Agenda and draft minutes

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

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

The Minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on Tuesday 6 December 2023, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

The Minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on 6 December 2022, as circulated, were agreed as a true record and were signed by the Chair with the following amendment noted:

The last sentence of paragraph 2 in minute number 48 should read “This was seconded by Councillor Reid.”

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.

Councillor Ball advised that she was on the Board of Northumberland Football Association and therefore she would take no part in the application and leave the Chamber whilst the application was discussed.

Councillor Darwin advised that as the Ward Councillor he had been approached by both the applicant and objectors however he had not made any judgement, had an open mind and would take part in the application.

Councillor Dodd advised that he was a Ponteland Town Councillor but took no part in any planning process on this matter.

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 Ball left the Chamber at this point.

Variation of Condition 22 (Trees and Hedgerows) pursuant to planning permission 17/03729/CCD to allow removal of trees subject to ecological reports and arboricultural assessments

Ponteland Leisure Centre, Callerton Lane, Ponteland, Northumberland

NE20 9EG

Variation of Condition 22 (Trees and Hedgerows) pursuant to planning permission 17/03729/CCD to allow removal of tress subject to ecological reports and arboricultural assessments

Ponteland Leisure Centre, Callerton Lane, Ponteland, Northumberland NE20 9EG

R Soulsby, Planning Officer introduced the report to the Committee with the aid of a power point presentation.  Three late objections and a supporting statement from the applicant were circulated to Members of the Committee and time allowed for these to be read.  These had also been made available on the Planning Portal in advance of the meeting. 

Councillor S Johnson speaking on behalf of Ponteland Town Council (PTC) addressed the Committee.  Her comments included the following:-

·       PTC supported the application as the end result for the two sports teams would be an excellent amenity for the Club and the Community.

·       Both clubs had been founded in the 1960’s and had operated out of the leisure centre since that time.  The two clubs provided sports for over 800 adults and children, male and female from the community of Ponteland, none of which would be possible without the volunteers.

·       The provision of a club house would allow teams to compete in higher leagues and attract players to remain at the clubs rather than travelling to better teams with better facilities and ensuring the continuity of sporting provision within Ponteland.

·       QOP 4 of the Northumberland Local Plan (NLP) stated that there should be no loss of trees where this would be unavoidable and considerations in favour of the development would outweigh any harm resulting from the loss of trees and the loss could be adequately mitigated through measures such as replacement planting where possible.

·       PTC found it very disappointing that the Committee were being recommended to refuse this application in the name of 12 very ordinary immature unprotected trees when lots of mature valuable trees were removed in order to build the leisure centre and school.

·       It would be a great shame for Ponteland especially for the youngsters and volunteers if the application was refused and PTC feared for the survival of the Club.

J Chappell addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application as a representative of both Ponteland Rugby Club and Ponteland Football Club in a joint bid to develop a community facility in Ponteland. His comments included the following:-

·       The opportunity to address the meeting and to outline what was hoped to be achieved by this process was welcomed and following our submitted supporting document being circulated and read would refer to the salient points contained in it.

·       Over 12 months ago, we met with the planning officer on site who advised us that the process we needed to follow was to obtain a community asset transfer of the land, seek to alter the original planning permission regarding the trees on site and then submit a planning application.

·       We were thankful that the council had agreed to a community asset transfer of the land, covering the tarmaced car park of the old sports centre, subject  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

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 2 months

RESOLVED that the information be noted.