Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair addressed comments that had been made at the recent full council meeting and reminded Members of the committee that planning decisions were not political and were made on a planning basis.  He stated that the Monitoring Officer had written to Members to remind them of their statutory duties.

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

[Please see attached sheet for further guidance for Members].

Members were asked to declare at this point in the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest or other registerable interest they might have in respect of business on the agenda, if they had not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests.

None were declared.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines have changed to 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at meetings.  The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Monday 4 December 2023.

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form.  If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting, please contact Democratic Services.  Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be webcast, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme on general matters within the remit of the Planning Committee A.

This item invites Members to determine the following planning applications:

Members considered a schedule of reports of the Head of Planning and Development, relating to the following planning applications, outlining the proposals and relevant policy considerations and setting out the views of consultees and officers.

Erection of 139no. dwellings with associated landscaping and infrastructure. [Wheldrake Ward]

Members considered a major full application by Liam Tate for the erection of 139 dwellings with associated landscaping and infrastructure at the above site.

The Head of Planning and Development gave a presentation on the plans and noted the late representation which had been emailed to Members.  The Development Management Officer provided a written update which covered additional correspondence and updated conditions 2, 4 and 13 and recommendation 7.2.  He confirmed that the additional information had been assessed and did not change the officer’s recommendation for approval.

In response to questions from Members, the plans were further clarified and the sound proofing for houses located near the industrial estate was explained in more detail.  It was reported that the applicant was to fund the ventilation system that would deal with potential smells from the nearby industrial estate.

Public Speakers

Suzie Mercer, a resident and former Ward Councillor, spoke in objection to the application and raised concerns about the existing infrastructure namely the C road network, a poor bus service, the primary school capacity, drainage and lack of services such as pub and shops.  She went on to request, if planning was approved, that a contribution be made from the s106 funding to the Wheldrake Recreation Association for a MUGA.

In response to questions she explained that a site for the MUGA had been identified on the tennis courts.  She confirmed that there was no Sunday bus service and the recreation ground was the only sports facility in the village.

Cllr Vassie, Ward Councillor, questioned the sustainability of the development and highlighted that there was a lack of accessible services, with no pharmacy, dentist or doctors surgery in the village.  He stated that there was no safe cycle route and raised concerns regarding carbon emissions, loss of wildlife habitat and biodiversity.

In response to questions, he stated that the NHS could match fund the s106 payment to site a pharmacy and surgery within walking distance.  He noted that sport and recreation facilities should be within a 30 minutes of public transport and he requested that funding for public transport be ring fenced for improvements to bus services and cycle routes.  He requested swift bricks and hedgehog highways to improve biodiversity and an increase in car club spaces.

Liam Tate, the applicant, spoke in support of the application and noted that the residential allocation was in the council’s emerging local plan. He highlighted the plans for the private management company and that the acoustic barrier was to be managed in perpetuity.   Additional contributions totalled £1.5m, the NHS was match funding the allocation for the doctors surgery although only if it was located in Elvington.

In response to questions he explained the details of management fees for social housing was set out in the s106 agreement, the local authority had decided where the funding was needed for schools, the details relating to the sustainable development, such as solar and heat pumps, were yet to be decided and measures to support wildlife such  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

Temporary/seasonal change of use from agricultural field to car park. [Fulford and Heslington Ward]

This item was withdrawn by the applicant prior to the meeting and was therefore not considered by the Committee.