Issue - meetings

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment).

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning & Environment) in respect of this application which had been the subject of a site visit on 16^th November 2015.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.

                        The officer detailed the background to the report and explained that the site was located in the Conservation Area and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) designation.  A number of objections had been received which had been noted in the comments of the AONB but they had not raised any objections following the submission of proposed amendments to the application in relation to the removal of the gable end window. 

                        Councillor Nigel Steele-Mortimer, the Local Member, sought clarification on whether he was permitted to speak on the application.  The Chairman advised that at the previous meeting, he had exercised his discretion to allow Councillor Steele-Mortimer to speak notwithstanding that notice to speak had not been submitted.  The Chairman said he would exercise his discretion again on this occasion, but in future local members who were not members of the committee and who wished to speak must submit the requisite notice, or the Chairman may decide not to exercise his discretion to allow them to speak.

                        The Housing & Planning Solicitor confirmed that paragraph 22.2 of the Rules of Procedure of the Constitution required members who wished to speak on matters significantly affecting their ward to register 24 hours before the meeting and this was not a new rule.  He reminded members that on this occasion the Chairman had exercised his discretion to allow Councillor Steele-Mortimer to speak.  Councillor Bithell requested that all Members be advised of the requirement to register.  Councillor Carol Ellis suggested that Members be asked on the consultation form whether they wished to speak at Committee rather than needing to register separately.  The Housing & Planning Solicitor confirmed that a reminder could be sent to all Members about the requirement.

                        Mrs. S. Appleton spoke against the application.  She was the owner of the neighbouring property at Pen y Parc and strongly objected to the proposals due to the close proximity of the extension to her property.  She commented on the three different versions of the proposals and expressed concern at the officer recommendation of approval despite objections from the Local Member and Trelawnyd & Gwaenysgor Community Council.  The footprint of the extension took in all available land within the site and was extremely close to the shared boundary.  The report at paragraph 7.07 referred to extension being approximately 2 metres from the neighbouring property and Mrs. Appleton raised concern that the actual figure was not reported which she suggested was only 33 inches.  The proposal was overbearing and would create a narrow alleyway between the properties and the extension was being built off the wall.  She did not feel that this was reasonable and added that it did not comply with the Council’s policy on space around dwellings.  She asked the Committee to challenge the proximity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84