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.

The following apologies for absence were received from:-

Councillors G.L. Davies, J. Hill, G. Thomas and D. Wilkshire.

To consider any declarations of interest and dispensations made.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

To consider 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 decided 100% of all applications in time. This compares to a Welsh average of 85%.

Figure 2: on average it took 60 days from registration to decision for the Council to decide each planning application. The Wales average is 83 days.

Figure 3: 29% of Planning Committee decisions were contrary to officer recommendation. The Wales average is 15%.

Members congratulated the Planning Team on their performance for quarter 4 and enquired if under the current circumstances, this performance could be maintained.  The Service Manager advised that it was unlikely that this performance could be maintained as some Planning Officers were still redeployed to Covid 19 duties.

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

To consider report of the Service Manager Development and Estates.

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

The Service Manager explained that this was the standard report which provided details of the present caseload in respect of Appeals, Consultations and DNS.  It was noted due to the Covid 19 situation that a number of decisions in relation to Appeals were awaited.

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.

RESOLVED, that the report be accepted and the list of applications decided under delegated powers between 14^th July to 14^th August, 2020 be noted.

To consider the report of the Team Manager Development Management.

Application No. C/2020/0109

14 Eureka Place, Ebbw Vale, NP23 6LG

Change of use from 3-bedroom dwelling to
6-bedroom HMO and proposed parking

bays to rear garden

At the invitation of the Chair, the Team Manager, Development Management outlined the application which related to the proposed change of use from 3-bedroom dwelling to 6-bedroom HMO and proposed parking bays to rear garden of 14 Eureka Place, Ebbw Vale.

At this juncture the Chair invited comments/observations from Members of the Committee.

A Member raised concerns in relation to fire safety and parking issues on a severely congested street.  The Team Manager Development Management said that Building Control would ensure that fire safety regulations were implemented and adhered to.  The Team Manager, Built Environment was mindful of parking congestion in the area, however, the SPG determined the amount of parking spaces required and the two proposed parking bays at the rear of the property complied with Statutory Parking Guidelines (SPG).

A Member commented that an increasing number of HMO’s were being submitted for planning approval and enquired if a policy needed to be adopted to provide guidance. The Team Manager Development Management said that increasing numbers of HMO’s were being approved as a form of residential occupancy and there may be a need to consider planning legislation on the form of HMO’s.  A number of concerns had been raised by Members but these were not all planning considerations and as such a HMO policy may not solve some of the issues raised i.e.  noise nuisance etc.

A Member said there were a number of HMO’s in his Ward and he welcomed a HMO policy to ensure consistency of approach across the borough.

The Service Manager informed Members that a briefing session regarding HMO’s was being considered in the near future and the session would include other agencies i.e. Police, Health Board, Highways etc.  He agreed with his colleague that there may be a need to adopt a policy as planning applications for HMO’s were increasing.

Further concerns were raised in relation to the application and a Member proposed that the application be refused, this proposal was seconded and

A vote was thereupon taken

4 Members supported the proposal to refuse the application; and

5 Members supported approval of the application.

It was therefore

RESOLVED that planning permission be GRANTED subject to the conditions outlined in the report.

Application No. C/2020/0043

Land East of Hill Crest View, Cwmtillery, Abertillery

Residential development and associated works

At the invitation of the Chair, the Planning Officer outlined the application which related to residential development and associated works on land east of Hill Crest View, Cwmtillery, Abertillery.

At the invitation of the Chair the Public Speaker Mr Peter Barnes (Architect) addressed the Committee.

Mr Barnes said that the project was relatively straight forward but with a number of economic and financial constraints.  The developers had considered this and with construction of 28 houses the project could be financially viable.  The site was within  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider.

The Service Manager Development & Estates informed Members that a Briefing Session would be arranged regarding HMO’s in the near future.