Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Lang, Reid, Renner-Thompson and Watson.

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 Swinbank advised that the application was within his Ward and that whilst he was also a member of Alnwick Town Council he had taken no part in any deliberations on the application.  

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 not circulated with the agenda but are available on the Council’s website at  http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Planning.aspx

The report outlined the procedure to be followed and 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.

New garden centre and retail concession wing to include car parking, SuDs pond, service yards and vehicular access

Land South West Of Hogshead Inn, Hawfinch Drive, Cawledge Business Park, Alnwick, Northumberland

New garden centre and retail concession wing to include car parking, SuDs pond, service yards and vehicular access

Land South West Of Hogshead Inn, Hawfinch Drive, Cawledge Business Park, Alnwick, Northumberland

J Sharp, Senior Planning Officer provided an introduction to the application with the aid of a power point presentation. At the Chair’s request, the Senior Planning Officer restarted the introduction following the late arrival of Councillor Hutchinson in order to allow him to take part in the consideration of the application.  Updates were provided as follows:-

·       The introduction at paragraph 1.1 referred to the need for a S106 agreement for highways improvements, as stated elsewhere in the report it should refer to a financial contribution to highways improvements.

·       Paragraph 7.39 was incomplete however it was clear from paragraph 7.40 that consideration had been given to those living close to the site and officers were satisfied that those issues had been addressed.

·       Paragraph 7.85 referred to consultation with Public Health and noted that the conditions were recommended to secure a commitment to active travel, training and apprenticeships and EV charging facilities.  This should have said requested rather than recommended, however EV charging and active travel were picked up in highways conditions. No condition had been included for training and apprenticeships as officers were not confident this would meet the tests for reasonableness.

·       BNG Monitoring Fee was mentioned throughout the report, but did not provide details of the amount.  The County Ecologist had requested a figure of £4,729.06 and this figure should be included in the recommendation for clarity.

S Neal addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application.  His comments included the following:-

·       The scheme for a garden centre and retail concessions wing would bring a wide range of benefits to the town and had wide public support and was welcomed by the Town Council. Public engagement had been overwhelmingly positive.

·       Early concerns surrounding the impact the scheme could have on the town centre had been thoroughly assessed by the Council’s independent consultants.

·       The out of centre location had been thoroughly assessed against the sequential and impact tests in line with the NPPF and the conclusion was that there were no sites which were both sequentially preferable and suitable within the town centre.

·       The impact assessment had looked at the impact of the proposal on existing centres within the area and officers and the independent report agreed that much of the trade diversion would come from existing out of centre outlets and other garden centres. The forecast trade diversion impact upon Alnwick town centre was very low at around 5% and at this level would not result in any significant adverse impacts upon the town centre.  There was an unmet need for the development and as such the proposals would enhance the range and choice of shops selling garden and other related goods bringing new names to the town.

·       The character and appearance of the area surrounding the proposed development was mixed with a wide range of uses.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.