Agenda and minutes

To receive and note apologies for absence.

Apologies were received and noted from Cllrs Fenton and Nelson.  Cllr Fenton was substituted by Cllr Widdowson and Cllr Nelson was substituted by Cllr Melly.

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 the attached sheet for further guidance for Members.]

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

In relation to Item 5a, St Olaves School, Cllr Moroney noted, for transparency, that he had relatives who attended St Olaves. 

To approve and sign the minutes of the last Planning Committee B meeting held on 15 July 2025.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last meeting held on 15 July 2025 were approved as a correct record, subject to a correction to the text at minute 15, paragraph 11 where is should have said ‘Following debate, the Chair formally proposed the officer recommendation to refuse the application.’

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.

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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.

This item invites Members to determine the following planning applications:

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

Erection of 8no 15 metre high sports flood light columns. [Clifton Ward]

Members considered a full application by St Peters School for the erection of 8 no. 15metre-high sports flood light columns.

The Development Manager gave a presentation on the plans and provided an update that contained a revision to planning condition 6 referring to the lighting design and also removed informative 2. 

In response to questions from members he confirmed the picture included in the lighting assessment was a visualisation provided by the applicant.  He explained that the lighting design must conform to the guidance note contained in the update and the informative had been removed as the regulations did not apply to proposals below 25 square metres; the calculation had been provided by the agent for the applicant. The location of the tree line planting was also confirmed to members.

Public Speaker

Jeremy Walker, the applicant and Headmaster of St Peter’s School, explained that the floodlights would provide more opportunities for students of the school and members of the public to take part in sport, noting that it would also reduce the number of coach journeys currently undertaken, thus reducing traffic in the area.  He stated that there had been no complaints regarding the existing temporary flood lights and that they were keen to make the ecological improvements to the site with the tree planting.

In response to questions from members, he confirmed that they had not received any complaints in relation to the flood lights or related generators.  His associates confirmed that onsite parking was available for those members of the public using the pitches and the opening hours had been agreed up to 8pm. They also explained that the new lights would be 15m tall, to reduce light spill and meet the requirements of hockey’s national governing body.

Following debate, Cllr Warters proposed the officer recommendation to approve the application, subject to the tabled amendment to condition six, the deletion of informative two as outlined in the update.  Also, a variation to condition five was required to specify that the bat boxes were sited on existing trees with the trigger point for this to be delegated to the Development Manager.  Condition two also required amendment to include reference to the floodlighting plan and the floodlight elevation plan.  The Chair seconded the proposal.   On being put to a vote, members voted unanimously in favour, and it was:

Resolved:             That the application be approved, subject to the amendments outlined above.

Reason:               The proposal would provide sport and curriculum benefits to students of the school in line with Policy HW3 of the Local Plan enabling students and visiting teams to play hockey into the early evening as part of the school curriculum and as part of local leagues. The proposal would also potentially free-up pitch use at other sites currently used by St Peters School which is of minor benefit.  There is not considered to be any harmful impacts on the setting of the conservation area or the listed buildings within the school estate.  Regard has been given to the withdrawal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Erection of a boundary fence of 2.4 metres high. [Heworth Ward]

Members considered a general regulations (Reg3) application by City of York Council for the erection of a boundary fence of 2.4 metres high.

The Development Manager gave a presentation on the plans and confirmed that there was no update to the officer’s report. 

Public Speaker

Jon Webb, a resident, spoke in objection to the application stating that the space at the entrance of the kids’ club was not an appropriate space for dropping off and collecting children, the position of the space did not allow for a safe route for the children to the car or the building. The clash of closing time for both the football and kids’ club meant that there were often cars parked on the pavement at 6pm, this was likely to worsen once Burnholme Green housing development was fully occupied.  He also stated that the fence was out of keeping with the area.

In response to questions from Members, he explained that it would not be safe for children to have to squeeze past parked vehicles to exit on to a busy road.

For member’s benefit, the Development Manager showed the pedestrian gate on the plans.  Following a discussion on the siting of the pedestrian gate, and the location of the fence, he confirmed that the decision on the application, following a discussion with the applicant, could be delegated to officers, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair, under delegated powers.

Cllr Warters moved that the decision on the application should be delegated to officers, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair, with the view to achieving a safer location of the pedestrian entrance and situating the fence behind the existing hedge.  This was seconded by the Chair.

Members voted unanimously in favour of this proposal, and it was therefore:

Resolved:             That the application be approved in principle, with the decision delegated to the Development Manager, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair, for the reasons outlined above.

Reason:                The proposal would have an acceptable impact on visual amenity and highway safety. The proposed scheme complies with The City of York Local Plan, and The National Planning Policy Framework.

As the meeting came to a close, the Chair took the opportunity to thank members of the committee for their service, noting that the committee was unlikely to be meeting again, following proposals to be voted on at the next meeting of full council.