Agenda item

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Head of Planning with condition one being deleted. 

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning in respect of this application.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report. Additional comments received since the preparation of the report and an amended recommendation that Condition 1 was not required, were circulated at the meeting. 

                        The officer detailed the background to the report explaining that the application had been deferred at the meeting of this Committee held on 4 September 2013 to allow further discussions between officers and local Members/Community Council about a proposed footpath link from the development into the adjacent community council park and to clarify issues regarding the potential for an eastbound “off” slip road to serve Broughton from the A55.  Following these discussions it had been determined that a direct footpath link from the site into the park was not required.  However, if at a later date a link was considered to be required then this could be achieved over publicly owned land and consequently condition no. 7 mentioned in the recommendation to September’s Planning Committee had been deleted.  On the A55 slip road issue, it had been confirmed to local Members that the current application did not infringe the land which historically had been indicated as a possible slip road location.      

            Councillor Derek Butler proposed the recommendation for approval which was duly seconded.  He asked whether a bond could be required for the provision of a future access across the old railway line.  In response, the Principal Solicitor said that financial arrangements of that nature could not be conditioned and the report indicated that access was not required at this stage.  Councillor Butler spoke about the existing hedgerow and trees and sought confirmation that the planting would be properly maintained if it was damaged during construction on the site. 

            Councillor Mike Peers said that at the September 2013 Committee meeting he had asked that a plan be shown which included the potential slip road but he said that this had not been forthcoming. 

            In response to the comments made, the officer said that a standard condition was included requiring the maintenance of the landscaping.  He said that an alternative access to Broughton had been suggested, running parallel to what was proposed in this application. The route proposed had however passed a safety audit so an alternative route was not needed and a bond was therefore not required.  On the slip road issue, he explained that the plan showed an area where the slip road would be situated: the area was adequate.  The Development Manager said the original owner had retained whatever land was needed for a proposed slip road so if it was needed it could be constructed and he confirmed that this application could be approved without affecting that piece of land. 

            Councillor Carolyn Thomas raised concern that in the past, ongoing maintenance of sites had been discussed prior to consideration of an application by Committee but it was now to be discussed following approval   She felt that this could cause future problems if it was not conditioned as to whether the developer would contribute to the ongoing maintenance.  Councillor Thomas felt that the issue should be considered at a future meeting of the Planning Strategy Group.  The Head of Planning agreed to include the issue as an agenda item at a future meeting of the Group.        

            RESOLVED:

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Head of Planning with condition one being deleted.