Agenda and minutes

You are welcome to use Welsh at the meeting a minimum notice period of 3 working days is required should you wish to do so.  A simultaneous translation will be provided if requested.

It was noted that no requests had been received for the simultaneous translation service.

To receive.

There were no apologies for absence received.

To consider any declarations of interest and dispensations made.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

To consider the report of the Service Manager Development and Estates.

Consideration was given to the report of the Service Manager Development & Estates.

The Service Manager outlined the Council’s current performance as follows:

Figure 1 – the Council was ranked 1^st in terms of its performance for determining applications in time i.e. within 8 weeks or within the period agreed by the applicant.  This equated to 100% of applications, compared to the Welsh average of 86%. 

Figure 2 – the Council was ranked 5^th for this measure in order of performance as on average it took 60 days from registration to decision for the Council to determine an application, whilst the Welsh average was 87 days. 

Figure 3 – 38% of Planning Committee decisions had been made contrary to the officer recommendation.  The Welsh average was 10%.

A Member referred to Figure 3 and pointed out that only 3 decisions had been made contrary to officer recommendation which was quite a minute number.

The Service Manager advised that the Council was consistently in the bottom two in terms of this performance measure.  It was noted that a review of the scheme of delegation for enforcement matters had been undertaken the previous year and it was the intention to undertake a similar review in respect of the scheme of delegation for planning applications in the next few months.

Upon a vote being taken it was unanimously,

RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and the Quarter 3 Performance Information contained therein be noted.

To consider the report of the Service Manager Development and Estates.

Members considered the report of the Service Manager Development & Estates, whereupon:

Councillor D. Wilkshire joined the meeting at this juncture.

C/2019/0090: APP/X6910/A/19/3243676 – Star Fields, Off Mountain Road, Ebbw Vale

A Member expressed her appreciation to the Service Manager and officers for the excellent response submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in respect of this particular appeal.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the information contained therein be noted.

To consider the report of the Senior Business Support Officer.

Consideration was given to the report of the Senior Business Support Officer, whereupon:

C/2020/0002 – Tesco Stores Ltd., Castle Street – Retention of Fast Charger

A Member enquired whether there were any guidance notes or a policy available covering the installation of electric charging points in order to provide clarity on whether planning permission was required or not as this could prevent an influx of retrospective applications being received.  It was noted that there was not a ‘universal’ type of charger.

The Service Manager Development & Estates confirmed that whilst there was not a specific planning policy that related to electric charging points, regionally work was being undertaken in relation to the feasibility of rolling out of charging points across some developments.

In reply to a question, the Service Manager confirmed that only some types of charger required planning permission and building regulations may be amended to require mandatory consent for some new developments.  Potentially there could be a change to the building regulations later in the year but draft guidance on this matter was awaited from Welsh Government.

Upon a vote being taken it was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the list of applications decided under delegated powers between 21^st January to 21^st February, 2020 be noted.

To consider the report of the Team Manager Development Management.

Consideration was given to the report of the Team Manager Development Management.

The following planning applications were explained to Members with the aid of slides:

Councillor G. Thomas joined the meeting at this juncture.

Application No. C/2019/0330 – Unit 2, Tafarnaubach Industrial Estate, Tafarnaubach – The Change of Use of Existing Buildings from Education and Training Centre to B2 Industrial Use for the Recycling and Recovery of WEEE (Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment) and Associated Materials and Products

The Team Leader Development Management explained that this was a follow up report in relation to the original planning application which had been presented and discussed in detail at the February 2020 meeting of the Committee.

Members had raised concern regarding the potential impact of the proposal on nearby residents. It had, therefore, been resolved that a decision on the application be deferred pending a fact finding site visit.  The follow up report had addressed the concerns that had been raised at that meeting. 

It was noted that a Swept Path Analysis had been undertaken which demonstrated that heavy goods vehicles (HGV’s) would be able to turn safely within the curtilage of the site. The Highway Authority had confirmed that the traffic movements associated with the proposed use was comparable to those for the previous use of the building and had raised no objection in respect of this matter.

The views of the Committee were, thereupon, sought and Members commented/raised questions as follows:

ØLitter - A Member pointed out that with residential properties being located so close to the site, it was the issue of litter that the residents were more concerned about rather than the small amount of flammable liquids being stored at the site.

ØScreening – Would sound proof screening be provided?

The Team Leader Development Management confirmed that a condition had been proposed within the original report which required the submission of details of fencing for both visual and noise mitigation purposes.

The Specialist Environmental Health Officer advised that details of the submitted fencing would need to be considered by Environmental Health to ensure that the structure would provide satisfactory noise mitigation and that they would advise the Planning Officer accordingly.  It was noted that the approved fencing would need to be erected before the proposal became operational.  

ØFuture Variation of Conditions/Change of Use - A Member requested that if there were variations to any of these conditions or a change of use to vary the operation at the premises, that the application be automatically considered by the Committee.

The Service Manager Development & Estates said that he was unable to provide this guarantee. Any application received would be included in the weekly list which was circulated to all Members and Ward Members retained the option to ‘call in’ the application.

ØWeighbridge – To address a concern raised, the Team Leader gave details of the proposed location of the weighbridge.

ØVehicular Noise - It was confirmed that in order to protect the amenity of nearby  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider.

Visit to Neighbouring Planning Authority:

A Member referred to the previous discussions that had taken place to visit a neighbouring planning authority.

This point was noted.

Houses of Multiple Occupation:

A training event in respect of HMO’s i.e. House of Multiple Occupation would be held during June.

Supplementary Planning Guidance:

Refresher training on the above was requested.

To receive and consider the following report which in the opinion of the proper officer is an exempt item taking into account consideration of the public interest test and that the press and public should be excluded from the meeting (the reason for the decision for the exemption is available on a schedule maintained by the proper officer).

To receive and consider the following report which in the opinion of the proper officer was an exempt items taking into account consideration of the public interest test and that the press and public should be excluded from the meeting (the reason for the decision for the exemption was available on a schedule maintained by the proper officer).

To consider the report of the Service Manager Development.

Having regard to the views expressed by the Proper Officer regarding the public interest test, that on balance the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information and that the report should be exempt.

RESOLVED that the public be excluded whilst this item of business is transacted as it is likely there would be a disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Consideration was given to the report of the Service Manager Development & Estates.

RESOLVED that the report which related to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority) be accepted and the information contained therein be noted.