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 and Environment) in respect of this application which had been the subject of a site visit on 18 April 2016.  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 application, which was for a joinery workshop to replace a building destroyed by fire, had been referred for Committee determination by the Local Member.  The main issues for consideration were the impact on the public footpath, drainage and noise.  He added that this proposal was for a building smaller than the one previously on the site.

            Ms. H. Arndt spoke against the application on the grounds of concerns about the drainage solutions for the site and the negative impact on the property ‘The Glen’.  She explained that ‘The Glen’ was a lower lying property than the joinery yard therefore water naturally drained onto ‘The Glen’ from the concrete surface and the concern was regarding the proposed shed and the surrounding concrete yard.  There was a current soakaway on the site which was omitted from the site maps and the application and it was unclear what would happen to the soakaway under the new plan but there would be a negative impact on the adjoining land.  She quoted from policy GEN 1 (d) and (i) and suggested that these had not been complied with in this proposal.  She felt that a soakaway was not a suitable solution for the site and was not a manageable solution for the rainwater at the Joinery Yard. 

            Mr. O. Jones spoke in support of the application on behalf of the applicant.  He firstly apologised for speaking at the site visit and explained his reasons for his comments.  He said that the applicants felt that the report was comprehensive and factual and asked that it be put on record the input from other departments within the Council particularly the Drainage Engineer.  He felt that the Council through its economic policy supported and encouraged such developments as this.  He refuted any allegations that this application would increase any drainage problems on adjacent land.      

Councillor Alison Halford proposed the recommendation for approval which was duly seconded.  She congratulated the officer for the report and indicated that the drainage proposals had been explained on the site visit.  The building was smaller than what had previously been in place and would bring employment to the area.  In seconding the proposal, Councillor Richard Jones said that the application need not have been referred to Committee for consideration and that it should be approved.   

            RESOLVED:

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