Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Bridgett, Councillor Thorne, Councillor Pattison, and Councillor Watson

Minutes of the meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Council held on Thursday, 22 September 2022, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.?? 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Council held on Thursday, 22 September, as circulated, were confirmed as a true record and were signed by the Chair.? 

Councillor Hardy – Vice Chair, Planning - in the chair.

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

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 this was noted.  

New detached house for permanent residence

Land West of Radcliffe Park, Radcliffe Park, Bamburgh, NE69 7AN

New detached house for permanent residence.
Land West of Radcliffe Park, Radcliffe Park, Bamburgh, NE69 7AN

J. Hudson – Senior Planning Officer, introduced the application and gave the following updates:

·       A late representation from Bamburgh Parish Council had been submitted and included the following information:

                        i.         The proposed site sat behind the corner between the larger detached houses at the entrance to Radcliffe Park, and the houses on Radcliffe Road, which were all large, individual detached houses. The entrance to Radcliffe Park was dominated by West house, a 3-storey house much taller than the proposed dwelling.

                       ii.         The driveway of the proposed dwelling entered a quiet cul-de-sac along with the driveways of the 2 other detached houses. The Conservation Officer stated, “The dwelling would not integrate into existing highway routes easily.” That statement would not hold up to scrutiny.

                     iii.         The Parish Council had concerns with the response of Highways. The response seemed to prioritise sustainability, not their stated aims to check that the proposal would not result in an adverse impact on highway safety. There was a fundamental presumption in favour of the development but based on Highways reading, that being in a location which is reliant on a private car, and which does not provide a genuine choice of transport modes, there was an objection to the development. The basis for objection covered not only the application, but vast swathes of rural Northumberland.

                     iv.         Highway concerns seemed misplaced; in that they had highlighted sustainability over road safety. The building would be constructed to contemporary standards with high levels of insulation. It would be heated by a ground source heat pump, working in combination with a ground mounted solar panel array.

                      v.         Inconsistencies eroding public confidence in the planning system. When Highways were consulted regarding a proposal to build 10 houses at the Friars, just up from Radcliffe Road, they made no objections.

                     vi.         The AONB supported the application on the grounds that it would make a positive contribution to sustainable communities in the Neighbourhood Area.

                    vii.         Bamburgh Parish Council supported the proposal as the North Northumberland Coastal Communities Plan, which should take great weight in planning matters.

·       A late objection from the ecologist stating that original comments were made on 31/03/22 with no objection to planning conditions, however they had since submitted an objection as they had been recently contacted by a consultant ecologist who had identified evidence of protected species on land. Therefore, considering new information there was a strong possibility that the proposed development may result in the loss of important foraging and habitat for the protected species.
To fully consider the impact, a re-assessment was required.

·       Following the late objection from the ecologist, the applicant responded with the following information:

                                          i.         The development was designed so that substantial areas of grassland were being retained, providing a fenced area of undisturbed land.

                                         ii.         The mitigation within the application documents was considered appropriate by the County Ecologist.

                                       iii.         The proposed mitigation included a requirement for a Construction  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

Land at rear of Neston and The Nook, Pondicherry, Rothbury, Morpeth, NE65 7YS

Tree Preservation Order 2020 (no. 5 of 2020)

Land at rear of Neston and The Nook, Pondicherry, Rothbury, Morpeth, NE65 7YS

Tree Preservation Order 2020 (no. 5 of 2020)

V. Cartmell – Planning Area Manager, introduced the application with the following update:

·       A late representation had been submitted in support of the order.

Following members questions to the planning officer, the following information was provided:

·       A Tree Officer had completed an assessment on the trees and found that they were worthy of protecting.

·       Tree Officers no longer had the capacity to consult on future TPOs.

·       The Tree Officer had taken into account the localised decay and had incorporated that into the report.

Councillor Castle proposed to confirm the Tree Preservation Order, this was seconded by Councillor Swinbank.

Councillor Mather raised as a Point of Order, if the North Northumberland Local Area Council could write to the Head of Planning to ask if there could be money allocated to fund a Tree Officer role in planning, this was agreed by Councillor Hill. 

A vote was taken as follows: FOR; 8, AGAINST; 0, ABSTAIN; 1 
 
RESOLVED that the Tree Preservation Order be CONFIRMED without modification.  

To extend the time period for the expenditure of Healthcare contributions for a further three years.

Land North of Benlaw Grove, Main Street, Felton, Northumberland

To extend the time period for the expenditure of Healthcare contributions for a further three years.

Land North of Benlaw Grove, Main Street, Felton, Northumberland

V. Cartmell – Planning Area Manager, introduced the report to members.

Following questions from Members to the Planning Officers, the following information was provided:

·       Both parties of the S106 were content with the recommendation.

·       The healthcare contributions were to go towards a new surgery for Felton.

·       At the end of 2025, if not given to healthcare, the money will be re-allocated to affordable housing.

Councillor Hunter proposed to accept the variation of the section 106 agreement to allow 3 further years to spend the Healthcare Contribution, which was seconded by Councillor Seymour.

A vote was taken and was it was unanimously 
 
RESOLVED that the S106 variation was GRANTED.

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 this was noted.

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.

RESOLVED that this was noted.

The next meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Council is scheduled for Thursday, 17 November 2022 at Meeting Room 1, Berwick Leisure Centre, Northumberland Road, Tweedmouth, Berwick Upon Tweed, TD15 2AS

The next meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Council was scheduled for Thursday, 17 November 2022 at Berwick Leisure Centre, Tweedmouth, Berwick Upon Tweed, TD15 2AS

RESOLVED that this was noted.

To consider such other business, as in the opinion of the Chair, should, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.

Councillor Mather noted that in the report for 22/00666/FUL, Highways objection read “Object to the scheme as the proposed development is located in an unsuitable location reliant on a private car which does not provide a genuine choice of transport modes” – and asked whether a highways officer could attend the next meeting. V. Cartmell explained that the highways officer for the North Northumberland Area was on leave but would be attending the November meeting to discuss sustainable transport.

Resolved that this was noted.