Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M.Fearn, Gustafson, Sumner, Tonkiss, Howe and Gibson.

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 8 June 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Service recommending that the above application for advertisement consent for the display of a non-illuminated fascia and direction sign on the front elevation and a non-illuminated fascia sign on the side elevation and a free-standing non-illuminated sign post on the front forecourt be partially granted and partially refused for the reasons stated or referred to in the report.

Prior to consideration of the application, the Committee received a petition from Mr.Lee the applicant in support of his application and a response from Mrs.Tyldesley on behalf of the Planning Department.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the recommendation for partially granting the application be approved and the application be granted for the reasons stated and subject to the conditions referred to within the report; and

(2)      the recommendation for partially refusing the application be not approved and the application be granted for the reason: sign b was considered acceptable in terms of its impact on visual amenity and highway safety and subject to condition 1 referred to within the report.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Service recommending that the above application for prior notification procedure for the erection of a 15 metre high dual user telecommunications mast and associated ground based equipment cabinets be granted for the reasons stated or referred to in the report.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendation be approved and the application granted for the reasons stated or referred to in the report.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Service recommending that the above application for alterations to units 6-10 Sherwood House (to form a single retail unit) comprising - the installation of a new shopfront with ATM, air-conditioning and chiller units plus a 2.4 metre high fence to the rear and external works be granted for the reasons stated or referred to in the report.

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

Councillors Porter and Jones, as Ward Councillors, made representations on behalf of objectors against the proposed development.

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.

Reports of the Head of Planning Services

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 Service’s report and/or Late Representations; and

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

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Service recommending that the above application for outline planning permission with all matters reserved for the erection of a pair of semi-detached properties on land to the rear of 10 & 12 Shaws Road be granted for the reasons stated or referred to in the report.

RESOLVED:

That the consideration of the item be deferred to enable the site to be inspected by the Visiting Panel.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Service recommending that the above application for:

                             (i)          The reduction in height and extent of mobile sand dunes at Crosby through the removal of up to 30,000 cubic metres of sand;

                            (ii)          The transport of the removed sand along a temporary haulage route to Hightown;

                           (iii)          The placement of transported sand to reinforce the existing sand dunes at Hightown to their 1979 seaward extent;

                          (iv)          The removal of the existing hard defence at Blundellsands Sailing Club and its replacement with a new revetment structure; and

                           (v)          The placing of a rock armour groyne to the North of the Hightown frontage.

be delegated to Head of Planning Service to approve subject to confirmation of the view of Natural England as detailed  within the report.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendation be approved and the consideration of the application be delegated to Head of Planning Service to approve, subject to confirmation of the view of Natural England, as detailed within the report.

Report of the Head of Planning Services

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Service that sought the Committee’s views on the Government’s consultation paper entitled “Planning for Travellers”. Detailed within the report were proposed responses to the consultation paper to be sent to the Department of Communities and Local Government as the Council’s response to the consultation.

RESOLVED:

That the responses to the Planning for Travellers consultation paper, as detailed within the report, be sent to the Department of Communities and Local Government as the Council’s response to the consultation.

Joint Report of the Director of Built Environment and the Head of Planning Services

The Committee considered the joint report of the Director of Built Environment and the Head of Planning Service that provided information on the key findings for Sefton of the Housing and Economic Development Evidence Base Overview Study, in order that this document could inform the evidence base for the Local Development Framework and specifically the ongoing Options Consultation Stage of the emerging Core Strategy.

RESOLVED:

That the key findings of the study to review the Housing and Economic Development Evidence Base Overview Study, as detailed within the report, be noted.

Report of the Head of Planning Services

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Service that provided information to review the present procedures with respect to planning applications and recommend changes to improve the service to members of the public.  The report also detailed the consultation responses for pre-application charging and confirmed the introduction of charges for pre-application advice subject to Cabinet approval.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the proposals and recommendations with respect to planning applications and changes aimed to improve the service to members of the public, as detailed within the report, be approved; and

(2)      the Cabinet be requested to approve the proposals for pre-application charging.

Report of the Head of Planning Services

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Service that provided an update on the consultation taking place on the Core Strategy for Sefton. The report also sought the Committee’s view on what further consultation, if any, they would like to take place.

Three options were presented:

                                  (i)          directly notify every household and business in the borough;

                                 (ii)          increase in the number of ‘drop-in’ sessions; and

                                (iii)          organise focus groups to provide snap-shot opinion across the borough.

The Committee discussed the report and its addendum contained within Late Representations. The Committee concluded that option (i) costing in the region of £75,000 to £100,000 was prohibitively expensive and was consequently rejected. Option (ii), an increase in the ‘drop-in’ sessions was supported. Option (iii) the organisation of focus groups to provide snap-shot opinion across the borough, was supported subject to budgetary funding being identified.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the report and the above comments of the Committee be noted;

(2)      the Head of Planning Service be requested to progress option (ii); and

(3)      subject to the identification of budget funding, the Head of Planning Service be requested to progress option (iii).

Report of the Head of Planning Services

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning Service that advised of the progress on appeals lodged with the Planning Inspectorate.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.