To receive any apologies from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors W Cross, S Harvey, A Lowe, A MacCartney and K Payne.

To confirm the minutes of the Planning and Licensing Committee meeting held on 29 June 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2021 were considered and agreed as a true record of the proceedings.

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.

Councillors M Oxley declared a non-pecuniary interest in application 2020/1480/MAF under item 5 – Planning Applications as owner of a holiday let in the County.

Councillor A Brown declared a non-pecuniary interest in application 2020/1480/MAF under item 5 – Planning Applications as the owner of two holiday lets in the County.

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

In accordance with the Planning and Licensing Committee Public Speaking Scheme, the following deputations were received:

In relation to item 5 – Planning Applications, application 2020/1480/MAF, Mr Neil Osborn would be speaking as the agent on behalf of the applicant.

To receive Report No.100/2021 from the Strategic Director for Places.

Report No 100/2021 was received from the Strategic Director of Places.

Item 1 - 2020/1480/MAF - Woolfox Golf and Country Club, (Formerly Rutland County Golf Club), Hardwick Farm Lane, Empingham

(Parish: Empingham; Ward: Normanton)

Mr Nick Hodgett, Principal Planning Officer, addressed the Committee and gave an executive summary of the application, recommending approval subject to the conditions set out in the report and addendum.

Prior to debate, the Committee heard from Mr Neil Osborn, the agent for the application who also had the opportunity to take questions from the Committee.

Members debated the application and Councillor K Bool as Ward Councillor noted that the applicant had been responsive to local needs and the retention of the golf course being available for public use was highlighted as an example. It was later noted that the intention for staff to be on site around the clock would mitigate against several concerns raised.

Several concerns were raised regarding the density of the buildings and potential fire risk, it was explained that the buildings were at least 5 metres apart and fire safety was a matter for building control rather than a planning matter. A concern was also expressed regarding the potential for the site to commercially fail and be converted to housing, in response Mr Justin Johnson, Development Manager, explained this would be subject to the policies at the time of any application but the site was not currently designated as housing land.

During debate consideration was given to the note to the applicant that mitigation measures in section 6 of the ecological appraisal must be followed, and it was later proposed by Councillor G Brown that the application be approved in accordance with officer recommendations, subject to the mitigation measures in the ecological appraisal being fully incorporated in the conditions, this was seconded.

A vote was taken and with 6 votes in favour of the motion and Councillor M Oxley’s recorded abstention it was                                                     

RESOLVED

That application 2020/1480/MAF be APPROVED subject to the conditions listed in the report and addendum, with the mitigation measures in section 6 of the ecological appraisal being incorporated into the conditions. 

The list of conditions can be found on the planning application page of the Council’s website https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-services/planning-and-building-control/planning/view-planning-applications-and-decisions/

To receive Report No.101/2021 from the Strategic Director for Places.

Justin Johnson, Development Manager, presented Report No 101/2021 from the Strategic Director of Places. The report updated Members on the appeals received since the last ordinary meeting of the Committee on 29 June 2021 and summarised the decisions made. Officers were thanked for providing the report.

RESOLVED THAT

The Committee NOTE the contents of the report.

To consider any other urgent business approved in writing by the Chief Executive and Chairman of the Committee.

There was no urgent business for consideration. Although following a suggestion by the Chair that Members provide a days’ notice of any matters to be raised, it was agreed that the Constitutional Review Working Group should consider formalising this process to provide clarity to Members.