Meeting Details

Planning Committee North
10 Sep 2019 - 14:00 to 14:33
  • Documents
  • Attendance
  • Visitors
  • Declarations of Interests

Documents

Agenda

Meeting Details
Meetingdetails
MeetingDetails

Members are invited to a Meeting of the Planning Committee North

to be held in the Conference Room, Riverside, Lowestoft

on Tuesday, 10 September 2019 at 2:00 pm

Part One - Open To The Public
1 Apologies for Absence and Substitutions
1

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ashdown, Bond, and Brooks.  Councillor Goldson acted as substitute for Councillor Ashdown, Councillor Cooper acted as substitute for Councillor Bond, and Councillor Burroughes acted as substitute for Councillor Brooks.

 

In the absence of Councillor Ashdown, the Chairman of the Committee, the Vice-Chairman Councillor Ceresa acted as Chairman for the meeting.

2 Declarations of Interest

Members and Officers are invited to make any declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary or Local Non-Pecuniary Interests that they may have in relation to items on the Agenda and are also reminded to make any declarations at any stage during the Meeting if it becomes apparent that this may be required when a particular item or issue is considered.

2
There were no declarations of interest.
3 Declarations of Lobbying and Responses to Lobbying
To receive any Declarations of Lobbying in respect of any item on the agenda and also declarations of any response to that lobbying.  
3
Councillor Elliott declared that he had discussed the applications at items 5 to 10 of the agenda with the applicant, Bungay Town Council, but had given factual information only.
Report of the Head of Planning and Coastal Management
4

The Committee received report ES/0134 of the Head of Planning and Coastal Management, which was a summary of the status of all outstanding enforcement cases for the Council where enforcement action had either been sanctioned under delegated powers or through the Committee up until 22 August 2019.

 

The Committee advised that the report was taken as read.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the contents of the report be received and noted.

Report of the Head of Planning and Coastal Management
5

The Committee received reports ES/0135, ES/0136, ES/0137, ES/0138, ES/0139, and ES/0140 of the Head of Planning and Coastal Management.  The reports all related to planning applications for a CCTV scheme in Bungay Town Centre, where the applicant was Bungay Town Council.

 

The Committee was advised that a single presentation would be given on all the applications and that questions to officers, public speaking and questions to speakers, and debate would be undertaken together for all applications.  The Acting Chairman confirmed that the Committee would vote separately on each application.  The presentation was made by the Area Planning and Enforcement Officer.

 

The applications had been made in order to establish a CCTV system which would cover key areas of the Town Centre in a bid to reduce crime figures which were reported to be on the increase since the since the loss of the presence of PCSOs within Bungay.  The applications sought Planning Permission to install CCTV cameras and associated equipment on three buildings which were Grade II listed buildings, situated in prominent positions within the Bungay Conservation Area.  The applications had been brought before the Committee at the request of the Referral Panel.

 

The three site locations were all outlined to the Committee. The Committee was shown details of the equipment to be installed at each site, along with detailed site plans for each location and photographs of each building that demonstrated where the CCTV equipment would be installed.

 

It was noted that cameras would not be installed at 1A Broad Street.  Receivers that would be 1.5 metres in height were proposed to be installed at this location ass this would be where CCTV feeds would be monitored from.  The Area Planning and Enforcement Officer considered that the current proposals for this location were an improvement on what had originally been proposed by the applicant, which would have resulted in a bracket extending out from decorative plaster on the building.

 

The Committee was advised that the equipment proposed to be installed at 9 Market Place had been repositioned to the chimney to minimise it standing out.

 

Photographs of a similar system installed in Beccles were shown to the Committee, to demonstrate how the impact of the equipment on the listed buildings could be mitigated.  The Area Planning and Enforcement Officer said that the variations between what was proposed in Bungay and what had been installed in Beccles related to the need for fewer receivers in Beccles, due to the configuration of buildings allowing the signal to be bounced off the clock tower.  Options for a similar set up in Bungay had been explored but such a set up was not possible.

 

The key issues were summarised as being the impact on listed buildings, the impact on the conservation area, and the public benefit of crime reduction measures.

 

The recommendations, as set out in the reports, were highlighted to the Committee.

 

The Acting Chairman invited questions to the Officer.

 

The images captured by the CCTV system were confirmed to be of a high quality.  The Area Planning and Enforcement Officer advised that he had viewed the output of the similar system installed in Beccles and was able to confirm that it was possible to zoom in and get a clear picture.  He suggested that the applicant would be able to advise on the clarity of images in more detail.

 

It was confirmed that any harm caused to the listed buildings was temporary and reversible.

 

A member of the Committee was concerned about the colouration of the equipment, noting that the receivers could not be coloured to blend in with the buildings they would be installed on.  He sought reassurance that the equipment would be as obscured as possible.

 

The Planning Development Manager advised that the recommendations in the reports included conditions for colouring the equipment to blend in with surroundings wherever possible.  She acknowledged that the receivers were required to remain in white to balance the signals received.

 

It was noted that the equipment positioning on the listed buildings had been relocated to avoid shop fascias in order to minimise the risk of vandalism.

 

Another member of the Committee asked if mesh netting could be used to further disguise the equipment.  The Planning Development Manager said that this would obscure the images captured and that officers found the proposals to be acceptable without such a measure.

 

The Planning Development Manager informed the Committee that the conditions around the colour of the equipment were worded to ensure that colours would be updated when the colouration of the buildings was changed.

 

The Acting Chairman invited Mr Burton, representing Bungay Town Council (the applicant), to address the Committee.

 

Mr Burton confirmed that the system would be installed by the same company that had installed a similar system in Beccles and that three of the cameras in the system would be Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.  He said that the Town Council would ensure the colour of the equipment was changed to match any future changes to the buildings and noted that the receivers could not be colour coded without voiding the warranty, as they would need to be disassembled and reassembled in order to do so.  He added that mesh netting would also interrupt signals.

 

The scheme was phase one of a larger CCTV system planned for Bungay.  Mr Burton acknowledged that this first phase was top heavy due to the buildings' proximity to the centre of Bungay and advised that the hardwiring used in Beccles was not viable in this instance.

 

The system had been developed by Bungay Town Council over a period of time and was supported by the Police.  Mr Burton highlighted that there had been considerable engagement with Planning Officers to mitigate harm to the listed buildings as much as possible.

 

The Acting Chairman invited questions to Mr Burton.

 

Mr Burton was able to confirm that Bungay Town Council had taken the necessary steps to ensure collection of data by the ANPR cameras was GDPR compliant.  The data would only be accessed by the Town Council or the Police.

 

The Acting Chairman invited the Committee to debate the applications that were before it.

 

Members of the Committee were in favour of the proposals.  It was noted that the applicant had worked with officers to minimise the harm caused to listed buildings and considered that the scheme would improve safety.  It was highlighted by one member of the Committee that the harm that would be caused was temporary and reversible and the system could therefore be removed when no longer required.

 

Another member of the Committee, who supported the application, questioned if the images would be as clear as those seen by the Beccles system as there would be no hardwiring.

 

It was acknowledged that the receivers would not be aesthetically pleasing as they could not be colour coded, but a member of the Committee suggested that this was common across a lot of buildings in town centres.

 

There being no further debate, the Chairman moved to the recommendation relating to application DC/19/1366/FUL as set out within the report.

 

On the proposition of Councillor Elliott, seconded by Councillor Rivett it was unanimously

 

RESOLVED

 

 That planning permission be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

 

 1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun within a period of three years beginning with the date of this permission.

 

Reason: In accordance with Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended.

 

 2. The development hereby permitted shall be completed in all respects strictly in accordance with photo montages received on 13 August 2019 and datasheets received on 29 March 2019, for which permission is hereby granted or which are subsequently submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority and in compliance with any conditions imposed by the Local Planning Authority. 

 

 Reason: For the avoidance of doubt as to what has been considered and approved.

 

3. Within six months of the cessation of the use of the equipment it shall be removed from the building.

 

Reason: In order to safeguard the special architectural or historic interest of the building.

4. Notwithstanding the transmission and receiving dishes, which are proposed to be white, the equipment shall be colour coded to match that of the surface that it is attached to and thereafter maintained in that condition.

 

Reason: In order to safeguard the special architectural or historic interest of the building. 

Report of the Head of Planning and Coastal Management
6

There being no further debate, the Chairman moved to the recommendation relating to application DC/19/1367/LBC as set out within the report.

 

On the proposition of Councillor Goldson, seconded by Councillor Rivett it was unanimously

 

RESOLVED

 

That listed building consent be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

 

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun not later than the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

 

Reason: This condition is imposed in accordance with Section 18 of the Act (as amended).

 

2. The development hereby permitted shall be completed in all respects strictly in accordance with photo montages received on 13 August 2019 and datasheets received on 29 March 2019, for which permission is hereby granted or which are subsequently submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority and in compliance with any conditions imposed by the Local Planning Authority.

 

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt as to what has been considered and approved.

 

3. Within six months of the cessation of the use of the equipment it shall be removed from the building.

 

Reason: In order to safeguard the special architectural or historic interest of the building.

 

4. Notwithstanding the transmission and receiving dishes, which are proposed to be white, the equipment shall be colour coded to match that of the surface that it is attached to and thereafter maintained in that condition.

 

Reason: In order to safeguard the special architectural or historic interest of the building.

Report of the Head of Planning and Coastal Management
7

There being no further debate, the Chairman moved to the recommendation relating to application DC/19/1373/FUL as set out within the report.

 

On the proposition of Councillor Goldson, seconded by Councillor Elliott it was unanimously

 

RESOLVED

 

That planning permission be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

 

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun within a period of three years beginning with the date of this permission.

 

Reason: In accordance with Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended. 

 

2. The development hereby permitted shall be completed in all respects strictly in accordance with photo montages received on 13 August 2019 and datasheet received on 29 March 2019, for which permission is hereby granted or which are subsequently submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority and in compliance with any conditions imposed by the Local Planning Authority.

 

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt as to what has been considered and approved.

 

3. Within six months of the cessation of the use of the equipment it shall be removed from the building.

 

Reason: In order to safeguard the special architectural or historic interest of the building.

 

4. Notwithstanding the transmission and receiving dishes, which are proposed to be white, the equipment shall be colour coded to match that of the surface that it is attached to and thereafter maintained in that condition.

 

Reason: In order to safeguard the special architectural or historic interest of the building.

Report of the Head of Planning and Coastal Management
8

There being no further debate, the Chairman moved to the recommendation relating to application DC/19/1374/LBC as set out within the report.

 

On the proposition of Councillor Goldson, seconded by Councillor Elliott it was unanimously

 

RESOLVED

 

That listed building consent be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

 

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun not later than the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

 

Reason: This condition is imposed in accordance with Section 18 of the Act (as amended).

 

2. The development hereby permitted shall be completed in all respects strictly in accordance with photo montages received on 13 August 2019 and datasheets received on 29 March 2019, for which permission is hereby granted or which are subsequently submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority and in compliance with any conditions imposed by the Local Planning Authority.

 

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt as to what has been considered and approved.

 

3. Details in respect of the following shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Council as Local Planning Authority before the work is begun. The work shall be carried out in accordance with such approved details:

 

- Details of the attachment of the pole to the existing roof and how the building will be weather proofed. 

 

Reason: In order to safeguard the special architectural or historic interest of the building.

 

4. Within six months of the cessation of the use of the equipment it shall be removed from the building.

 

Reason: In order to safeguard the special architectural or historic interest of the building.

 

5. Notwithstanding the transmission and receiving dishes, which are proposed to be white, the equipment shall be colour coded to match that of the surface that it is attached to and thereafter maintained in that condition.

 

Reason: In order to safeguard the special architectural or historic interest of the building. 

Report of the Head of Planning and Coastal Management
9

There being no further debate, the Chairman moved to the recommendation relating to application DC/19/2193/FUL as set out within the report.

 

On the proposition of Councillor Burroughes, seconded by Councillor Pitchers it was unanimously

 

RESOLVED

 

That planning permission be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

 

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun within a period of three years beginning with the date of this permission.

 

Reason: In accordance with Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended.

 

2. The development hereby permitted shall be completed in all respects strictly in accordance with photo montages received on 13 August 2019 and datasheets received on 30 May 2019, for which permission is hereby granted or which are subsequently submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority and in compliance with any conditions imposed by the Local Planning Authority.

 

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt as to what has been considered and approved.

 

3. Within six months of the cessation of the use of the equipment it shall be removed from the building.

 

Reason: In order to safeguard the special architectural or historic interest of the building.

 

4. Notwithstanding the transmission and receiving dishes, which are proposed to be white, the equipment shall be colour coded to match that of the surface that it is attached to and thereafter maintained in that condition.

 

Reason: In order to safeguard the special architectural or historic interest of the building. 

Report of the Head of Planning and Coastal Management
10

There being no further debate, the Chairman moved to the recommendation relating to application DC/19/2194/LBC as set out within the report.

 

On the proposition of Councillor Coulam, seconded by Councillor Cooper it was unanimously

 

RESOLVED

 

That listed building consent be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

 

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun not later than the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

 

Reason: This condition is imposed in accordance with Section 18 of the Act (as amended).

 

2. The development hereby permitted shall be completed in all respects strictly in accordance with photo montages received on 13 August 2019 and datasheets received on 30 May 2019, for which permission is hereby granted or which are subsequently submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority and in compliance with any conditions imposed by the Local Planning Authority.

 

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt as to what has been considered and approved.

 

3. Within six months of the cessation of the use of the equipment it shall be removed from the building.

 

Reason: In order to safeguard the special architectural or historic interest of the building.

 

4. Notwithstanding the transmission and receiving dishes, which are proposed to be white, the equipment shall be colour coded to match that of the surface that it is attached to and thereafter maintained in that condition.

 

Reason: In order to safeguard the special architectural or historic interest of the building. 

Before moving to the first item of business, the Acting Chairman announced the recent deaths of former Councillors Jim Bidwell and Simon Woods.  She paid tribute to both former councillors, highlighting their public service at district and town level.

 

The Committee stood in silence in memory of former Councillors Bidwell and Woods.

Part Two - Confidential

There are no Exempt or Confidential items for this Agenda.

Meeting Documents

Attendance

Name
No other member attendance information has been recorded for the meeting.
NameReason for Sending ApologySubstituted By
Councillor Paul Ashdown Councillor Tony Goldson
Councillor Jocelyn Bond Councillor Tony Cooper
Councillor Norman Brooks Councillor Stephen Burroughes
NameReason for AbsenceSubstituted By
No absentee information has been recorded for the meeting.

Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.

Visitors

Officers present:
Liz Beighton (Planning Development Manager), Joe Blackmore (Senior Planning and Enforcement Officer), Mia Glass (Assistant Planning and Enforcement Officer), Matt Makin (Democratic Services Officer), Iain Robertson (Area Planning and Enforcement Officer)