Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Bridgett, Clark, Mather, Pattison, Renner-Thompson, and Seymour.

Minutes of the meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Council held on Thursday, 20 April 2023 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, 20 April 2023, as circulated, were confirmed as a true record, and were 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.

sures at the rear of this agenda letter.

Councillor Hill stated that had a personal but non-prejudicial interest in planning items 22/03112/FUL and 21/04453/FUL. Councillor Hill also advised that she had a personal and prejudicial interest in planning applications 22/03726/FUL and 22/03727/LBC and would leave the room while the applications were discussed and voted upon.

Councillor Hardy declared that he had a personal and prejudicial interest in planning application 22/03112/FUL and would leave the room while the item was discussed and voted upon.

Councillor Swinbank stated that he had a personal but non-prejudicial interest in planning application 21/04453/FUL.

Councillor Watson stated that while he was the Portfolio Holder for “Promoting Healthy Lives” he did not have any declaration of interest on applications 22/03726/FUL and 22/03727/LBC

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.?? 

Councillor Hardy explained that the agenda items would be moved to discuss planning application 21/04453/FUL before planning application 22/03112FUL to allow planning officers to leave the meeting.

RESOLVED that this was noted.

Temporary conversion of the Mobilisation Store to provide a 96-seat, cinema facility, including the sitting of a temporary toilet block adjacent to the building.

Berwick Barracks, Parade, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1DF

Temporary conversion of the Mobilisation Store to provide a 96-seat, cinema facility, including the sitting of a temporary toilet block adjacent to the building,

Berwick Barracks, Parade, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1DF

J. Sharp – Senior Planning Officer, introduced the application to members with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, it was noted that there would be a single presentation for both applications 22/03726/FUL and 22/03727/LBC, with a separate proposal, debate and vote for each application and public speakers were allowed 5 minutes to speak on 22/03726/FUL and 22/03727/LBC but given there was one presentation, public speakers were allowed to use the two 5 minute slots together as a 10 minute speaking slot for both applications.

The following updates were noted by committee members:

·       Condition 18 in the report had been removed.

·       Condition 19 in the report had been amended to read “The development shall not be brought into use until cycle parking shown on the approved plans has been implemented. Thereafter, the cycle parking shall be retained in accordance with the approved plans and shall be kept available for the parking of cycles for the duration of when the building is in use.”

·        Condition 21 was to be retained.

·       Condition 25 was to be retained.

·       Condition 10 in the report had been amended to read “Prior to the scheme being brought into use the applicant shall employ a competent acoustic consultant to assess the level of cinema noise emissions from the development at the boundary of the nearest noise sensitive receptors and the applicant shall submit a report based on the consultant's findings to the Local Planning Authority for written approval. 
The assessment shall confirm that a noise source of 85dB LAeq within the cinema shall meet the predicted noise level of 27dB LAeq at the boundary to the garden area of the nearest noise residential receptor. 
Where the A-weighted noise from a cinema soundtrack can be measured above the A-weighted ambient noise level at the Nearest Noise Sensitive Receptor, then appropriate mitigation measures shall be agreed and implemented in full within a timescale approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.”

·       There was an error in the report on paragraph 7.31 and it should have read “Policy ENV 9 requires that within a Conservation Area, it will be ensured that development enhances and reinforces the local distinctiveness of the conservation area, and respects existing architectural and historic character and cultural associations. If harm is identified as being "less than substantial" this will be weighed against any public benefit.

·       There had been a late objection which was circulated to members prior to the meeting, the objection included impact on residential amenity, noise, and impact on a heritage asset.

J. Montgomery and I. Madeley spoke in objection to the application and gave the committee the following information:

·       Berwick Barracks were a unique heritage to the town.

·       The Barracks may have been a convenient location, but it was a poor choice.

·       The application should be refused.

·       Residents would be blighted by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 158.

Listed Building Consent: Temporary conversion of the Mobilisation Store to provide a 96-seat, cinema facility, including the sitting of a temporary toilet block adjacent to the building.

Berwick Barracks, Parade, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1DF

Listed Building Consent: Temporary conversion of the Mobilisation Store to provide a 96-seat, cinema facility, including the sitting of a temporary toilet block adjacent to the building,

Berwick Barracks, Parade, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1DF

Councillor Thorne proposed to accept the officer’s recommendation to grant the application subject to conditions, this was seconded by Councillor Castle.

A vote was taken, and it was unanimously

RESOLVED that the application was GRANTED in line with the conditions set out in the report.

Councillor Hill returned to the meeting at this point.

Retrospective: Installation of Air Handling Unit within supermarket service yard. (note: the AHU had been re-programmed not to operate between 22.00 and 07.00 hours unless the internal temperate in the store drops below 10 degrees which will only occur under exceptional winter circumstances).

Asda, Main Street, Tweedmouth, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2DS

Development of 58no. affordable dwellings with associated infrastructure and drainage (amended description).

Land at Seton Hall, Ord Road, Tweedmouth, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2UT

D. Love - Senior Planning Officer, introduced the application with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation. The following update was noted by members:

·       The recommendations in the report should have referred to 100% affordable housing and should have read “That this application be GRANTED permission subject to the following conditions and a s106 agreement to secure the contribution of £35,670 towards Coastal Mitigation Service (CMS) and to secure 100% of the housing as affordable in perpetuity.”

·       An additional planning condition on the retention of boundary vegetation, to agree the exact locations of noise mitigation fencing, maintenance and enhance the existing boundary treatments, with the exact wording to be delegated to the planning officer.

·       A clarification that rented properties were identified as needed and that affordable rented were considered more appropriate than private rented. 

T. Stewart spoke in objection to the application and gave the committee the following information:

·       The application was the wrong scheme for the land.

·       There was no dispute that Berwick needed more affordable housing.

·       The site would be isolated from the other housing and the existing community in Tweedmouth.

·       Concerns about the smell from the nearby sewage works.

·       The access into the site was around a blind bend.

·       The site was adjacent to the East Coast Mainline and was part of the existing industrial area.

·       The trees on the site would not be maintained, 28 mature trees would be removed leaving one still on the site.

G. Davies spoke on behalf of Berwick Town council and gave the following information to the members:

·       There had been no playpark equipment in Five Arches Park since 2017, the playpark could be reinstated but the Town Council did not have a budget for the provision of new play equipment.

·       Berwick Town Council occupied two plots of land within the Five Arches Park and the allotments to the northwest of the application site. The Town Council had not been consulted as to whether the proposed acoustic fencing would overshadow the allotments.

·        Questioned how Condition 20 would be enforced.

·       The Town Council did not feel that their concerns had been fully addressed.

A. Willis spoke in support of the application and gave the committee the following information:

·       The site was previously developed upon.

·       The site was a brownfield site.

·       There had been a reduction from the 61 affordable homes originally proposed.

·       The application was well planned and attractive.

·       The application included energy efficient proposed homes.

·       There was an urgent need for affordable housing in Berwick.

·       The scheme was on a sustainable and accessible site.

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

·       The transport statements had been fully assessed, including a road safety audit which would be monitored by Highways.

·       The applicant had submitted a viability assessment confirming that they would be unable to contribute any monies towards education, open space and healthcare  ...  view the full minutes text for item 160.

Development of 58no. affordable swellings with associated indrastucture and draining (amended description).

Land at Seton Hall, Ord Road, Tweedmouth, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2UT

Retrospective: Installation of Air Handling Unit with supermarket service yard. (Note: the AHU has been re-programmed to not operate between 22:00 and 07:00 hours unless the internal temperature in the store drops below 10 degrees which will only occur under exceptional winter circumstances)

Asda, Main Street, Tweedmouth, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2DS

B. MacFarlane – Planning Officer, introduced the application with the aid of a PowerPoint Presentation.

I. Cordingley spoke in objection of the application and gave the committee the following information:

·       The AHU was originally in a plant room inside the store.

·       From their bedroom and living room windows, the AHU was visible and during the night it was reading as 90dBs.

·       The AHU was reprogrammed to not operate from 22:00-07:00 unless the internal temperature of the store fell below 10 degrees, but there was no assurance that it would not kick in to cool the store if the internal temperate rose to 30 degrees. 

G. Dodds also spoke in objection of the application and gave the committee the following information:

·       Nothing had changed from the last meeting and the AHU was still noisy.

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

·       The AHU had not operated in the past six months overnight except when a fault occurred.

·       The temperature inside the store was set between 18-20 degrees and it was highly unlikely that the internal temperature of the store would reach 30 degrees.

·       ASDA had employed an acoustical assessment officer, the officer had to follow a code of conduct and a code of ethics, and it was not in their interest to falsify information.

·       90dBs would be the level of sound which would be found in a nightclub.

Councillor Hill proposed to refuse the application stating that the noise issue had not been dealt with, it was not seconded, and the motion failed.

Councillor Watson proposed to accept the officer’s recommendation to grant the application subject to conditions with Councillor Thorne seconding the motion.

A vote was taken as follows: FOR;5, AGAINST; 1, ABSTAIN; 0

RESOLVED that the application was GRANTED in line with the conditions set out in the report.

Councillor Hardy retuned to the meeting at this point.

Councillor Hardy in the Chair.

As the meeting approached the 3-hour?limit Members were asked 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.?? 

Extension and conversion to provide 18No additional hotel rooms and improved pub/restaurant facilities.

Bamburgh Castle inn, Seafield Road, Seahouses, NE68 7SQ

Extension and conversion to provide 18No additional hotel rooms and improved pub/restaurant facilities.

Bamburgh Castle Inn, Seafield Road, Seahouses, NE68 7SQ

D. Love – Senior Planning Officer, introduced the planning application with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation. The following update was provided to members:

·       An update on the recommendation in the report to read the same as the title page. The recommendation should have read “That this application be GRANTED, subject to conditions and a legal agreement in relation to a Coastal Mitigation Service Contribution of £5,166.

G. Renner-Thompson had registered to speak as the Local Member and submitted a speech to be read out by an officer at the meeting, in accordance with the Public Speaking Protocol. The committee were given the following information: 

·       The issues surrounding the application remained the same as they did in August 2021.

·       The North Northumberland Coast Neighbourhood Plan was passed by referendum in 2018. The Plan covered the three coastal Parishes of North Sunderland, Bamburgh and Beadnell.

·       Policy 8 of the Neighbourhood Plan stated development within the settlement boundary would be supported only if “sufficient car parking space is provided within the curtilage of the proposed development to ensure no additional on-street parking on nearby streets”

·        The neighbouring estate to the hotel often had its entrance and estate roads blocked by inconsiderate parking on both sides of its narrow roads.

·       The Highways Development Team considered that nearby car parks were sufficient to cater for any excess parking that may overflow from the proposal however the Neighbourhood Plan specifically states that car parking spaces must be provided within the curtilage of the site.

·       The nearby carparks were Pay and Display and were often at capacity. The carparks were there for day visitors and locals to come in and support the village, not for overnight parking.

·       When carparks were full, the overflow would spread into residential streets.

·       The needs of tourism must be balanced with the needs of the local people.

Councillor Thorne proposed to accept the officer’s recommendation to grant the application subject to conditions, this was seconded by Councillor Castle.

A vote was taken as follows: FOR;6, AGAINST; 1, ABSTAIN; 0

RESOLVED that the application was GRANTED in line with the conditions set out 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 this was noted.

A comfort break was announced to allow officers to change over.

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;

2.           which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual;

3.           relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person

4.           relating to any labour relations matters/negotiations;

5.           restricted to legal proceedings

6.           about enforcement/enacting legal orders

7.           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.

No questions had been received.

This item is to:

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

(b) Consider reports on petitions previously received – None

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

(a)      No new petitions had been received.

(b)      There were no petition reports for members to discuss.           

(c)      No updates on previous petitions.

Councillor Thorne left the meeting.

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.

Highways

G. Bucknall – Highways Delivery Area Manager had provided a written update on highways which had been circulated prior to the meeting.

Local Services

B. Hodgson – Neighbourhood Services Area Manager, provided an update to members.

Waste Collections

Residual and Recycling waste collection services had continued to perform well. The team were in the final stages of completing a detailed review of all kerbside collection rounds.

Demand for the bulky waste service remained high however performance was good, and the service was being constantly monitored and booking slots adjusted accordingly.

The garden waste service had commenced for the year and was also performing well.

Grass Cutting

Grass cutting started in late March/early April, and the team had commenced cut three of the seasons. The wet weather at the start of the season had been challenging for the teams however they plan to recover during May.

Weed Control

Weed spraying was taking place in the area with the spraying of obstacles under way also, with blue dye added to solution.

Verge Cutting

Verge cutting works would take two months, running through June and July with the schedule remaining unchanged from the previous year.

There was 6.8 million sq. metres of verge to cut in the county, with the teams engaging local farmers to assist with the significant workload.

Members thanked Bob and the Local Services team for their continued hard work.

RESOLVED that this was noted.

The next meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Council is scheduled for Thursday, 22 June 2023 and is Planning only.  (This date is subject to the agreement of the Diary of Meetings at the Annual Council meeting on 17 May 2023.)

The next meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Council was scheduled for Thursday, 20 April 2023 at St James URC, Pottergate, Alnwick, NE66 1JW 

RESOLVED that this was noted.