Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) in respect of this application. 

                        The Chief Officer explained that the report informed Members of the First Minister’s decision in relation to the called-in decision of the Planning and Development Control Committee of 17 December 2014 where planning permission was approved.  The application was called in by the First Minister and an informal appeal hearing took place on 7 October 2015 where the Inspector recommended that planning permission be granted.  However, the First Minister disagreed and concluded the planning permission should be refused.  The main issues that had been considered were:-

·         The effect on the open countryside

·         Development Plan Policy

·         Previously developed land

·         Proximity to the settlement

·         Changes since the previous Call-in decision

In the conclusion at paragraph 6.12, it was reported that the First Minister reached a different decision to the Inspector on the issue of sustainability and it was suggested that as they had reached different views, the decision was finely balanced.  It was felt that the First Minister had not acted unreasonably and therefore there was little prospect of a successful challenge of the decision and the period to request a judicial review had also passed. 

            Councillor Owen Thomas said that the professional opinion of the Appeal Inspector had been to approve the application and he expressed significant concern about the involvement of the First Minister for a site for 12 dwellings which he felt were much needed.  Councillor Richard Jones said that he thought he knew what was classed as sustainable applications but this decision had made him doubt what he knew.  He referred to the application at Warren Hall and sought clarification on why there were differences in the determination of approval for that application and refusal for this site. 

            In taking a different view, Councillor Gareth Roberts said that he was encouraged that the First Minister had looked at this application in detail and on balance had determined that it should be refused.  He commented on some decisions made recently by the Planning Inspectors and welcomed the opportunity to be able to challenge the decisions made by Appeal Inspectors.

Councillor Mike Peers highlighted paragraph 6.07 on previously developed land and in referring to the Meadowslea site, queried whether the First Minister would have made the same statement on the application.