Agenda and draft minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Brough.

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.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests were received.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 16 October 2024.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Planning Officer recommending that the above application for the erection of a new brick wall, fencing and sliding gate to the front of the dwellinghouse (Part Retrospective)be granted subject to the conditions and for the reasons stated or referred to in the report and late representations.

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

Councillor Howard, as Ward Councillor, made representations on behalf of objectors against the proposed development.

The Chief Planning Officer reported at the meeting that as a result of comments regarding the dark colour treatment of the fencing the applicants had stated that the fence could be stained in a brown colour to match other fences in the area. This could be included as part of the approved plans.  Members discussed the proposal and expressed the view that the wall and fence as erected was considered acceptable and did not need to be clad with fencing (as proposed).

RESOLVED:

That a decision on the application be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer following discussion with the applicant to allow the plans to be amended to reflect the current appearance of the wall/fence as erected.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Planning Officer recommending that the above application for the change of use from a dwellinghouse (Class C3) to a children's home for up to 2 children (Class C2) be granted subject to the conditions, signing of a s.106 legal agreement, and for the reasons stated or referred to in the report and late representations.

Arising from the discussion members considered the appropriateness of such a development in this particular area and noted the comments of Merseyside Police regarding crime and antisocial behaviour which were set out in Late Representations.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendation be not approved and the application be refused for the reason that the introduction of such a proposal in an area of high crime would be detrimental to the future residents contrary to policy EQ1 within the Sefton Local Plan.

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 11 November 2024.

RESOLVED:

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