Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Barber, Connell and Sumner.

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 declaration of interest was received:

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on the 10 March 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

Mr.J.Alford, Assistant Director Regulatory Services, Planning and Economic Regeneration Department indicated that this application had gone to appeal and would to need to be discussed as an urgent matter by the Planning (Urgent Referrals) Committee.

RESOLVED:

That a meeting of the Planning (Urgent Referrals) Committee be convened to consider the Council’s position with regard to the appeal.

The Planning and Economic Development Director reported that this application had been withdrawn.

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director recommending that the above application for the installation of a dwarf wall and railings to a maximum height of 1.7m to the front of the dwellinghouse be approved, subject to the conditions and reasons stated or referred to in the report.

Prior to consideration of the application, the Committee received a petition from Mr.Egginton on behalf of objectors against the proposed development and a response from Mr. Hayden on behalf of the applicant.

RESOLVED:

That the application be approved and the application be granted subject to the conditions referred to in the report.

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director recommending that the above application for the construction of six semi-detached two storey dwellings and access road be approved, subject to the conditions and reasons stated or referred to in the report.

Prior to consideration of the application, the Committee received a petition from Mrs. Green on behalf of objectors against the proposed development and a response from Mr. Percy on behalf of the applicant.

Councillor C.Mainey as Ward Councillor, made representations against the proposed development.

RESOLVED:

That consideration of the above application be deferred to allow Officers to submit further information regarding the impact on green space, the highway and flood risk.

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director recommending that the above application for the change of use to a hot food take-away and construction of an access ramp to the front of the premises be approved, subject to the conditions and reasons stated or referred to in the report.

RESOLVED:

That the application be approved and the application be granted subject to the conditions referred to in the report.

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director recommending that the above application for the conversion of five apartments including the erection of a part two and a half – part two storey extension to the side and two storey extension to the rear, new basement access and car parking to the rear, be approved, subject to the conditions and reasons stated or referred to in the report.

Prior to consideration of the application, the Committee received a petition from Mr.B.Webster on behalf of objectors against the proposed development and a response from Mr. Healey on behalf of the applicant.

Councillor Cluskey as Ward Councillor, made representations against the proposed development

RESOLVED: That

The recommendation be not approved and the application be refused as the proposed development would conflict with Sefton UDP Policies CS3, H10 and MD2 in that it would cause significant harm to the character of the area and be detrimental to the amenities of nearby residents by reason of the scale, size and overbearing nature of the proposed extension and noise, disturbance and loss of security from the proposed car park at the rear.

RESOLVED:

That the following applications be approved, subject to:-

(1)       the conditions (if any) and for the reasons stated or referred to in the Planning and Economic Development Director’s report and/or Late Representations 1 and 2; and

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

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director which advised that the undermentioned sites had been inspected by the Visiting Panel on 6 April, 2010.

RESOLVED:

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

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director on the results of the undermentioned appeal and progress on appeals lodged with the Planning Inspectorate.

Late Representations referred to appeals lodged in relation to Pendle View, Litherland and Formby Football Club.

RESOLVED:

That the report on the results of appeals and progress on appeals lodged with the Planning Inspectorate be noted.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No. 17 of 16 December 2009, the Committee considered report of the Planning and Economic Development Director seeking approval for the appointment of new retail consultants for the period to the end of 2014/15.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet be recommended to appoint WYG as retained Retail Consultants to the Council for the period 2010/11 to 2014/15.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director outlining the purpose and proposed content of the fifth Local Development Scheme (LDS) and seeking approval for the submission of the draft document to Government Office North West.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet be recommended to;-

(1)       approve the draft Local Development Scheme, available to view at www.sefton.gov.uk/LDS for submission to Government Office Northwest; and

(2)       authorise the Planning and Economic Development Director to make any changes required as a result of discussion with Government Office and any minor editorial or presentational changes. 

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director advising of the appointment of consultants to validate the green Belt Study and the implications this would have on the Preferred Options stage of preparation of the Core Strategy.

RESOLVED:

That the appointment of Envision as consultants to validate the Council’s Green Belt Study, undertaken jointly with Knowsley Borough Council be endorsed.

Report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director

Further to Minute No.78 of the meeting of Cabinet Member – Communities held on 31 March 2010, the Committee considered the joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director and the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director that explained the requirement on the local authority to secure additional pitch provision for gypsies and travellers; sought approval for the methodology for site appraisal and selection; explained the process and likely timescale for site appraisal and submission of an application for gypsy and traveller site grant; and sought delegated authority for the relevant Directors to make and submit an application for site grant should a suitable site (or sites) be identified, subject to subsequent endorsement by Cabinet.

Attached as an annexe to the report was a Scoring Framework / Methodology for the appraisal and selection of potential Gypsy and Traveller sites in Sefton.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the report and the need to secure additional pitch provision (transit and permanent) for Gypsies and Travellers be noted;

(2)       the Cabinet be recommended to approve the methodology for site appraisal and selection as detailed within the report and its annexe;

(3)       the Cabinet be recommended to authorise the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director, in consultation with the Planning and Economic Development Director, to make minor changes to the scoring framework if early consultations with key partners/stakeholders show that this is necessary; and

(4)       Area Committees be consulted prior to the Planning and Economic Development Director and the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director drafting a further report regarding potential sites