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 Councillors Darwin and Flux. 

(a)  Minutes of 7 June 2022

The minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on Tuesday 7 June 2022,as circulated, to be agreed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.

(b) Minutes of 5 July 2022

The minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on 5 July 2022, as circulated, to be agreed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.

(a)  The Minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on 7 June 2022, as circulated, were agreed as a true record and were signed by the Chair.

(b)  The Minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on 5 July 2022, as circulated, were agreed as a true record and were 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.

Variation of condition 2 on approved application 19/00904/FUL in order to amend landscaoe plans to change position of play area so condition 10 can be complied with, resulting in slight amendment to landscaping. (amended description)

Land South of Bluebell Court, East Cottingwood, Morpeth, Northumberland   

Variation of condition 2 on approved application 19/00904/FUL in order to amend landscape plans to change position of play area so condition 10 can be complied with, resulting in slight amendment to landscaping. (amended description)

Land South of Bluebell Court, East Cottingwood, Morpeth, Northumberland

An introduction to the report was provided by T Wood, Principal Planning Officer with the aid of a power point presentation.

Councillor A Byard, addressed the Committee speaking on behalf of Morpeth Town Council in objection to the application.   She advised that the Town Council objected to the application as it was not clear why the change was required now and why the developer could not stick to the original plan.  The objections of residents were noted in relation to further exposure of dust and disruption if the compound was to remain in its current position and delay in the provision of play facilities promised to new house-buyers.  This contravened policy Des 1 of the Morpeth Neighbourhood Plan that development proposals should make a positive contribution to their surroundings in terms of ensuring that the development did not cause unacceptable adverse impact on the amenities of occupiers of existing or proposed nearby properties.

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

·       It was accepted that there could be some safety concern due to the proximity of the revised position of the play area to the SUDs pond, however there were many SUDs ponds throughout the County which were open and these were designed to form part of the landscape for nature and wildlife.  The ponds would by dry for large parts of the year.

·       The original conditions for the application in relation to the position of the compound which had been agreed with Highways in relation to road safety and the timing of the provision of the play park had overlapped.  If the application had originally been submitted with the play park in the new proposed area, then this would have been equally as suitable.

·       It was possible that more households would be affected by the moving of the compound.

·       The developer had come forward with this proposal as it had been recognised that there was a breach of conditions, however it could not be guaranteed that further variation applications would not come forward as development continued.  Developers were entitled to apply for variations and it would not be a material consideration to refuse an application just because a variation had been requested.

·       It could not be clarified how many houses had been completed on the site, however the trigger for the provision of the play area was 30 and developers had come forward with this proposal in order that the provision of the play area was not delayed and they could comply with conditions.  It was considered that this was the best outcome and the compound area would be restored to open space once the development had been completed.

·       Whether the householders had purchased dwellings on the understanding that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

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.