Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they may have in respect of business on the agenda.

Councillor D’Agorne declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in Ageda Item 4a (Minute Item 11) as he was a Sustrans volunteer and one of their routes was referenced in the report.

Councillor Reid declared an interest in Item 4a (Minute Item 11) as the Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism at the time the proposal to lease the land was taken to Executive. She stated she would hand over to the Vice Chair for this item and leave the room.

Councillor Ayre declared an interest in Item 4a (Minute Item 11)  as the current Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism. He also left the meeting for this item.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Planning Committee held on 14 June 2018

Councillor Boyce asked that the minutes of 14 June be amended to reflect the fact she had sent apologies for the meeting and Councillor Flinders had attended as a substitute.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the last meeting held on 14 June be approved and then signed by the chair as a correct record, subject to the above amendment.

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered their wish to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is by 5:00pm on Tuesday 10 July 2018. Members of the public can speak on specific planning applications or on other agenda items or matters within the remit of the Committee.

To register, please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting on the details at the foot of this agenda.

Filming or Recording Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. This broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting e.g. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

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.

This item invites Members to determine the following planning applications:

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

Change of use from agricultural holding to natural turf sports pitches including erection of changing facilities, installation of sub surface land drainage and associated soft landscaping and formation of emergency/maintenance vehicle access road. [Rural West York Ward] [Site Visit]

Members considered a Full Application for a change of use from agricultural holding to natural turf sports pitches, including erection of changing facilities, installation of sub surface land drainage and associated soft landscaping and the formation of emergency/maintenance vehicle access road.

Officers gave a detailed update, which was attached to the online agenda following the meeting. This included an update on the status of Woodthorpe Wanderers FC and details of additional representations which had been received since agenda publication. There was also an amended recommendation and several amended and additional conditions.

Josh Wong, Club Secretary for Bishopthorpe White Rose FC, spoke in support of the application. He stated that the club served over 400 players and had a large girls section plus two disabled teams. They currently had very limited facilities, one pitch for 11 teams, and this proposed development would give them opportunity to further promote sport to young people. The location would also promote sustainable transport, using the cycle path and the park and ride.

In response to Member questions he stated that:

·        The existing ponds would be lost but the proposed drainage plan would create two patches of biodiversity to replace this habitat;

·        Pick up and drop off would be at the park and ride site; and

·        There would be a lease arrangement for car parking spaces with the park and ride site.

Michael Jones spoke, on behalf of the applicant, to explain how the application would support the Council’s strategic priorities by providing pitch space across four wards. Approval would trigger consideration of an application for a £500,000 grant from the Football Foundation which would help to pay for the works. Finally it would free up land at Lowfield Green by replacing two pitches which were at that site. This would allow for creation of 165 new homes a care home, and a large area of public open space. The pitches would have huge health and social benefits for the local community.

In response to Member questions he stated:

·        The clubhouse was positioned in this location to encourage cycling as it was located next to the cycle path and as it was considered the least sensitive location as it was near trees;

·        The use of space allowed for the maximum number of pitches; and

·        An agreement would be put in place with the park and ride operator for parking provision.

During debate Members expressed their thanks for the hard work of the volunteers’ who ran the football club. They felt that the proposal was going to provide desperately needed facilities which would have huge health and social benefits for the local community. It was also noted that the impact on wildlife would be minimal. They also highlighted the need to maintain the cycle path, if cycling to this site was to be encouraged.

Resolved:  That Delegated Authority be given to the Assistant Director Planning and Public Protection to approve the proposal subject to:

1.   an acceptable agreement being reached in respect of the provision of off-site  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Erection of 64 bedroom care home, car parking and landscaping following the demolition of existing care home (revised scheme). [Fulford and Heslington Ward]

Members considered a Full Major Application for the erection of a 64 bedroom care home, with car parking and landscaping, following the demolition of existing care home.

Officers gave a detailed update, which was attached to the online agenda following the meeting. This contained a revised recommendation and details of additional representations that had been received since agenda publication. They also showed the Committee several images of the site. In response to Member questions Officers stated:

·        There would be a section 278 highway agreement in place if permission were granted and the need for parking restrictions could be assessed and then funded through this agreement;

·        The application was accompanied by a highway statement and the proposed highway access had been considered the most efficient. It was not considered that this type of use would generate many large vehicles; and

·        Car parking spaces had been angled to allow access to the site.

Mary Urmston, a local resident and Christopher Carroll her agent, spoke in objection to the application. They expressed concern over the safety of pedestrians and cyclists due to the site exit, access for emergency vehicles and the fact they considered the site was not suitable for this development due to falling within the green belt and flood zone 3.

Vivian Claire spoke on behalf of John Matthews, a local resident. He had concerns about the location of the crossing point which would fall directly outside his living room window. He felt this would severely impact on both his privacy and outlook. He asked Members to consider the relationship between his home and the crossing point, and to ensure this be moved further along the road. He also stated he felt there was insufficient parking for a development of this size.

Karin De Vries spoke, on behalf of Fulford Parish Council, to express their disappointment that this application had been recommended for approval. They felt that the wrong supply calculations had been used in the report and that there was not a shortfall of 90 beds. They felt there was a clustering of care homes in Fulford and Heslington. Finally she stated that vulnerable patients should not be placed in flood zone 2 and 3.

Kenneth Turner, a neighbouring resident, spoke in support of the application. He stated that he lived immediately opposite the site and felt that the application would benefit the community as a modern, state of the art care home, needed by the aging population of York. He also felt content that concerns he originally had over parking at the site had been addressed by the developers.

Eammon Keogh, agent for the applicant, explained to Members that there was a significant shortfall of care places and that this development was an opportunity to turn a brownfield site into a state of the art care home to meet the needs of the City. Flooding, highways, design and archaeological issues had all been addressed and all technical consultees had reaffirmed that the proposal was acceptable.

In response to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.