To receive any apologies from Members.

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm the minutes of the Planning and Licensing Committee held on 6 April 2021.

The minutes of the meeting which took place on 6 April were confirmed. 

Nominations were invited for the position of Vice Chair of the Planning and Licensing Committee for the Municipal Year 2021-22

Cllrs Oxley and Begy were nominated and both gave a short speech regarding their experience and suitability for the role. A vote was taken with 8 in favour of Cllr Begy and 4 in favour of Cllr Oxley.

RESOLVED:

That Cllr Begy be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Planning and Licensing Committee for the municipal year 2021-22.

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any disclosable interests under the Code of Conduct and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

The following interests were received:

The Chair declared a pecuniary interest in Item 6, application 4 (noted as 1 on the agenda), 11-13 High Street West, Uppingham as this was his application. He would leave the meeting during discussion on this item and Councillor Begy would take the Chair.

Councillor Bool declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 6, application 1 (noted as 4 on the agenda), Empingham Medical Centre, 39 Main Street, Empingham as he was registered at the surgery.

Councillor Oxley declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 6, application 3, 85 Main Street, Greetham, as he himself owned holiday accommodation, albeit in Uppingham.

Councillor A Brown also raised a similar interest in this application but stated that it would not have a financial implication that would preclude him from taking part. 

Requests to speak on planning applications will be subject to the RCC Public Speaking Scheme.

To request to speak at a Planning Committee, please send an email to Governance@rutland.gov.uk

There were requests to speak under the public speaking team which would be taken under each individual application.

To receive Report No. 70/2021 from the Strategic Director for Places.

1.         2021/0117/FUL - Empingham Medical Centre 39 Main Street, Empingham Erection of a single storey pre-fabricated modular building to provide consulting rooms for a temporary period of 3 years

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED. This was against the officer recommendation noted in the agenda report. The full decision notice with reason for approval and the conditions (including those requested by members at the meeting) will be noted in the decision notice and the minutes of the meeting.

2.         2020/1428/FUL - Land to the south of 1 Pond Lane, Greetham Erection of 1 No. detached dwelling including access and Parking

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED

3.         2021/0110/FUL - 85 Main Street, Greetham Extension to an existing residential annexe

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED

4.         2020/0603/LBA - 11-13 High Street West, Uppingham

Alterations to listed building including replacement windows, new cast iron rainwater goods to front elevation and internal renovation works.

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED

1.       2021/0117/FUL - Empingham Medical Centre 39 Main Street, Empingham Erection of a single storey pre-fabricated modular building to provide consulting rooms for a temporary period of 3 years.

The Principal Planning Officer for this application, Darren Burbeary, addressed the Committee and gave an executive summary of the application, recommending approval.

Since the agenda had been published there had been updates and these were noted in the Addendum report. There had been additional consultation responses from the Amenity Group with comments in support of the application. A further email had been received from the Chairman of Empingham Parish Council which advised of a further statement and this was noted in the Addendum. 

Prior to discussion, the Committee heard from the following speakers on this application and had the opportunity to ask them questions.

·       Empingham Parish Council – A statement was read out on the Parish Council’s behalf.

·       Ian Halcrow – Applicant

There was concern expressed in relation to parking and how may staff would need parking spaces especially as more face to face appointments were made as restrictions eased.  Members were assured that many of the staff worked in the vicinity and did not need to park at the practice. There was limited public transport but there were options for parking elsewhere.

Questions were raised regarding the temporary application and if longer than 3 years was required. They were advised that the development at St Georges would affect the situation as ideally, the practice would like to expand and have an additional centre there.

There was some concern expressed about setting a precedent if the Committee went against the officer recommendation and Members were advised that if they did decide to overturn the decision (or any decision for any application), they needed to give a good and detailed reason.

In moving to the recommendation, Councillor Baines proposed and Councillor Harvey seconded that the application be refused with the request that they would welcome a new application with consideration of the mitigating factors. There were 5 in favour and 7 against and this motion was lost.

An alternative motion in favour of granting the application for a strict temporary period of 3 years to allow the practice to look elsewhere for a suitable site, with the addition of conditions put forward by Councillor G Brown in relation to noise and a travel plan in consultation with the Highways department (noted below) was put forward.

A vote was taken and there were 7 votes in favour and 5 abstentions.

RESOLVED:

That the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

i.      The use shall be for a limited period of time of 3 years from when the use of the porta cabin commences on site. At the end of this period the use shall cease, all materials and equipment brought to the land in connection with the use shall be removed and the land restored to its former condition and use as a car park.

ii.     The development hereby permitted shall not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To receive Report No.71/2021 from the Strategic Director for Places.

The appeals report, which provided Councillors with information on the appeals received since the last meeting and summarised the decisions made, was presented to the Committee.

The Committee noted the report.