Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Michael Cartwright and Robert Largan.

If a Councillor has a disclosable pecuniary interest in a particular item, whether or not it is entered in the Authority’s register of interests, or any other significant interest which they consider should be declared in the public interest, they should declare the existence and, unless it is a sensitive interest as defined in the Member Code of Conduct, the nature of the interest at the commencement of the consideration of that item or as soon as it becomes apparent.

At meetings where members of the public are allowed to be in attendance and speak, any Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest or other significant interest may also make representations, give evidence or answer questions about the matter.  The Councillor must then withdraw immediately from the meeting before the matter is discussed and any vote taken.

Where Members of the public are not allowed to be in attendance and speak, then the Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest should withdraw from the meeting whilst the matter is under consideration. Councillors who have declared other significant interests should also withdraw from the meeting if they consider their continued participation in the matter would not be reasonable in the circumstances and may give rise to a perception of a conflict of interest.

Councillors are not obliged to withdraw from the meeting where a dispensation to that effect has been obtained from the Audit, Pensions and Standards Committee. 

Councillor Natalia Perez declared a significant interest in respect of the applications for St Paul’s Girls School,  Brock Green London as she was a member of the Board of Governors at Larmenier & Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School which was adjacent to the application site. She considered that this did not give rise to a perception of a conflict of interests and, in the circumstances it would be reasonable to participate in the discussion and vote thereon.

Councillor Natalia Perez declared a significant interest in respect of the applications for St Paul’s Girls School,  Brock Green London as she was a member of the Board of Governors at Larmenier & Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School which was adjacent to the application site. She considered that this did not give rise to a perception of a conflict of interests and, in the circumstances it would be reasonable to participate in the discussion and vote thereon.

            The above applications were considered together.

            Please see the Addendum attached to the minutes for further details.

            The Committee received representations from the applicant and applicant’s agent in support of the applications. They stressed that there were no plans to increase the number of the pupils at the school as a result of the proposal, that the school was fully engaged with the local community including local primary schools and had been fully involved with the Council in developing the proposals.

            The Committee voted on planning application 2015/02035/FUL and unanimously agreed the application.

            The Committee voted on planning application 2015/02036/LBC and unanimously agreed the application.

            RESOLVED THAT:

1)     The Director for Planning and Growth be authorised to determine application 2015/02035/FUL and grant planning permission upon the completion of a satisfactory legal agreement and subject to the conditions set out in the report and Addendum.

2)     Planning Application 2015/2036/LBC be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Please see the addendum attached to the minutes for further details.

The Committee received representations from the applicants agent in support of the application. She commented that the wider local community already had access to the school’s sports facilities outside of school hours and it made sense for the school to focus its facilities in a way in which they could most efficiently be used. It was also stressed that Sports England was comfortable with the proposals. 

The Committee voted on planning application 2015/02035/FUL and unanimously agreed the application. 

RESOLVED THAT:

That the Director for Planning and Growth be authorised to determine Application 2015/02035/FUL and grant planning permission upon the completion of a satisfactory legal agreement and subject to the conditions set out in the report and Addendum.

Please see the addendum attached to the minutes for further details.

During the Committee’s discussion of the proposals it was proposed by Councillor Karmel that the second paragraph of Condition 30 be amended to include office users and so forth and that an additional condition be added prohibiting the conversion of the proposed office space to residential use.  After being duly seconded, the Committee voted on the proposed amendment and addition to the conditions and these were agreed.

The Committee then voted on planning application 2015/04119/FUL and unanimously agreed the application. 

RESOLVED THAT:

The Director of Planning and Growth be authorised to determine Application 2015/04119/FUL and grant permission on the completion of a satisfactory legal agreement and subject to:

1)     The addition of a condition prohibiting the conversion of the proposed office use space to residential use;

2)     The amendment of condition 30 to include reference to office users;

3)     The remaining conditions set out on the report and Addendum.

Please see the addendum attached to the minutes for further details.

The Committee received representations from the applicant’s architect in support of the application. He commented that the existing building was not in keeping with the local context, but that the proposed property would be a high quality residential unit in keeping with Lillie Road.

The Committee voted on planning application 2015/03455/FUL and unanimously decided not to agree the Officer’s recommendation to approve the application.

It was then proposed by Councillor Karmel and duly seconded that the proposal be refused on the grounds that the proposal would be detrimental to the outlook of neighbouring properties, had in appropriate fenestration, was not in keeping with the established terrace height of Lillie Road, provided  insufficient amenity space, and would provide insufficient refuse storage provision. The Committee decided unanimously to agree these reasons for refusal.      

RESOLVED THAT:

That Application 2015/03455/FUL be refused on the grounds that the proposal would be detrimental to the outlook of neighbouring properties, had inappropriate fenestration which was not in keeping with the established terrace height of Lillie Road, provided insufficient amenity space and would provide insufficient refuse storage provision.     

The Committee voted on the confirmation of Tree Preservation Order T/396/07/15 and unanimously agreed that it be confirmed without modification.

RESOLVED THAT:

Tree Preservation Order T/396/07/15 be confirmed without modification.

In discussing the proposal to fell the tree, Members of the Committee commented that on balance they felt that permission should be granted as in their view the particular species of tree at the site, a ‘Tree of Heaven’ had significant problems that outweighed the case for its protection.  However, it was felt that an appropriate alternative species, potentially a form of Birch or Silver Birch should be planted as a replacement.  

The Committee voted on application 2015/05334/TPO and unanimously decided not to accept the recommendation to refuse the application and to approve the application.

RESOLVED THAT:

Application 2015/05334/TPO be approved subject to appropriate standard conditions and the replacement of the current tree with an appropriate replacement from the Birch or Silver Birch species.