MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 22 AUGUST 2000 COMMENCING AT 6.00 PM

Present :

Mrs C T G Webb (Chairman), Mr B E Abraham, Mr M G Barton, Mr A C Coburn, Mrs B E Foster, Mr E Fox, Mrs M A Jarman, Mrs A Leigh, Mrs M J Miller, Mr M O Morgan Huws, Mr P A Nightingale, Mrs L E Rogerson, Mr A A Taylor, Mrs J L Wareham (deputising for Mr C B W Chapman), Mr G Wilson, Mr D T Yates

Also Present (non voting) :

Mr R R Barry, Mr J A Bowker, Mr M J Cunningham, Mr D J Knowles, Mrs B Lawson, Mr V J Morey, Mr A J Mundy, Mr H Rees, Mrs S A Smart

Apologies :

Mr C B W Chapman

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 August 2000 be confirmed.

56. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

Mr K Perkins asked the following question with regard to installation of skate park equipment and four 8 m high floodlight columns at the Tennis Court, Esplanade, East Cowes :

Is the Planning Committee aware that this application conflicts with the following current UDP Policies : G5 Development outside defined settlement.

G9 Safeguarding the amenities of neighbouring property.

G10 Potential conflict between proposed development and existing surrounding uses.

C1 Protection of landscape character.

L2 Formal recreation provision.

L9 Noisy sports

as referred to by Mr P Stack in his report.

Mrs M Moorman asked the following question with regard to installation of skate park equipment and four 8 m high floodlight columns at the Tennis Court, Esplanade, East Cowes :

Since the planning officer's report states that '.. It is the potential for noise and general disturbance by the use of the equipment proposed that is of crucial importance in this application' and since the Environmental Health Officer has indicated that the noise generated by the use of the proposed equipment is 70 db which is an increase of nearly 3 times the recommended maximum acceptable additional noise, could the Chairman please advise what would be considered 'sufficiently serious in terms of disturbance and effect on general amenities and surrounding residents to warrant refusal of this application'?

The Chairman replied that the item would be covered later in the meeting.

57. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Interests were declared in the following matters :

Mrs M J Miller declared an interest in Minute 59 (c)(ii) 2 - Skate Park Equipment, Tennis Court, Esplanade, East Cowes.

58. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT SERVICES

(a) TCP/23153 - Stabilisation of Two Sections of Highway over Afton Down by Engineering Works Including Piling, Beam and Ground Anchors with Temporary Footpath Diversion. Realignment 30 Metres Inland of Section of Highway, North West of Shippards Chine (Supplementary Information to Environmental Statement and Revised Non Technical Summary) (Revised Application), A3055 Military Road, Brook, Newport

Members were told that the proposed development consisted of two specific elements on a section of the Military Road between Brook and Freshwater Bay.

The first part of the scheme was for stabilisation works at Afton Down and the second part was for realignment works at Shippards Chine.

A wide ranging consultation process had taken place which had attracted comments both for and against the scheme. It was believed that the application could be determined by the Isle of Wight Council although the Secretary of State would need to be notified of any decision. A letter from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust was received. The Chairman congratulated Mr Cornwell on the work he had done.

RESOLVED :

THAT the application be approved subject to :

(i) Notification to the Secretary of State as required under Habitats Regulations.

(ii) Legal Agreement between the applicant (the Isle of Wight Council), the National Trust and English Nature if they wish to be part of the agreement relating to the commitment to decommission the element of the scheme to be constructed at points A1 and A2 on Afton Down as identified in the application and supporting papers.

(b) Schedule of Appeals

The Schedule of Appeals that had been lodged and decisions made was received.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted.

(c) Planning Applications and Related Matters

(i) Part I - Applications Determined Under Part I Procedures

The Schedule of planning applications which had been determined by the Director of Environment Services under the agreed delegation scheme was submitted.

RESOLVED :

THAT the Schedule be noted.

(ii) Part II and Part III

Consideration was given to items 1 - 33 of the report of the Director of Environment Services.

RESOLVED :

THAT the applications be determined as detailed below :

Categories of applications considered and determined as detailed below :

(iii) Part IV - Items Other Than Current Issues

34. TCP/5674N(e) - Enforcement Notice regarding change of use without planning permission for an agricultural use of land for the storage and testing of agricultural machinery and equipment in connection with an agricultural engineering operation, land on eastern side of Main Road, Chale Green Ventnor

Members considered an update on the situation relating to the above site now further discussions had been taken place with the operator's agent as outlined in 11 July 2000 Planning Committee report.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted and await the submission of a planning application but advise operator any proposal should be submitted as a matter of urgency within next three weeks.

35. TCP/13112C - Erection of extension to approved shed, Middle Barn Farm, Middle Barn Lane, Wroxall

Consideration was given as to whether the extension to an approved shed was acceptable or that an Enforcement Notice be served requiring the new extension to be removed.

RESOLVED :

THAT an Enforcement Notice be served requiring the extension to be removed.

36. G23/U/260/99 - Reclamation of land and concrete hardstanding, land at Springbank, New Road, Wootton

Members considered whether an area of reclaimed land and concrete hardstanding were acceptable or whether to serve an Enforcement Notice in this respect.

RESOLVED :

THAT no further action be taken in respect of the reclaimed land and concrete hardstanding.

59. MEMBERS' QUESTION TIME

Mr E Fox asked if the Chairman would please arrange for copies of all planning applications within the boundaries of Ryde Forum to be sent to the Ryde Forum so as to allow similar consultation to that presently carried out with Town and Parish Councils and would she also make contact with Newport Forum who may wish to have similar notification?

The Chairman replied that the Ryde and Newport Forums do not come under the Parish Council Protocol which the Council has agreed with Parish Councils and under which Parish Councils are invited to comment on planning applications. The Forums are of course not statutory consultees, however, it is a matter for the Planning Committee to decide, rather than myself, whether the two Forums should be invited for their views on planning applications and I will ask the officers to make an appropriate report to a future meeting of this Committee.

Mr E Fox asked the Chairman if she could explain why the condition required by members to be placed on the application by Southern Water Services, at St Thomas's Car Park, Ryde, to provide a column and associated ducting for a future CCTV was not contained in the Notice of Approval and by what authority was the modified condition applied?

The Chairman replied that at the determination of the application, some Members requested CCTV should be added to the development at the applicant's expense. It was explained that such a condition did not meet the requirements of Circular 11/95 and accordingly it was not added.

However, a condition that required the development to be carried out in such a manner as not to prejudice the introduction of CCTV was added in line with the advice given to and agreed by Members.

Mr Mundy asked what were the conditions when a Committee had voted to grant an approval on an application and the 'cooling off' period had been invoked. What time scale was relevant?

The Chairman replied that Counsel's opinion was being sought and the item would be brought back to Committee in the near future.

CHAIRMAN