Decision – That the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 4 February 2020 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

Councillor Yvonne Hargreaves declared an interest in item 3) a.

The Director (Customer and Digital) has submitted five items for planning applications to be determined.

Plans to be considered will be displayed at the meeting or may be viewed in advance by following the links to the current planning applications on our website. 

https://planning.chorley.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application   

The Director of Customer and Digital submitted five items for consideration. In considering the applications, Members of the Planning Committee took into account the agenda reports, the addendum and the verbal representations and submissions provided by officers and individuals.

Full planning permission granted, subject to conditions.

Councillor Yvonne Hargreaves declared an interest in this item and left the room for the duration of the item.

Registered speakers: David Hargreaves (Objector), Helen Fothergill (Supporter), and Louise Leyland (Agent).

After careful consideration, it was proposed by Councillor Gordon France that the decision be deferred to allow Members of the Planning Committee the opportunity to visit the site of the proposals. The motion was seconded by Councillor Eric Bell. A vote was taken, and the motion was lost (5:5:1).

It was proposed by Councillor Alistair Morwood, seconded by Councillor Aaron Beaver and a decision was subsequently taken (6:5:1 including the Chair’s casting vote) that full planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Councillor Yvonne Hargreaves returned to the room.

Application refused.

Registered speakers: Ruth Fenton (Objector), Councillor Pamela Sloan (Parish Councillor), and Michael Harrison (Applicant).

After careful consideration, it was proposed by Councillor John Dalton, seconded by Councillor Alan Whittaker and a decision was subsequently taken (11:0:1) that the application be refused for the following reason:

The proposed development is inappropriate development in the Green Belt and therefore harmful by definition.  The proposal would cause harm to the openness of the Green Belt and would conflict with one of the five purposes of including land within it through encroachment into the countryside.  Inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances. The factors put forward as very special circumstances are not considered to outweigh the harm to the Green Belt. The proposal is therefore contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework.

Full planning permission granted, subject to conditions and a Section 106 obligation to secure improvements to public open space.

Registered speakers: Councillor Paul Walmsley (Ward Councillor).

After careful consideration, it was proposed by Councillor Gordon France to defer the decision to allow further clarification of the issues related to flooding as discussed at the meeting. There was no seconder to this proposal.

It was proposed by Councillor John Dalton, seconded by Councillor Alistair Morwood and a decision was subsequently taken (10:0:2) that full planning permission be granted, subject to conditions and a Section 106 obligation to secure improvements to public open space.

Decision deferred to allow members of the Planning Committee the opportunity to visit the site of the proposals.

Registered speakers: Lynda Pierson (Objector) and Robert Harrison (Agent).

After careful consideration, it was proposed by Councillor Alan Whittaker, seconded by Councillor Gordon France and a decision was subsequently taken (9:2:1) that the decision be deferred to allow members of the Planning Committee the opportunity to visit the site of the proposals.

Full planning permission granted, subject to conditions.

After careful consideration, it was proposed by Councillor Eric Bell that the decision be deferred to allow Members of the Planning Committee the opportunity to visit the site of the proposals. The motion was seconded by Councillor Yvonne Hargreaves. A vote was taken, and the motion was lost (4:7:1).

It was proposed by Councillor Aaron Beaver, seconded by Councillor Danny Gee and a decision was subsequently taken (10:0:2) that full planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions set out in the addendum.

Report of the Director of Customer and Digital.

That a S215 notice be issued.

The Director of Customer and Digital submitted a report which sought permission to issue a notice under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 ‘Power to require the proper maintenance of land’.

Members RESOLVED that a S215 notice with a compliance period of 28 days be issued in respect of the following amenity issue:

The land is causing unacceptable adverse effects on the visual amenity of the area by virtue of numerous items in the yard that is surrounded by residential housing and fronts Station Road, including, but not limited to; heavy machinery, building paraphernalia including wood, plastic, bricks, pallets, unkempt trees, weeds and containers.

Report of the Director of Customer and Digital.

Members noted the report of the Director of Customer and Digital which set out planning appeals and decisions received between 27 January and 24 February 2020.