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.

At this point in the meeting, Members were asked to declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they may have in the business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 25^th April 2013. (To follow).

RESOLVED:                That following an update on some amendments from the Head of Planning the minutes of the last meeting held on 25^th April 2013 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

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 5pm on Wednesday 15^th May 2013. 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.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Members considered  reports of the Assistant Director (City Development and Sustainability) relating to the following planning applications, which outlined the proposals and relevant planning considerations and set out the views of the consultees and officers.

A major full application by Ms Angela Serino for use as a farm and a farm-based visitor attraction with erection of agricultural building, amenity building and associated car parking and facilities. [Osbaldwick Ward] [Site Visit]

Consideration was given to a major full application by Ms Angela Serino for the change of use of a farm to a mixed use comprising of a working farm and farm based visitor attraction with the erection of an agricultural building, amenity building and associated car parking and facilities.

 Officers circulated an update to the committee report. The update covered the following points:

·        Officers recommended changing the description of the development as follows, to make it more specific and therefore more tightly controlled:

‘Use as an open farm with erection of agricultural building, ancillary amenity building, car parking and associated facilities’.

·        An objection from Julian Sturdy MP had been received on behalf of a constituent. He acknowledged the benefits of the proposal to the rural environment but raised concerns about the impact upon local residents, traffic along Moor Lane and the impact upon the rural character of the area. (A full copy of the letter attached to the online agenda).

·        In response to objectors disagreeing with the Highways Officers comments, a further response was circulated at the meeting (attached to the online agenda).

·        The amenity building would be ancillary to the open farm and therefore not authorised for any other use. However, for the avoidance of doubt, a condition was recommended that prevented the building being used for anything else.

Members queried with Officers the reason for changing the description of the application. It was confirmed that it would  make it clear that the application referred to a farm and not a visitor attraction loosely based on a farming theme.

Professor Waddington, a Local Resident, spoke in objection to the scheme. He advised that traffic levels were a real concern for the residents of Murton and he feared that the application would cause a further increase. He also raised concerns about the impact on the openness of the Green Belt. In addition he had concerns about the hours of operation of the farm, the lack of a business case, the impact of lighting and drainage.

Angela Serino, the applicant, spoke in support of the scheme. She advised that in order for the farm business to continue to be viable, expansion at the site is necessary. In the past two years the farm had started to breed piglets and hens and had seen the addition of a Barn Owl Manor and the creation of various wildlife habitats and ponds. She urged Members to approve the application so she could continue her work.

Isobel Waddington spoke on behalf of Murton Parish Council to advise that in 2007 a traffic census had been carried out and since then levels had increased. The vehicular access to the site was a cause of concern as she considered the turning too tight,  which could cause a vehicle to veer into the opposite lane.

Councillor Warters spoke as Ward Member in objection to the application. He considered the proposed buildings inappropriate and too harmful to the Green Belt. In addition he raised concerns about the impact  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.