiting Panel be noted.