Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair outlined the procedure to be followed at the meeting.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

Apologies were received from Councillor A Watson.

The minutes of the Strategic Planning Committees held on Tuesday 4 January 2022, as circulated, be agreed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings of the Strategic Planning Committee held on Tuesday 4 January 2022, as circulated, were agreed as a 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.

Change to use of car park to area of land to allow individuals to sleep in self sufficient Motorhomes

Car Park, Benthall, Beadnell, Chathill, Northumberland, NE67 5BQ

Change of use of car park to area of land to allow individuals to sleep in self-sufficient Motorhomes

Car Park, Benthall, Beadnell, Chathill, Northumberland, NE67 5BQ

J Sharp, Senior Planning Officer advised that his introduction would encompass all three applications at this Committee with separate discussions and decisions being taken on each.   A power point presentation was provided related to all three applications and updates provided as follows:-

·       Following publication of the agenda a response had been received from Natural England in connection with applications 21/03856/CCD and 21/03858/CCD advising that they had no objections subject to suitable mitigation.

·       An additional 2 objections had been received in respect of the Benthall application, planning reference 21/03855/CCD, detailing concerns that the proposal was out of character and it would become a camp site of which they were plenty already; the potential for anti-social behaviour and it would be better to stay where there were appropriate facilities; and questioned how any enforcement would work.

R Murfin, Interim Executive Director of Planning and Local Services advised that the applications for the three 12 month temporary planning permission would act like pilot schemes which had come forward in response to significant changes in tourism during lockdown and would allow for demand/take up of overnight sleeping in self-contained motorhomes to be assessed and would also inform what management and investment would be required to make any future schemes suitable.

Councillor G Martindale addressed the Committee, speaking as the Chair of Beadnell Parish Council.  His comments included the following:

·       Beadnell Parish Council supported the trial as a potential part-solution to address issues arising from the proliferation of motorhomes.  However they were concerned that requests for modifications to the proposal were not included as conditions in the report.

·       At present motorhomes were prohibited from parking overnight in Beadnell car park with signs advising of this prohibition however these were often ignored especially in the summer months which had resulted in many complaints and adverse comments being received from both residents and visitors.  The major reason for complaint was that the motorhome owners were seen to be abusing the car park amenity and getting something for nothing whilst not contributing to the local economy.

·       The Parish Council was strongly opposed to any groundworks of a permanent nature and requested that a condition be attached whereby the ground would be repaired and reinstated should the scheme not be made permanent. There had never been any significant damage to the existing ground whilst being used as the overflow car park and they did not believe that any groundworks were required, with the ANOB Officer having the same reservations.

·       The Parish Council also requested that the applicant be required to provide additional waste bins in the overflow area as the current four bins were already insufficient during peak months.

·       The Parish Council would also like to better understand the criteria by which the success of the trial would be judged and sought assurance that they would be fully consulted on any future proposals  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

Change to use of car park to area of land to allow individuals to sleep in self sufficient Motorhomes

Amble Braid Car Park, Amble Marina, Amble, Northumberland, NE65 0HH

Change of use of car park to are of land to allow individuals to sleep in self-sufficient Motorhomes

Amble Braid Car Park, Amble Marina, Amble, Northumberland, NE65 0HH

An introduction to the report and powerpoint presentation had been provided as part of the first application on the agenda.  

Councillor J Watson, Ward Councillor for the area spoke in support of the application.  His comments included the following:-

·       Councillor Wallace was right in that the reason the trial was being held was as a result of a Coastal Summit held a number of years ago which had acknowledged the problem of camper vans parking regularly and illegally and recognised that this must be stopped.

·       It was stated that the application site was technically in Warkworth and not Amble and that the application had been discussed at both Amble Town Council and Warkworth Parish Council when as a Councillor on both he had taken no part on any discussions.

·       The sites were pilots and would be easier to invigilate as currently this was not able to be done as there was nothing illegal about parking a campervan overnight on Amble car park just sleeping in it.  

·       Sites would need to be booked on the website including registration number and if any campervans parked had not booked then they could be issued with a parking ticket. 

·       He was not aware of any anti-social behaviour from people using campervans and advised that there was such a location in Warkworth where overnight stays were allowed and he was not aware of any reports of anti-social behaviour being received. The people using the campervans would use their own facilities.

·       A lot of the questions asked by Members and the Parish Council would have been answered if they had been party to some of the information which he had viewed but unfortunately this information had not come out as part of the application. This was a pity as it would have provided more details and assurance on how the pilot was going to be run.  All the sensible things would be done such as providing adequate waste bins etc. in order to ensure that the Council were able to learn from the pilot. 

·       The only point he questioned was in relation to flood risk as it there was a risk of flooding then the motorhome would just drive away from the area.

·       He had no objections to the application and felt that the Parish Council would not have had either had they been provided with all the information and he encouraged Members to approve the application.

T Barkwill addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application.  Her comments included the following:-

·       She had previously lived in Durham and Northumberland and currently lived in North Tyneside.  She had a static caravan in Northumberland as well as being the owner of a motorhome.  She loved living in the North East and was passionate about supporting the economic wellbeing of the region and believed there had never been a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

Change to use of car park to area of land to allow individuals to sleep in self sufficient Motorhomes

Land South West Of Bamburgh Castle Car Park, Links Road, Bamburgh, Northumberland

Change of use of car park to area of land to allow individuals to sleep in self-sufficient Motorhomes

Land South West of Bamburgh Castle Car Park, Links Road, Bamburgh, Northumberland

An introduction and powerpoint presentation had been provided as part of the first application.

In response to questions from Members of the Committee the following information was provided:-

·       The suggestion of users being directed to another site should the one they have tried to book was full was a good point and the type of issue looked at as part of the Northumberland Tourist Destination Management Plan.  This was a pilot and as such would not be linked to information on other sites as it would be a closed system, but that would be the intention in the future if the idea was progressed.

Councillor Darwin proposed acceptance of the recommendation to approve the application as outlined in the report with the additional conditions related to bins, signage and restoration of land as outlined in the previous applications, which was seconded by Councillor Stewart.

Whilst Members supported the application, it was stated that the behaviour of all motorhome owners was not exemplary with some problems encountered by farmers with indiscriminate parking in entrances to fields etc and a change in national legislation was required in relation to this was required.  Members also suggested that if such sites were to be provided in Northumberland then the motorhome community should stop advertising where free sites were as these invariably caused problems for local communities and necessitated TROs and signage having to be used to regulate usage.  The appropriate technology being in place to allow payment in car parks was also highlighted, with large queues to pay reported in certain car parks and payments unable to be made through a downloadable app as there was no mobile signal. 

 A vote was taken on the proposal to approve the application as follows:- FOR 14; AGAINST 0; ABSTENTIONS 1.            

RESOLVED that the application be GRANTED permission for a period of 12 months subject to the conditions outlined in the report with 3 additional conditions in respect of a bin capacity assessment, signage and restoration of land should the permission not continue, with the exact wording of these 3 additional conditions to be delegated to the Director of Planning in consultation with the Chair of the Planning Committee and subject to a financial contribution to the Council’s Coastal mitigation Service.

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.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.