Agenda and minutes

Venue: Meeting Space - Block 1, Floor 2 - County Hall. View directions

Contact: Rebecca Little 

Note: PLEASE NOTE THAT ITEM 11 ON THE AGENDA HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. Due to Covid restrictions only those who have registered and are actively participating will be allowed access to the meeting. Any member of the press or public may view the proceedings of this meeting live on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/NorthumberlandTV. 

Items
No. Item

12.

DETERMINATION OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS pdf icon PDF 181 KB

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 no longer circulated with the agenda but are available on the Council’s website at  http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Planning.aspx

 

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED that this report was noted.

 

13.

PROCEDURE AT PLANNING MEETINGS pdf icon PDF 120 KB

Minutes:

The chair confirmed that members had watched the site videos before this meeting.

Planning application 20/01155S106 had been withdrawn from the agenda and would not be considered.

 

RESOLVED that this report was noted.

 

14.

DISCLOSURE OF MEMBERS' INTERESTS

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required to disclose any personal interest (which includes any disclosable pecuniary interest) they may have in any of the items included on the agenda for the meeting in accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council on 4 July 2012, and are reminded that if they have any personal interests of a prejudicial nature (as defined under paragraph 17 of the Code Conduct) they must not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room. NB Any member needing clarification must contact the monitoring officer by email at monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk . Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter.

Minutes:

Councillor Hunter disclosed a personal interest in item 9 and 10 on the agenda as she was the Town Clerk at Beadnell Parish Council but had taken no part in any debate and therefore would take part in the application. Councillor Pattison advised that she would be speaking as the Ward Member on applications 5 and 6 during the public speaking slot then leaving for the debate and vote of those two items.

 

15.

20/03446/VARYCO pdf icon PDF 309 KB

Variation of Conditions 2 (approved plans) pursuant to planning approval 19/03479/VARYCO in order to allow reduction in garage sizes plots 1,4,6,7; fenestration amendments to rear elevations; addition of natural stone quoins to all elevations.  Amendment of Condition 3 (Materials) pursuant to planning permission 19/03479/VARYCO to allow for discharge of details of materials. (Amended Description 16.02.2021). 

Farm Buildings East Of North Farm, Rennington Village, Rennington, Northumberland 

 

Minutes:

Members were advised that items 5 & 6 on the agenda were going to be a merged presentation but separate voting.

 

V. Cartmell - Planning Area Manager, introduced the application with the aid of a power point presentation.

 

An update was provided from Rennington Parish Council clarifying their comments on this application as follows:

·       The parish council strongly objected to the VARYCO orders of building materials at North Farm, Rennington and believed the materials they were planning to use should be refused.

·       The developer had continued with construction despite earlier comments having been drawn to the attention of the planning officer

·       The slate used appeared to be a blue Spanish slate of uniform colour which was not consistent with the character of the buildings in the surrounding area, contrary to the planning conditions.

·       The stone being used was of a yellow colour and was being laid in a single layer course, this was not consistent with other buildings in the village.

 

 

V. Cartmell also provided an update from paragraph 7.2 in the report, to confirm that the proposal also included an amendment to the materials condition as this was missing from paragraph 7.2.

 

S. Baggot addressed the Committee speaking in objection to the two applications. His comments included the following information:

·       The colour of the stone being used was a bright yellow, which would take decades to tone down. The colour and coursing of the stone were not sympathetic to the vernacular and were within the curtilage of a grade II listed building.

·       The reduction of the number of car parking spaces within the development, specifically the and the small size of these garages. The size of the garages would not be able to fit a family-sized car inside, which meant that residents would use street parking, reducing the number of spaces down to 15, 1.5 spaces per property.

·       The development was on the edge of a small village, which has no public transport, no local shops or services, residents would be reliant on their cars, likely resulting in two cars per household.

·       Developer has not tried to reach the sustainable objective set out in the NPPF with the lack of electric car charging point, and requesting that if the applications were granted, that there be an additional condition of a 16AMP charging point.

 

 

Councillor Dixon of Rennington Parish Council addressed the committee speaking in objection to the two applications. His comments for objection included the following information:

·       The inappropriate use of tiling and stone on the almost complete new build.

·       The objection in the relation to the stonework related to the bright colour and irregular shape and laying of the stone.

·       The tiling was blue, as against the original speciation of grey slate.

·       The materials and styling detail used has a negative visual impact on the appearance and character of the village and an adverse effect on the setting of the Grade II listed buildings that form the remainder of the site as well as the listed building opposite the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

20/03447/VARYCO pdf icon PDF 278 KB

Variation of condition 6 (approved plans) pursuant to planning permission 19/03478/VARYCO in order to allow reduction in garage sizes plots 1,4,6,7; fenestration amendments to rear elevations; addition of natural stone quoins to all elevations.  

Amendment of Condition 2 (Materials) pursuant to planning permission 19/03478/VARYCO to allow for discharge of details of materials. (Amended Description 16.02.2021). 

Farm Buildings East Of North Farm, Rennington Village, Rennington, Northumberland 

 

Minutes:

Councillor Thorne proposed to approve the application as outlined in the report which was seconded by Councillor Watson.

 

A vote was taken on the proposal to approve the application with the conditions as outlined in the report as follows: - FOR 6; AGAINST 5; ABSTENTIONS 0.

 

It was RESOLVED that this application be GRANTED subject to the conditions as outlined in the report.

 

Councillor Pattison returned to the meeting.

 

17.

20/04349/FUL pdf icon PDF 356 KB

Change of use of former farm buildings into 6no. accessible dwellings. Demolition of 2no. redundant barns along with construction of ancillary buildings to provide garaging and entrance porches.

Barnhill Farm, Guyzance, Morpeth, Northumberland NE65 9AG

 

 

Minutes:

J. Sharp – Planning Officer, introduced the application with the aid of a power-point presentation.

 

W. Byatt addressed the committee speaking in objection to this application. His comments for objection included the following:

·       The Environment and Design Team had concluded that this proposal would preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area, but their conclusion was flawed because their basic premise is wrong.

·       Guyzance had its own distinctive and special atmosphere, not mirrored elsewhere in South Northumberland. The residents believed that sandwiching six new dwellings in between the hamlet and the hall would destroy it

·       Six houses with 18 bedrooms created a 21st century Hamlet, and there could be no thought that this would enhance the vitality of the local community, as commended in the NPPF, because this was a second hamlet, was along a drive and behind an electronically controlled gate.

·       On 26 January 2021 the applicant told the residents that the new dwellings would be used as holiday lets, this would be unsustainable in a hamlet with no services, surrounded by narrow lanes.

·       The objector asked for a condition be included if approval was given for the new dwellings to be for residential use only and not to be used as holiday cottages.

·       The hamlet’s main access route was a long lane in a poor state of repair, and in places single track.

·       The applicant’s agent said that “the applicant intends that the hamlet and estate will be safeguarded through residential development” however there was another application to build new cottages on the small pasture in the hamlet.

 

Councillor S. Ingleby of Acklington Parish Council spoke in objection to this application. His comments included the following:

·       The conservation officer report was incorrect in stating that Guyzance hall was the fundamental reason for the conservation area. The conservation area put the village street and the hamlet as the core settlement.

·       The houses would be on private land, behind electric gates and would have little scope for interaction within the existing community.

·       There was concern for the proposed development of the long barn, it would not enhance the character of the barn but change it detrimentally.

·       Severe humanistic impact and a reason for refusal under the NPPF, due to lack of suitable paths for those with mobility issues.

 

 

P. Elder addressed the committee speaking in support of this application. His comments included the following:

·       He agreed with the Officer’s recommendation for the Committee.

·       He emphasised the importance of the estate as a whole which was a challenge to run and had previously been supported by agriculture and a new way of creating a sustainable was needed to be found.

·       Their clients long-term aim was to create an estate including a “green” hydro-power station which was currently under construction.

·       The existing building was a traditional u-shaped barn and hay barn, it was proposed to convert these existing buildings into dwellings, repairing and bringing these back into use and he quoted the comments from the Building Conservation Officer  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

21/01108/COU pdf icon PDF 183 KB

RESUBMISSION - Change of use to storage facility to be used for container, boat and caravan storage

Land North East Of Chathill Station, Chathill, Northumberland

Minutes:

J. Sharp – Planning Officer, introduced the application with the aid of a power-point presentation.

 

T. Carter addressed the committee speaking in support of the application. His comments included the following:

 

·       The site was a brownfield site and has accommodated various buildings in the past, however taking into account of the committee’s comments on the last application the applicant had amended the scheme to address those concerns.

·       The site would only be open between 6am and 10pm in order to protect residential amenity. These hours were similar to the operation of trains on the adjacent East Coast Mainline.

·       The containers would be of a single height and would be painted in a forest green colour to blend in with the landscape.

·       The applicant proposed a 2m high timber perimeter fence with additional landscape planting to further screen the site and enhance the setting.

·       The number of storage units had been reduced from 10 to 8 with the originally proposed compounds removed. This would reduce the visual impact and the impact on the setting of the historic assets.

·       The reuse of brownfield land was encouraged by the NPPF and the proposal would not have a significant detrimental impact upon the designated assets.

 

In response to questions from members, the following information was provided:

 

·       The proposed changes to the hours had been something offered by the applicant rather than something that had been imposed by Public Protection.

·       The applicant had indicated that he had a number of interested parties to take up the storage facilities as the nearest at the current time was at Belford.

·       The impact on the listed building had been taken into account with hedging proposed around the boundary and the drawing back of the built from the road would help lessen the impact.

·       The expectation was that the site would be used as a storage facility and could include a boat or a caravan. There would be some level of noise but not enough to disturb the surrounding areas, it would be an enforcement matter if somebody was running a business out of the site.

 

 

Councillor Pattison proposed to refuse this application on the grounds of:

·       Visual Impact

·       Residential Amenity

·       Impact upon Heritage Assets

 

This was seconded by Councillor Hill.

 

Councillor Thorne expressed his opinion on the opening hours of the application, stating that while the train station did make some level of noise, the level of noise from the site when complete would be constant.

 

Councillor Watson advised that he supported the officer’s recommendation in that the facility would be well shielded and it will not have an adverse effect on the village. Councillor Castle also advised he could not see that there was much wrong with the application.

 

A vote was taken on the proposal to refuse the application for the reasons as outlined above as follows: - FOR 6; AGAINST 7; ABSTENTIONS 0.

The proposal failed, and it was opened up to the floor for another proposal.

 

Councillor Watson proposed to accept the officer’s recommendation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

19.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS

Minutes:

As the meeting approached the 3 hour limit the Solicitor asked Members if they wished to suspend standing orders in order to continue the meeting.  Upon being put to the vote it was: 

 

RESOLVED that in accordance with the Council's constitution, standing orders be suspended and the meeting continue over the 3 hour limit. 

 

20.

21/00026/FUL pdf icon PDF 197 KB

Double garage extension and associated changes to access road and parking.

Nook End , 4 Bradshawgate Cottages, Swinhoe, NE67 5AA

 

 

Minutes:

V. Cartmell, Planning Area Manager   introduced the application with the aid of a power point presentation. 

Councillor C. Williamson from Beadnell Parish Council addressed the committee speaking in opposition to the application. His comments included:

 

·       Swinhoe was a small hamlet, consisting of two working farms and twenty-two dwellings, nine of those dwellings were holiday homes.

·       Beadnell Parish Council requested that this application and application 21/00368/FUL be deferred until drainage issues raised by the local farmer could be investigated by the local flood authority and the Environment Agency.

·       Northumbria Water had confirmed there were no public sewers in the area.

·       The farmer stated that the applicant intended to add surface water and treated effluent to his private field drain which discharged into the burn.

·       The applicant had not attempted to discuss the necessary improvement to the drainage system with the famer. 

·       The Parish Council requested a Grampian Condition for the applicant to remove all permitted development rights on the garage and prevent change of use to ensure that the building remained as a garage in perpetuity.

 

Following questions from members, the following information was received:

 

·       The Local Lead Flood Authority had not been consulted as the application was only for an extension to a garage.  Any impact on the drainage system would not be sufficient to warrant refusal of the application.

·       The double garage would be used for storing a vehicle and storage condition 6 would ensure that it was not to be used for another reason. 

·       If the applicant wished to change the use of the garage in the future, then a change of use application would need to be made.

 

Councillor Thorne proposed to move the recommendation to approve the application as outlined in the report which was seconded by Councillor Watson.

 

A vote was taken on the proposal to grant the application with the conditions as outlined in the report as follows: - FOR 10; AGAINST 1; ABSTENTIONS 0.

 

It was RESOLVED that this application be GRANTED subject to planning conditions as outlined in the report.

 

21.

21/00368/FUL pdf icon PDF 178 KB

Primary residency self build dwelling with workspace and garage.

Land North East Of Bradshawgate Cottages, Bradshawgate Cottages, Swinhoe, Northumberland

Minutes:

V. Cartmell introduced the application with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation.

 

Councillor C. Williamson of Beadnell Parish council addressed the committee speaking in opposition to the application. The reasons for opposition included:

 

·       The Parish Council requested a deferment in this application for the local lead flood authority and the Environment Agency to investigate the drainage issue which had just been raised by the farmer and as stated in the previous application.

·       The application was an overdevelopment of a small plot with little amenity space and would have an overbearing effect on a neighbouring property resulting in a loss of their light

·       The application would also result in the loss of public amenity land which had been used for 20 years by the children from the holiday park and as there was no footpath to Beadnell the loss of the land would increase the likelihood of pedestrians, especially children coming into contact with traffic.

·       The Parish Council requested the following conditions:

(i) Grampian Condition, to prevent the start of the development until offsite works had been completed on land not controlled by the applicant to ensure that the applicant provided modern drainage to the development and should state that no work should be undertaken before the drainage situation was resolved.  The farmer had indicated that he was willing to talk to the applicants in relation to this matter.

(ii) A S106 agreement that the self-build dwelling was used as a principal residency in accordance with policies 14 & 15 of the North Northumberland Coast Neighbourhood Plan.

(iii) A S106 agreement that the separate workspace building and garage to be used for business use only in perpetuity to prevent the Neighbourhood Plan being bypassed and the accommodation changed to provide holiday accommodation.

(vi) A condition preventing any roof lights in the building emit light spill during the hours of darkness to reduce the impact on the dark skies that the area enjoyed.

 

Following questions from members, the following information was provided:

 

·       It was not felt that it would be proportionate to refuse the application on the grounds of overdevelopment of the site as whilst there may not be a lot of amenity space there was ample space for the dwellings.

·       The green space amenity that the public had used was not publicly or council owned, it was owned by the applicant who was able to develop the land.

·       The LLFA has stated that there has been no flooding recorded on the environment agency flood risk maps, nor has anything been reported. It has not been identified as an area at risk of flooding.

·       The Environment Agency would not comment on the application as it was below their threshold.

 

Councillor Renner-Thompson advised of issues with the drainage in the area with one pipe which was at capacity and on occasions this did back up and was causing SUDs to fail. He proposed to approve the application with the conditions as outlined in the report and a Grampian condition regarding the drainage and an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

APPEALS UPDATE pdf icon PDF 169 KB

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. 

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the information be noted

23.

SECTION 106 UPDATE pdf icon PDF 137 KB

For Members’ information to report the agreement monitoring and collection of s106 contributions in the planning process.  This is a monthly report and relates to agreements throughout Northumberland during the previous monthly period.    

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

The meeting was adjourned whilst planning officers left the meeting.

 

24.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

To reply to any questions received from members of the public which have been submitted in writing in advance of the meeting. Questions can be asked about issues for which the Council has a responsibility. (Public question times take place on a bimonthly basis at Local Area Council meetings: in January, March, May, July, September and November each year.) 

 

As agreed by the County Council in February 2012, the management of local public question times is at the discretion of the chair of the committee.  

 

Please note however that a question may possibly be rejected if it requires the disclosure of any categories of confidential or exempt information, namely information: 
 

  1. relating to any individual; 
  1. which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual; 
  1. relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person 
  1. relating to any labour relations matters/negotiations; 
  1. restricted to legal proceedings 
  1. about enforcement/enacting legal orders 
  1. relating to the prevention, investigation of prosecution of crime. 
     

And/or: 
 

  • is defamatory, frivolous or offensive;  
  • it is substantially the same as a question which has been put at a meeting of this or another County Council committee in the past six months;  
  • the request repeats an identical or very similar question from the same person; 
  • the cost of providing an answer is disproportionate;  
  • it is being separately addressed through the Council's complaints process; 
  • it is not about a matter for which the Council has a responsibility or which affects the county; 
  • it relates to planning, licensing and/or other regulatory applications 
  • it is a question that town/parish councils would normally be expected to raise through other channels. 

 

If the Chair is of the opinion that a question is one which for whatever reason, cannot properly be asked in an area meeting, he/she will disallow it and inform the resident of his/her decision.  

 

Copies of any written answers (without individuals' personal contact details) will be provided for members after the meeting and also be publicly available. 

 

Democratic Services will confirm the status of the progress on any previously requested written answers and follow up any related actions requested by the Local Area Council. 

 

Minutes:

No questions had been received. 

 

25.

PETITONS

This item is to: 

 

(a) Receive any new petitions: to receive any new petitions. The lead petitioner is  entitled to briefly introduce their petition by providing a statement in writing, and a response to any petitions received will then be organised for a future meeting; 

          

(b) Consider reports on petitions previously received: no reports are due to be considered at this meeting.

 

(c)  Receive any updates on petitions for which a report was previously   considered: any updates will be verbally reported at the meeting. 

 

Minutes:

There had been no new petitions.

Councillor Renner-Thompson provided an update on a petition to resurface the bridleway from North Sunderland to Seahouses Primary School, that it had been successful, and the work would start in August 2021.

 

26.

LOCAL SERVICES ISSUES

To receive a verbal update from the Area Managers from Technical Services and Neighbourhood Services in attendance about any key recent, ongoing and/or future planned Local Services work for the attention of members of the Local Area Council, who will also then have the opportunity to raise issues with the Area Managers. 

 

The Area Managers have principal responsibility for highway services and environmental services, such as refuse collection, street cleansing and grounds maintenance, within the geographic boundaries of the Local Area Council. 

 

Minutes:

G. Bucknall - Lead Highways Delivery Manager provided a verbal update on north area highways. The update included information on the following

 

·       Resurfacing works in the North Northumberland area

·       Various traffic schemes such as 20mph zones

·       Bridges and structures schemes

·       Emergency situations

·       Pothole fillings

 


In response to questions from members, the following information was provided:

 

·       Bus shelter at Shilbottle would be in place in six weeks’ time.

·       A taskforce had been arranged for the upkeep of road signs and would be spending 4 weeks with an inspector to refresh road signs.

·       Grit bin refilling to start in October.

 

Members thanked Mr Bucknall and the highways team for all the work completed in the area.

 

 

B. Hodgson - Neighbourhood Services Area Manager provided a verbal update on North area neighbourhood issues. The update including the following information:

 

·       Mr Hodgson thanked the frontline staff for their continued hard work throughout last year during lockdown.

·       The residual and recycling waste services were continuing to perform well, garden waste services have been stretched several times with new housing buildings.

·       Growing conditions had increased the wait time between grass cuttings and the waste being collected due to extra journeys to the tip and composting facility during shifts.

·       Slightly behind with grass cutting and weed control due to the weather conditions from May into June.

 

Following questions from members, the following information was provided:

 

·       The Neighbourhoods Services aimed to empty litter bins and cleanse the areas at least twice a day on the coast. There was a nine-hour crew on a Saturday and Sunday with the aim of getting three rounds completed in a day.

·        There were no current plans to reduce the cleaning of Seahouses public toilets.

 

The members thanked Mr Hodgson and his team for their continued hard work.


Councillor Clark and Councillor Pattison left during questions from members.

 

27.

APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE BODIES pdf icon PDF 12 KB

To make appointments to outside body organisations within the Local Area Council’s remit.? A list of outside bodies is attached to the agenda for consideration.? 

 

Minutes:

Alnwick Playhouse Trust

Councillor Castle

Alnwick Sporting Club

 

Alnwick Town AFC – Board/Management Committee

 

Amble Development Trust

Councillor Clark

Councillor Watson

Butler Ember Charity

Councillor Watson

Eastern Borders Development Association

Councillor Hunter

Councillor Seymour

Glendale Gateway Trust

Councillor Mather

Holy Island of Lindisfarne Community Development Trust

Councillor Hardy

Lindisfarne Nature Reserve Joint Advisory Committee

Councillor Hardy

North Sunderland Harbour Commission

 

Northumberland National Park Joint Local Access Forum

 

River Tweed Commission



Councillor Hardy

Councillor Hill

Councillor Seymour

Seahouses Development Trust

Councillor Renner-Thompson

Tweed Forum

Councillor Seymour

 

28.

BERWICK REGENERATION PROJECT

To receive any update on the Berwick Regeneration Project.

Minutes:

No update

 

29.

MEMBERS LOCAL IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES 2021 - 2022 pdf icon PDF 1 MB

The Members Local Improvement Schemes for North Northumberland Local Area Council are provided for information only. 

 

Minutes:

In response to issues raised by Members in relation to the bureaucratic nature of the scheme, the Chair advised that the process would be raised at the LAC Chairs’ Briefing.

 

RESOLVED that this was noted.

 

30.

LOCAL AREA COUNCIL WORK PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 115 KB

To note the latest version of agreed items for future Local Area Council meetings (any suggestions for new agenda items will require confirmation by the Business Chair after the meeting)   

 

Minutes:

The Chair had requested Tony Kirsopp to attend the meeting to provide an update on Borderlands, however he had not been available for this meeting. He will be invited to attend the next meeting.

 

He had also requested that an item be included for the September on Youth Service Provision.

 

RESOLVED that the information was noted.

 

31.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 19th August at 3.00 pm.

 

Minutes:

The next meeting was scheduled planned for Thursday 19 August 2021.