Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 7 June 2022 as published.

The Chairman noted that Councillor L Lyons had spoken on Item 6a, 2022/0397  Junction of York Road/Montgomery Road, Woking, which had been missed from the minutes.

RESOLVED

That taking into account the comments from the Chairman above, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 June 2022 be approved and signed as a true and correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor G Cosnahan.

(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.

[NOTE: The Planning Officer advised the Committee of an update to condition 2, which noted that the two tree plans were received on 18 May 2022, not 6 May 2022 as specified in the report.]

The Committee considered an application which sought planning permission for the erection of 4m high by 135m length timber acoustic fencing against part of existing Northern perimeter of site adjacent to the existing artificial grass pitch (AGP) on the site.

The Chairman queried whether there were any plans to stain the wood. The Planning Officer confirmed that there was nothing in the report and it was planned to be a natural timber fence.

Councillor T Aziz, Ward Councillor, commented that he was very happy this application had now come forward as residents had been asking for this since the leisure centre opened due to the noise.

Following a question regarding the removal of trees, the Planning Officer advised that paragraph 10 of the report identified six trees that would be removed, which were category C, low quality trees. The Arboricultural Officer was satisfied with the proposal.

Following a question regarding replacement of the removed trees, the Committee heard that there was an extensive landscaping scheme for the site and a lot of trees would be planted on site in the next phase.

Further discussion ensued on the colour of the fence, however the Members agreed that they did not want the installation of the fence delayed in anyway. If the fence was painted, it was acknowledged that this could cause considerable maintenance. Some Members thought that although the initial appearance of the natural timber was quite bright, this would weather and would soften over time.

The Committee agreed that an informative should be added to the application which stated that dark treated wood would be more acceptable if it was available within the timescale. If this wood was not available, the Committee agreed it was more important to get the fence installed.

The Committee were very pleased this application was now before them as it would be very beneficial to residents.

RESOLVED

That the application be permitted subject to conditions and additional informative as detailed in these minutes.

The Committee considered an application for retrospective consent for alterations to shop front to include removal of fascia and formation of recessed doorway.

Councillor T Aziz, Ward Councillor, commented that this was completely unacceptable development and it looked awful. He did say that he had some sympathy with the applicant regarding the glass doors that were proposed as there was a light issue within the retail unit.

The Committee agreed that the development was totally unacceptable and wanted it to be taken back to its previous appearance.

RESOLVED

That the application be REFUSED and formal enforcement proceedings be authorised.