Up to 15 minutes are allowed for public participation.  Participants are restricted to 3 minutes each.

There was no public participation.

i)       Meeting of the Planning Committee held on 7 February 2018, previously circulated.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 7 February 2018, be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Members may make any declarations of interest at this point but may also make them at any time during the course of the meeting.

Councillor Judy Rainsforth declared a personal interest in item 67 (planning application number 136309) as she currently lived off Willingham Road.  She confirmed that she had come with an open mind to the application.

Councillor Jessie Milne declared an interest in item 67 (planning application number 136309), and would remove herself from the Committee and speak as Ward Member on the application.

Councillor Owen Bierley declared an interest in item 68 (planning application number 137095).  Prior to the Caistor Town Council meeting in February Councillor Bierley had not met the applicant; therefore he wished to remain as a member of the Committee rather than stand down as a Word Member.

Note – the status of Neighbourhood Plans in the District may be found via this link

https://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/my-services/planning-and-building/neighbourhood-planning/

The Principal Development Management Officer updated the Committee on government and local changes in planning policy. 

The following points were raised:

·         The Government had published its draft revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), with consultation closing on 10^th May;

·         Consultation was also underway on a review of “Supporting housing delivery through developer contributions”.  The intention was to incorporate many of the policies proposed in last year’s Housing White Paper.  The Central Lincolnshire authorities were coming together to provide a response;

·         The presumption in favour of sustainable development would be triggered where a council cannot demonstrate a five year housing supply, or where the housing delivery test indicates that delivery of housing has been substantially below the housing requirement over the previous three years;

·         A housing delivery test would impose sanctions on councils failing to meet housebuilding targets in their local plans;

·         A standard methodology for assessing housing need would be implemented via the revised framework.  A requirement of 20% of housing supply to be met on smaller sites was also being considered;

·         Examination of the draft Osgodby Neighbourhood Plan had concluded, and the examiner found the plan sound, subject to modifications.  Osgodby could now move towards a referendum;

·         Great Limber Neighbourhood Plan had been formally submitted to West Lindsey District Council and was now at the consultation stage;

·         Pre-submission consultations on the Glentworth and Cherry Willingham Neighbourhood Plans are underway, ahead of formal submission to West Lindsey District Council (WLDC) by the respective Parish Councils.

The Principal Development Management Officer introduced planning application number 136309 – Willingham Road, Lea - outline planning application to erect 61no. dwellings-access to beconsidered and not reserved for subsequent applications. 

In addition to the published paperwork, there was a further update for committee, as the Secretary of State was minded to consider to call the application in.  This did not mean that it would be called in, and no way indicated that the application was in error.  The call-in decision was not dependant on whether the committee decided to support the recommendation to approve or not; however, Committee would not be able to make a determination.  The Secretary of State’s casework unit would take over – there was no timeframe on this.

Further comments had been received from Lea Parish Council.  Since they made their initial response, the Lea Neighbourhood Plan (NP) had been made.  They also wanted to raise the following concerns:

·         Policy 1 did indicate comprehensive redevelopment off Willingham Road.  They questioned whether the bungalows at types 7 and 8 would be satisfactory for the development. Similarly concerns were raised that feature properties were not fully defined;

·         Criteria B of Policy 1 of the Lea Neighbourhood Plan – the Parish Council asked that West Lindsey District Council (WLDC) be certain there be no further risk of flooding or foul water;

·         Criteria D of Policy 1 of the Lea Neighbourhood Plan – concerned about traffic movements and parking around Stainton Close, and felt that the junction of Willingham Road and the A156 had been focused on instead of this.  They were particularly concerned about the levels of traffic around the school’s opening and closing times, and that this had not been properly assessed;

·         Criteria E of Policy 1 of the Lea Neighbourhood Plan – concerned about the overall height of certain bungalows on the development and the impact on residential amenity;

·         Criteria H of Policy 1 of the Lea Neighbourhood Plan – the Parish Council felt that there were very minimal areas of open space on the development, and felt that the Community Infrastructure Levy should be used on Lea Park;

·         The public footpath connection to the park was a concern, with respect to its location entering the park;

·         Questioned whether the off street parking for the proposed new residents was sufficient;

·         Concerned whether there was sufficient drainage;

The Principal Development Management Officer responded to this by saying that the majority of these points had been responded to as part of the committee report.  In terms of the car parking space – this was an indicative plan.  If the report was to be approved, then a reserved matters application would need to be submitted and would give a clearer indication of where, and how many, car parking spaces were proposed.

There was an error in page 27 of the reports pack, which should have read ’12 Willingham Road’, rather than ’14 Willingham Road. 

Finally, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust did not wish to make any comments, and referred to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

The Senior Development Management Officer introduced planning application number 137095 – workshop adjacent Ranyard Signs, Brigg Road, Caistor LN7 6RX - Planning application for change of use from industrial use-B2 to gym-D2.

There was a communication given to the committee on behalf of Councillor Lewis Strange, who supported the application on three main grounds:

1.    Employment in an area short of jobs;

2.    Health and wellbeing;

3.    With the closure of Caistor Yarborough School, this would replace the outgoing facilities.

In the report, the gym site was mentioned as being 900 metres from the centre of Caistor.  This distance was likely to be ‘as the crow flies’; a more reliable walking distance would be 1.2 kilometres.

Parish Councillor Steve Critten, of Caistor Town Council spoke to the application, highlighting the following points:

·         When related specifically to the Caistor NP, the following policies have been satisfied:

o   Policy 1 – the applicant had kept Caistor Town Council and the local community informed at all times, as well as involving other community groups, such as the fire service;

o   Policy 3 – the proposal involved an existing unit that will not be changed externally;

o   Policy 6 – this was a conversion of an existing business unit that had been empty for several years;

o   Policy 7 – the proposal brought an improvement to existing facilities as they were being closed down at both Caistor Yarborough and Caistor Grammar Schools;

o   Policy 8 – if the application would have been turned down, it would have led to their being no fitness facilities within 10 miles;

o   Policy 2 – most of the homes within Caistor are within 1.4 kilometres of the gym.  The policy itself relates to residential units being 800 metres from the market place, and was deemed not relevant to the application.

·         One of the conditions of application 136715 was a 1.2 metre wide footpath to connect the town to log cabins sited on Brigg Road.  This had now been completed, and allows pedestrian access all the way to the gym;

·         The gym can only add to the prosperity of Caistor, and would be good for the younger generation.

Mrs Amy Atkins then spoke to the application as the applicant, and highlighted the following points:

·         There were nine other potential sites within Caistor for the gym, but all were unsuitable for a variety of reasons;

·         There were a range of activities available at the gym, for all ages;

·         CPR training was available free to the community, once a month;

·         The gym was currently situated 1.2 kilometres from the town centre.  The walk from the local housing development was approximately 10 minutes.  Public transport was available in the area;

·         The gym created new jobs and opportunities in the area;

·         The nearest other gyms were available in Market Rasen, Brigg and Grimsby, as Caistor Yarborough School gym was due to close in May 2018;

·         There were 840 members of the gym; throughout 2017 there were 18.469 visits captured on the clubwise  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

The Principal Development Management Officer introduced planning application number 137063, and listed building consent application 137064 at 25 Market Street Gainsborough, DN21 2BE.  The applications were as listed below:

PLANNING APPLICATION PROPOSAL: Planning application for internal works to include the refurbishmentof the ground floor shop and refurbishment of the residential accommodation on the 1st and 2nd floors to provide 2no. apartments. Also replacement windows, new roof and alterations to existing outbuilding to form bin store. 

LISTED BUILDING CONSENT PROPOSAL:    Listed building consent for internal works to include the refurbishment of the ground floor shop and refurbishment of the residential accommodation on the 1st and 2nd floors to provide 2no. Apartments. Also replacement windows, new roof and alterations to existing outbuilding to form bin store.

A brief update was given to committee – the applicant had been met on site, and had agreed to the retention of historic elements of the building. Revised drawings had now been submitted to reflect this. Officers therefore could now recommend that Listed Building Consent was given.

A draft list of conditions had been circulated to all Members prior to the meeting.

The revised drawings explain the existing roof would be “carefully removed, cleaned, and set aside for re-use, introduce sarking felt over existing roof timbers and replace the existing pantile roof”.  The Conservation Officer had recommended an addition to the conditions, advising it appropriate to require a schedule of repairs. The Committee were advised they may consider adding this if they considered it was necessary.

The application was proposed, seconded and voted upon and approved unanimously.

It was therefore AGREED that:

1)    planning permission be GRANTED, subject to conditions as detailed in the written report;

2)      listed building consent be GRANTED, subject to conditions.

RESOLVED that the determination of appeals be noted.