To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 21st November 2011.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 21st November 2011 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda Item.  Please see Notes 1 and 2 below.

Councillor P L E Bucknell declared a personal interest in Minute No. 49 (f) having inadvertently been invited to visit the site as Ward Councillor. 

Councillor R B Howe declared a personal interest in Minute No. 49 (b) as an acquaintance of the developer of an adjacent site. 

Councillor Mrs P J Longford declared a personal interest in Minute No. 49 (b) as a resident of The Avenue, St. Neots.

To consider a report by the Planning Service Manager (Development Management).

The Planning Service Manager (Development Management) submitted reports (copies of which are appended in the Minute Book) on applications for development to be determined by the Panel and advised Members of further representations (details of which also are appended in the Minute Book) which had been received in connection therewith since the reports had been prepared.  Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

              (a)     Erection of single storey dwelling following the demolition of double garage, land at 63 Great Whyte, Ramsey – 11/00937/FUL

                        (Mrs Smith, applicant addressed the Panel on the application.)

                        that the application be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Head of Planning Services to include those listed in paragraph 5.1 of report now submitted.

              (b)     Provision of 6 screen cinema, four restaurant buildings with external seating area (A3) and three flats, together with car park, public plaza and thoroughfare, cycle parking and refuse collection facilities, land at former fire station and land east to recreation ground, Huntingdon Street, St Neots – 11/01319/FUL

                        (See Minute No. 48 for Members’ interests.)

                        (District Councillors B S Chapman, K J Churchill, R S Farrer, A Hansard, R Harrison and D Harty, Mrs M Cooke, Objector and Mr C Brown, applicant addressed the Panel on the application.)

                        The Chairman advised Members that as the applicant had addressed the Panel for three minutes, there was no opportunity for the four supporters of the application (Messrs S Davidson, C Thompson, G Welton and Mrs J Winters) whom had registered to speak to make representations to the Panel.

                        that, subject to the completion of an Agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to secure a contribution for the upgrading of the Urban Traffic Control System,  the application be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Head of Planning Services to include those listed in paragraph 8 of the report now submitted and additionally to require the provision of a car park management plan and to take forward the representations of Natural England in respect of the undertaking of a bat survey and phase 1 habitat and protected species survey. 

                        [Councillor P D Reeve asked that his request for a Parish Referendum on this application be recorded in the Minutes.]

                        Councillor N J Guyatt left the meeting at 8.41pm. 

                        At 8.42pm, it was

                        RESOLVED

                                    that the meeting stand adjourned.

                        Upon resumption at 8.45pm.

              (c)     Retention of part-change of use to garage to create a small stock room and display area for a business, 2 Baker’s Court, Great Gransden – 10/01796/FUL

                        (Councillor J Gorton, Great Gransden Parish Council and Messrs R Fletcher and R Nuttall, objectors addressed the Panel on the application.)

                        that the application be refused for the following reason –

                        the disturbance resulting from customers and deliveries to the proposed use would have an undue and unacceptable impact upon the amenity of the occupiers of residential properties in Baker’s Court, Great Gransden and conditions could not satisfactorily address these concerns.  The proposal is therefore contrary to policies  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

To consider a report by the Planning Service Manager (Development Management).

By reference to a report by the Planning Service Manager (Development Management) the Panel was advised of the progress of various appeals against refusal of planning permission by the District Council.

 In terms of St. Neots Model Flying Club and the application for costs against the Council, the Planning Service Manager (Development Management) reminded the Panel how essential it was to provide robust reasons for refusal of an application and that on occasions it might be preferable for the Panel to defer an application for further information (rather than refuse) to avoid the potential for costs to be incurred by the Council.