Agenda and draft minutes

J Foster, Vice-Chair Planning (in the Chair) advised those present of the procedure to be followed at the meeting. 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bawn, Darwin, Dunn and Jackson.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Council held on Monday, 9 January 2023, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Council held on Monday 9 January 2023, as circulated, be confirmed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required where a matter arises at a meeting; 

1. Which directly relates to Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (‘DPI’) as set out in Appendix B, Table 1 of the Code of Conduct, to disclose the interest, not participate in any discussion or vote and not to remain in room. Where members have a DPI or if the matter concerns an executive function and is being considered by a Cabinet Member with a DPI they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with the matter.

2. Which directly relates to the financial interest or well being of a Other Registrable Interest as set out in Appendix B, Table 2 of the Code of Conduct to disclose the interest and only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak at the meeting but otherwise must not take part in any discussion  or vote on the matter and must not remain the room.

3. Which directly relates to their financial interest or well-being  (and is not  DPI) or the financial well being of a relative or close associate, to declare the interest and members may only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak. Otherwise, the member must not take part in discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room.

4. Which affects the financial well-being of the member, a relative or close associate or a body included under the Other Registrable Interests column in Table 2, to disclose the interest and apply the test set out at paragraph 9 of Appendix B before deciding whether they may remain in the meeting.

5. Where Members have or a Cabinet Member has an Other Registerable Interest or Non Registerable Interest in a matter being considered in exercise of their executive function, they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with it. 

NB Any member needing clarification must contact monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk.  Members are referred to the Code of Conduct which contains the matters above in full. Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter.

Councillor Wearmouth advised that Cabinet had approved the finance for the solar car port, however this was normal Council business, he had not predetermined the application and therefore would take part in the application.

Councillor Dodd advised that he was a Member of Ponteland Town Council however he took no part in any planning discussions.

To request the committee to decide the planning applications attached to this report using the powers delegated to it. 

Please note that printed letters of objection/support are not circulated with the agenda but are available on the Council’s website at  http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Planning.aspx

The report requested the Committee to decide the planning applications attached to the report using the powers delegated to it.  Members were reminded of the principles which should govern their consideration of the applications, the procedure for handling representations, the requirement of conditions and the need for justifiable reasons for the granting of permission or refusal of planning applications.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

Change of use of existing portal frame shed from agricultural use to commercial mechanical workshop (use class B2) and construction of new store alongside for agricultural vehicles and equipment.

Land Adjacent To 7 Jackson Avenue, Ponteland, Northumberland, NE20 9UY

Change of use of existing portal frame shed from agricultural use to commercial mechanical workshop (use class B2) and construction of new store alongside for agricultural vehicles and equipment.

Land Adjacent To 7 Jackson Avenue, Ponteland, Northumberland, NE20 9UY

An introduction to the report was provided by T Wood, Principal Planning Officer with the aid of a power point presentation.   An update to Condition 4 was provided as follows:-

The first sentence should be deleted and replaced with “The hereby approved Commercial Mechanical Workshop (use class B2) is not permitted to

operate on Sundays or Bank Holidays, or outside the following times:”

Councillor K Overbury addressed the Committee speaking as a representative of Ponteland Town Council.  Her comments included the following:-

·       Ponteland was a small town which had separate areas for residential and industrial uses and generally welcomed businesses who created jobs within the town.  However this business was not in the right place and was not an appropriate use within a residential area which had a large number of families and narrow roads which were not suitable for larger vehicles.

·       The site had been used for business purposes for some years, however it had expanded and information on the type of business or opening times had not previously been available.

·       The application was contrary to the Ponteland Neighbourhood Plan (PNP) policy PNP 2 as it did not make a positive contribution to the surroundings.

·       Residents had serious concerns regarding the narrow road between residential properties which was used as an access for the site and also road safety concerns for families and school children in the area.

·       It would have an adverse effect on the value of properties in the area.

·       It did not accord with either the Northumberland Local Plan (NLP) or the PNP and therefore the Town Council objected to the application.

B Lomas, applicant, addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application.  His comments included the following:-

·       The work to be undertaken would be the repair and maintenance of vehicles and testing of components. If any of the work to be undertaken would cause a noise then the doors on the building would be closed.

·       The vehicles to be maintained were Eco 5/6 vehicles which had little emissions and it was hoped to be able to target the business towards the  maintenance of more electric vehicles and the maintenance of lithium batteries in the future.

·       The level of traffic had already increased within the vicinity due to the high levels of home deliveries and whilst the applicant himself could not control the speed of vehicles, there were signs stating it was a 20 mph area.

·       Work would be undertaken by appointment only and these could be arranged to avoid school times.

·       Tractors had been entering the site since the 1950’s and there had been no issues. 

·       He was the fourth generation of his family to live in the street and the sixth generation to live in Ponteland.  His grandfather kept livestock on the land which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

Resurfacing and realignment of the staff car park and associated areas. Construction of 800kW solar array supplying a 400kW battery energy storage system which will feed 120 electric car charging points. Construct a water attenuation system to improve drainage.

Staff Car Park, County Hall, Loansdean, Morpeth Northumberland NE61 2EF

Resurfacing and realignment of the staff car park and associated areas. Construction of 800kW solar array supplying a 400kW battery energy storage system which will feed 120 electric car charging points. Construct a water attenuation system to improve drainage.

Staff Car Park, County Hall, Loansdean, Morpeth Northumberland NE61 2EF

T Wood, Principal Planning Officer provided an introduction to the report with the aid of a power point presentation.   The following responses were provided to questions from Members of the Committee:

·       The drainage problems at the front of the building were unconnected to the improvements which were to be made at the rear car park.

·       There were to be 20 rapid chargers and 100 fast chargers provided.

·       There were no plans at present to restrict non electric vehicles from using the 100 fast charging spaces at the current time, however this might change in the future when electric vehicles were more widely used. It was thought the 20 rapid chargers would be reserved for fleet use.

·       Additional lighting columns were to be installed and therefore all spaces should be covered by lighting, however there was also a barrier which would prevent the area being used after the building closed.

Councillor Murphy proposed acceptance of the recommendation to approve the application which was seconded by Councillor Dodd.  A vote was taken and it was unanimously

RESOLVED that the application be GRANTED permission for the reasons and with the conditions as outlined in the report.

For Members’ information to report the progress of planning appeals.  This is a monthly report and relates to appeals throughout all 5 Local Area Council Planning Committee areas and covers appeals of Strategic Planning Committee.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

A short recess was held at this point to allow officers to join the meeting.  Councillor Dodd left the meeting at this point and Councillor Beynon took the Chair when the meeting recommenced.

This report sets out the details of the draft Local Transport Plan (LTP) programme for 2023-24 for consideration and comment by the Local Area Council, prior to final approval of the programme by the Executive Director responsible for Local Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Local Services.

D Laux provided an introduction to the report which set out the details of the draft Local Transport Plan (LTP) programme for 2023-24 for consideration and comment by the Local Area Council.   Final approval of the programme would be made by the Executive Director responsible for Local Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Local Services within the next two weeks.  It was confirmed that a 30 mph speed limit was to be imposed at Fenwick.  Councillor Murphy advised that it had been good to see a scheme come to fruition in her Ward which had reduced speeds and feedback from residents had been positive.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.