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 not included on the Register of Interests that they might have had in the business on the agenda.

No interests were declared.

To consider excluding the public and press from the meeting during consideration of annexes to agenda item 6 on the grounds that these are classed as exempt under Paragraphs 1,2 and 6 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

Resolved:  That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of annexes to Agenda Item 6 (Enforcement Cases Update) on the grounds that they were classed as exempt under Paragraphs 1, 2 and 6 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meetings of the Area Planning Sub-Committee held on 6 February 2014 and 6 March 2014.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Area Planning Sub Committee held on Thursday 6 February 2014 and Thursday 6 March 2014 be approved as a correct record, subject to the following amendment:

                   Minutes of 6^th March – minute item 49b) – Councillor Watson had requested that his vote against approval be recorded in relation to Monk Bar Garage, Lord Mayors Walk.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Sub-Committee’s remit can do so. Anyone who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officers on the contact details listed at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is Wednesday 9 April 2014 at 5.00 pm.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

“Please note this meeting will be filmed and webcast and that includes 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, i.e. 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/downloads/download/3130/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings

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

To determine the following planning applications:

Members considered a schedule of reports of the Assistant Director (City Development and Sustainability) relating to the following planning applications, outlining the proposals and relevant policy considerations and setting out the views of consultees and Officers.

Conversion of stable block to 4no. holiday cottages and 2no. holiday or staff cottages. [Bishopthorpe Ward] [Site Visit]

Consideration was given to a full application for the conversion of a stable block to 4 holiday cottages and a further two units for holiday or staff cottages.

Officers gave an update to the committee report and advised that further letters had been received in respect of the application. The main points of the letters were as follows:

·        Additional parking within the grounds of the Manor was welcome.

·        Concerns about the pedestrian access on to Green Lane and the potential for this to encourage more temporary parking on Green Lane.

·        There is insufficient space to allow parking on both sides of Green Lane and  insufficient parking space along Lady Wortley Place. Photographs were also submitted to illustrate the point.

·        The loss of the verge would detract from the character of the conservation area

·        Earlier correspondence showed that the majority of residents along Green Lane shared the view that the Pedestrian access was unacceptable.

Richard Broyd had registered to speak in objection to the application on behalf of The National Trust. He advised that the trust had been responsible for rescuing the main hall in the 1980’s and that it was closely related to the other outbuildings. The Trust considered the development of 6 cottages to be excessive and would prefer to see 4 residential dwellings on the site in order to enhance the local community and to keep the character of the buildings. He also raised concerns about the parking provision and the impact of holiday visitors on residents and hotel guests.

Roy Seddon had registered to speak in objection to the application on behalf of local residents. He advised that in general, the application was welcomed by residents who would like to see the buildings renovated. The main concern was the proposed pedestrian access onto Green Lane through the gate in the wall and the potential for this to encourage users of the cottages to park along Green Lane instead of using the designated parking area at the rear.

Peter Callaghan had registered to speak as the project Manager on behalf of the applicant. He advised that the proposals had been carefully developed and was a viable re-use of a listed building. The sub-division into 6 units was designed to keep the character of the building. In relation to the comments made by the other speakers about parking in the area, guests would be directed to use the dedicated parking area via the main gate and adequate parking had been provided within the scheme. The pedestrian access through the gate would be an additional facility for those who wished to walk or cycle without using the main gates and would be useful for putting out rubbish bins.

Members questioned the applicants agent on a number of aspects as follows:

·        Whether the applicant would be prepared to protect the grass verge on Green Lane. It was advised that it was the responsibility of City of York Council to maintain the verge but the applicant would comply in any way as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55a

Conversion of stable block to 4no. holiday cottages and 2no. holiday or staff cottages.    [Bishopthorpe Ward] [Site Visit]

Consideration was given to an application for Listed Building Consent in respect of Middlethorpe Manor for the conversion of a stable block to 4 holiday cottages and 2 holiday or staff cottages.

Resolved:           That the application for Listed Building Consent in respect of Middlethorpe Manor be approved.

Reason:              The details of the scheme are considered to comply with the policy guidance within section 12 of the NPPF, s.16 and 72 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and is similarly supported by policies HE2, HE3 and HE4 of the DCLP subject to appropriate conditions.

External alterations to building including replacement windows, doors and spandrel panels. [Guildhall Ward] [Site Visit]

Members considered a full application by St Catherines Developments Ltd  for  external alterations to Hilary House, St Saviours Place, including replacement windows, doors and spandrel panels.

Officers advised of an update to condition 4 to also request large scale details of  - ‘Typical setting out of cladding panels (to show dimensions of panels and shadow gaps)’.

In addition, Officers reported that additional survey work had been carried out which did not reveal the presence of bat roosts at the site. As a result, it was recommended that condition 5 be amended to require mitigation rather than a full survey, as follows:

Bat Mitigation

Prior to the development hereby approved a minimum of 4 bat boxes shall be installed at roof level on the building, as recommended by MAB Environment and Ecology Ltd., in correspondence dated 08.04.2014.

Reason:  In order to provide replacement habitat facilities for a protected species, in accordance with section 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Councillor Watson advised that residents had expressed disappointment that there had been a lack of discussion on other elements of the scheme under this application.

The applicants agent was in attendance. He asked that Members approve the application as recommended by Officers and that the changes would improve the appearance of the building which is in a conservation area.

In response to questions from Members, Officers confirmed that the windows would open and that the proposed finish of the panels was smooth as opposed to the current pebble-dash.

Members commented that the building had long been considered unattractive and anything that improved its appearance was welcomed.

Resolved:           That the application be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the committee report and amended condition 4.

Reason:              In determining planning applications within conservation areas, the Council has a statutory duty to consider the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character and appearance of the area. Thus in order for the scheme to be unacceptable it would need to be determined that the proposals are harmful to the character and appearance of the conservation area. The scheme as revised is for replacement windows and cladding panels only. The products proposed are of an acceptable quality. Overall the proposals would at least maintain the character and appearance of the conservation area.

The purpose of this report is to provide Members with a continuing quarterly update on the number of enforcement cases currently outstanding for the area covered by this Sub-Committee. 

Members received a report which provided them with a continuing quarterly update on the number of enforcement cases currently outstanding for the area covered by the Committee.

Members queried if there was another way of keeping Members informed on Enforcement Cases as due to the number of cases, it was difficult for Members to thoroughly read the papers.

It was suggested that it be delegated to the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Planning Committees to agree a way forward.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Reason:   To update Members on the number of outstanding Enforcement cases within the Sub-Committee area.