Agenda and minutes

16 members(7:5:1:1:1:1) (1 Con place to Ind)

Quorum - 4

Chair: T. Thorne

Vice Chair: M. Robinson

Terms of Reference and Powers

(1)      To exercise the powers and duties of the Council as Planning Authority

in relation to development management under the Town and Country Planning Acts and other associated/related legislation and in particular, but not limited to, those functions listed in Schedule1 to the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000, including the following matters which specifically require a decision by the Strategic Planning Committee:

?      minerals and waste planning;

?      development concerning major energy and physical infrastructure proposals such as wind farms;

?      planning applications involving more than 100 houses and/or more than 1,000 sq metres of commercial floorspace;

?      planning applications involving less than 100 houses and/or less than 1,000 sq metres of commercial floorspace which raise significant strategic planning policy issues;

?      planning applications linked to the Council’s statutory duties under separate legislation where issues of strategic importance are raised in terms of allowing the Council to fulfil its statutory duties; and

?      any other planning applications which represent a significant departure from the Development Plan.

Functions of the Planning Committee should include all decisions involving formal enforcement action.

All applications are to be determined by the Chief Planning Officer in accordance with the powers set out in the internal scheme of delegation except for the following which fall to the Committee to determine:

The Membership and Terms of Reference, as agreed by Council at the meeting on 26 May, had been circulated for information.  It was noted that Councillor M Swinbank had been appointed as the Green Party representative.   The Chair welcomed new Members to their first Strategic Planning Committee.

The Director of Planning advised that all Members had undertaken the mandatory planning training required except one Member of the Ashington and Blyth Local Area Council, who would complete the training before that Committee met for the first time.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

Apologies were received from Councillors Foster and Robinson.

The Minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on Tuesday 2 March 2021, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on Tuesday 2 March 2021, as circulated, be agreed as true record and signed by 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 the information be noted.

Construction of footbridge, works to public rights of way, construction of soft and hard landscaping, surface and subsurface drainage, utilities and other services, boundary treatment and other associated works.

Land South East Of Chase Meadows, Chase Farm Drive, Blyth, Northumberland

Construction of footbridge, works to public rights of way, construction of soft and hard landscaping, surface and subsurface drainage, utilities and other services, boundary treatment and other associated works.  

Land South East Of Chase Meadows, Chase Farm Drive, Blyth, Northumberland

G. Halliday, Consultant Planner introduced the application to the Committee with the aid of a power point presentation.  Updates were provided as follows:-

·        The report had not included information on the planned construction time.  The estimated construction of the bridge on site would be 10 – 12 weeks.  If consent was received it would be hoped to start on site in late spring/early summer 2022 with restoration to take place in winter 2022/23. 

·        Subject to the committee granting permission the applicant was prepared to meet with the residents backing onto the scheme and to discuss the detailed planting and screening proposals which would then be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for approval.

·        Condition 14 should include “Reason: In the interest of users of the Public Rights of Way. 

As this was the first planning committee for some Members following induction training, the Director of Planning reinforced how the report identified the key material considerations and policies.

Mr G Thompson addressed the Committee speaking in objection to the application. His comments included the following:-

His house backed onto the railway line, not exactly where the footbridge was proposed but to the south east, but he did see what went on a daily basis.  There were issues with the Public Right of Way (PROW), which he now felt was too dangerous to access with a dog due to young people going across the line to gather and drink alcohol with the result of lots of broken glass and antisocial behaviour occurring.  Reports were made on a regular basis to the Police on the antisocial behaviour with them attending and removing the offenders, with no further action taken.  The footbridge would only make this situation worse.  The public footpath on the other side of the rail line led across a farmers field and then to the A189 where a very difficult and dangerous crossing existed, however if you did manage to cross the A189 then it was impossible to access the PROW due to hedges and fences.  The other route of the footpath was across the edge of the golf course.  Neither the golf club or the farmer liked the PROW being used due to the amount of glass etc being left by the young people.   The proposed bridge was a bridge to nowhere and it would be of more benefit for it to be  provided over the spine road or if the footbridge actually went to the proposed station, but it did not.  He advised that residents did not object to the return of the passenger service along the line, which was very much welcomed, they only objected to the provision of the proposed bridge and another solution could be sought such as automated gates.

He disputed the figure quoted of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Full application for change of use from agricultural land to industrial site for the erection of manufacturing building with offices, show room, parking, for the re-location of existing business premises to a purpose-built new facility (revised description 17 05 2021

Land South West Of Bricksheds Junction B1342 Belford Station To Belford, Belford

Full application for change of use from agricultural land to industrial site for the erection of manufacturing building with offices, show room, parking, for the re-location of existing business premises to a purpose-built new facility (revised description 17 05 2021 

Land South West Of Bricksheds Junction B1342 Belford Station To Belford, Belford

H. Marron, Senior Planning Officer introduced the application to the Committee with the aid of a power point presentation.  She advised that an additional letter of objection had been received which was read to the Committee and highlighted concerns in respect of the staffing levels quoted in the report; the need for an updated traffic report due to the increased use of the junction as a result of tourism in the area and usage by heavy goods and agricultural vehicles; there were no policies to support the increased industrial/business capacity of Belford; and the extra noise and pollution that residents would suffer, especially the toxic smoke from the Company’s biomass chimney which has had a serious effect on the health of residents. 

As discussions were still ongoing with Highways England a revised recommendation was proposed as follows:-

“That this application be GRANTED permission subject to resolution of the objection by Highways England, the following conditions contained within the report, any additional conditions required by Highways England (with the wording of the same to be delegated to the Director of Planning) and a Unilateral Undertaking pursuant to s106 of the Town and Country Planning Act to secure the following legal obligation: Treelocate Limited will cease all operations within the current site once they have taken occupancy of the new site.”

The Director of Planning provided further information on how issues he had covered in the mandatory planning training for members were incorporated into the report and the differences between the previous application and this application. He highlighted the Highways England Holding Objection which ensured that highways issues were addressed prior to any approval of an application.  He continued throughout the discussion of the application giving examples of how the training related to the differing aspects of the report and how these could be taken into consideration. 

Mr J Wallace, Agent on behalf of the applicant Mr M Nesbitt, addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application.  His comments included the following information:

·       Treelocate was a leading manufacturer and distributor of artificial trees, flowers and foliage across the UK and internationally. The business was established in Northumberland 25 years ago and had opened a further site in Dubai in 2019.

·       Since 2019 the Company had exported to 34 countries and was looking to increase this to 25% of turnover, with clients such as Euro Disney, Disney and the Four Seasons Hotel Group plus other theme parks, hotels and shopping malls.

·       The Company had been on its current site in Belford since 2005 but had expanded and diversified over time with piecemeal development on the existing site to incorporate manufacturing, which was not sustainable as the business continued to grow.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

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.

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.

Councillor Flux highlighted the £150,000 contributions received for sport from developments within the South West Sector in Cramlington and £0.5m which had been mentioned at Cabinet that morning. Significant sums were coming into the area and it would be good to have updates on how this was being spent.  The Director of Planning advised that reporting of the s106 funding had been increased and he would be happy to provide a quarterly report to Cabinet as it was important to know where the money was being spent.  He also advised that it was expected that once the Local Plan had been adopted then more funding would be received.

RESOLVED that the information be noted and a quarterly report be provided to Cabinet

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