Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 28 September 2021 as published.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 September 2021 be approved and signed as a true and correct record.

No apologies for absence were received.

(i)    To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary and other interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

(ii)   In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, any Member who is a Council- appointed Director of a Thameswey Group company will declare a non-pecuniary interest in any item involving that Thameswey Group company. The interest will not prevent the Member from participating in the consideration of that item.

(iii)   In accordance with the Officer Procedure Rules, any Officer who is a Council- appointed Director of a Thameswey Group company will declare an interest in any item involving that Thameswey Group company. The interest will not prevent the Officer from advising the Committee on that item.

No declarations of interest were received.

To consider any business that the Chairman rules may be dealt with under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

The Committee received a report on the planning appeals lodged and the appeal decisions.

Resolved

That the report be noted.

The Committee determined the following applications subject to the conditions, informatives, reasons for refusal or authorisation of enforcement action which appear in the published report to the Committee or as detailed in these minutes.

The Committee considered an application that proposed the erection of a two storey side and single storey rear extension and alterations to garage.

Councillor A Boote, Ward Councillor, was very concerned by this extension application and commented that the property was already overdeveloped and she thought that the rear extension proposal would have an overbearing impact on the neighbouring property, with loss of light and privacy.

Some Members sympathised with the objectors and the affected neighbour, however they did not think the application breached any Planning Policy so therefore did not think there was grounds to refuse.

The Committee were reminded that the existing dormer extension could not be considered as part of this application as this had been completed previously under permitted development.

Following a question regarding the height of the extension the Planning Officer confirmed that the rear extension would be considered single storey, and the highest point would be level with the window cill of the square bathroom window on the rear elevation. The single storey rear extension would project 2.8m from the rear elevation.  The Planning Officer commented that any loss of light to the neighbour would not be considered detrimental as the garden was large and it had also been determined that there was no direct loss of privacy from this extension; Members were reminded that the dormer extension may have resulted in a loss of privacy, however this was not a material consideration of this application. It was also noted that the 45 degree rule had not been breached.

Councillor A Boote moved, and it was duly seconded by Councillor T Aziz that the application be refused on the grounds of bulk, mass and overbearing, which spoilt the light and enjoyment of the neighbouring property.

The Chairman asked the advice of Planning Officer on the reasons put forward for refusal. Dan Freeland advised that there was long standing guidance in the Outlook and Amenity SPD and that he would advise against refusal on the grounds of ‘light and enjoyment’ as this would be hard to defend on appeal. Dan Freeland commented that if the applicant was not tying the rear extension into the side extension, then an even larger rear extension could be built on the back of the house under permitted development, which the Committee should bear in mind.

In accordance with Standing Order 22.2, the Chairman deemed that a division should be taken on the motion above.  The votes for and against refusal of the application were recorded as follows.

In favour:                           Cllrs T Aziz,  A J Boote and D Hughes.

                                 TOTAL:  3

Against:                              Cllrs J Brown, S Dorsett, N Martin, C Rana and D Roberts.

                                 TOTAL:  5

Present but not voting:      Cllr L M N Morales (Chairman)

                                 TOTAL:  1

The application was therefore not refused.

In accordance with Standing Order 22.2, the Chairman deemed that a division should be taken on the original recommendation in the report.  The votes for and against approval of the application were recorded as follows.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6a

The Committee considered an application for the partial approval of details pursuant to Condition 64 (acoustic performance of party walls/floors and ceilings) for phase Red only of planning permission PLAN/2018/0337 for the Sheerwater Regeneration.

RESOLVED

That the details submitted be APPROVED.

The Committee considered an application for the partial approval of details pursuant to Condition 98 (obscure glazing and non-opening windows) for phase Red only of planning permission PLAN/2018/0337 for the Sheerwater Regeneration.

RESOLVED

That the details submitted be APPROVED.

The Committee considered an application for the partial approval of details pursuant to Condition 65 (acoustic insulation and ventilation of the energy centre to contain internally generated noise) for phase Red only of planning permission PLAN/2018/0337 for the Sheerwater Regeneration.

RESOLVED

That the details submitted be APPROVED.

The Committee considered an application for the partial approval of details pursuant to Condition 50 (PV Panels) for phase Red only of planning permission PLAN/2021/0337 for the Sheerwater Regeneration.

RESOLVED

That the details submitted be APPROVED.

[NOTE: The Planning Officer advised of an update to the first bullet point in the details recommended for approval to insert the revision number and date - Revision D received on 11.10.2021. Subject to this the details were recommended for approval.]

The Committee considered an application for the partial approval of details pursuant to Condition 45 (external materials - brick, stone and clay roof tile specification for the external facades to the buildings only) for phase Red only of planning permission PLAN/2018/0337 for the Sheerwater Regeneration.

RESOLVED

That the details submitted be APPROVED.

Under the current scheme of delegation, applications for approval of details reserved by condition submitted by Woking Borough Council and their companies/entities needed to be reported to Planning Committee for determination. There had been two periods (between 6 April 2021 to 8 June 2021 and 20 July 2021 to 7 September 2021) when temporary arrangements were agreed to allow these types of applications to be delegated to the Development Manager for determination in consultation with the Chairman of the Planning Committee. It was proposed to make these arrangements permanent.

Councillor D Hughes commented that she thought it was important not to lose the openness that came with the reserved conditions coming before the Planning Committee for determination. She noted that the recommendation before them was sensible, however asked if an additional recommendation could be added which would ensure members continued to be advised of those details that were reserved by condition and where authority was delegated for determination. These would be circulated on a regular basis in a similar was as the fortnightly planning lists. The timescale and frequency of circulating this condition list would be determined by Officers when they knew what was technically possible.

RESOLVED that the Committee RECCOMENDED to Council that

i.)    applications for approval of details reserved by condition submitted by Woking Borough Council and their companies/entities be delegated to the Development Manager for determination in consultation with the Chairman of the Planning Committee (or in their absence, the Vice-Chairman); and

ii.)   the Development Manager arrange for a list of conditions applications submitted by Woking Borough Council and their companies/entities to be circulated to all Members on a regular basis.