16 FEBRUARY 2006
Minutes of a joint meeting of the DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEES (EAST &
WEST) held in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 9.30 am when
there were present:
Councillors
D Corbett (Chairman)
Mrs S A Arnold
B Cabbell Manners
H C Cordeaux
Mrs A R Green
Mrs J A Howe
Mrs R R Massingham
Mrs B McGoun
T H Moore
J H Perry-Warnes
N P Ripley
Mrs S Stockton
Mrs A M Tillett
Mrs J Trett
Mrs C M Wilkins
Mrs S L Willis
J A Wyatt
P J Willcox - substitute for J D Savory
B G Crowe - Glaven Valley Ward
Officers:
Mr A Mitchell - Development Control Manager (West)
Mr R Howe - Planning, Legal and Enforcement Manager
Mr P Took - Senior Planning Officer (East)
(1)
PROCEDURE FOR THE MEETING
The Chairman requested that it be noted that he had informed the members of the
public of the public speaking procedures for this meeting prior to its commencement.
(2)
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DETAILS OF SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C A Fenn, Miss P E Ford, J D
Savory, Miss C P Sheridan, S K Welsh and S J Wright. One substitute Member
attended the meeting as shown above.
(3)
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
The Chairman stated that there were no items of urgent business which he wished to
bring before the Committee.
(4)
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillors T H Moore and Mrs S Stockton declared interests, the details of which
are recorded under the minute of the item concerned.
The Chairman stated that all Members had been lobbied and had received
correspondence on the planning applications that were under consideration at the
meeting.
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16 February 2006
(5)
MUNDESLEY - 20051131 - Change of use from C1 (hotel) to C2 (residential care
home) at Ingleside Hotel, Cromer Road for Dr T Tiburtius
Councillor Mrs S Stockton declared a personal interest in this application as she was
a licensee and owner of a public house.
The Committee considered item 1 of the officers’ reports in respect of a planning
application for the change of use of hotel premises to a residential care home for the
accommodation of adolescents with learning difficulties.
Public Speakers
Mr Hogg (Mundesley Parish Council)
Mr Williams (objecting)
The Senior Planning Officer explained the policy issues relating to this application.
He stated that there were no strategic policy objections and the application should be
considered under land use legislation. He referred to a request by the Committee for
the applicant to attend the meeting to explain his proposals and stated that he
understood that the applicant was currently in Australia and had been unable to
contact him.
The Chairman read to the Committee an e-mail that had been received from
Councillor W J Northam, a local Member, who considered that the application was
contrary to Structure Plan Policy EC.10, and had referred to the importance of
tourism to North Norfolk which he considered would increase with the closure of RAF
Coltishall.
Councillor Mrs B McGoun requested clarification of the policy issues. She did not
consider that this application would meet the needs of the local rural population as it
appeared that residents would be brought in from other areas. She also expressed
concern at the lack of outdoor play provision for future residents of the home. She
considered that the premises had not been marketed as a public house. She
expressed concern at the comments of the Head of Regeneration and Strategic
Housing and considered that the loss of hotel accommodation was short-sighted.
The Senior Planning Officer explained that it was unlikely that outdoor play provision
would be required and that this was an issue for the Health Commission. With
regard to the loss of the hotel, he explained that the property had been marketed in
excess of one year at a reasonable price and it was understood that the applicant
was the only person to make a firm offer.
The Development Control Manager stated that the application complied with Policy 5
of the Local Plan. In respect of Policy 87 it was considered that the premises was a
hybrid where the bar was ancillary to the hotel and officers had gone as far as they
could in requiring the applicant to demonstrate there was no demand through the
marketing exercise.
Councillor Mrs C M Wilkins considered that there had been no change in
circumstances since a previous application for change of use was refused in 1996.
She was concerned at the effect the proposed change of use would have on other
clubs and businesses associated with the hotel and on the local economy.
Councillor H C Cordeaux was concerned at the proximity of the building to the cliff
top and considered that it was an unsuitable location for the proposed use.
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16 February 2006
Councillor Mrs A M Tillett referred to the importance of tourism for North Norfolk and
considered that leisure facilities should be promoted. She referred to the number of
leisure and sports organisations that used the hotel and considered that they would
be destroyed by the proposal.
Councillor Mrs S Stockton stated that if the Ingleside were closed there would be no
facilities for residents at the western end of the village, where the housing estate had
expanded. She appreciated that it was difficult to make a profit but considered that
the Ingleside could be profitable if it were properly run. She suggested that if the
premises could not be made profitable within a year the change of use could be
reconsidered.
Councillor Mrs S L Willis, a local Member, considered that Structure Plan Policy
EC.10 was sufficiently strong to refuse this application. She referred to consultations
undertaken on behalf of the Council and statements that had been made by the
Authority in the Local Plan and other publications in respect of the need for such
facilities and the need to support the local economy. She stated that Mundesley was
in the top quartile of deprivation and she was not prepared to see it deprived further.
She considered that the Head of Regeneration and Strategic Housing was being
inconsistent in opposing the loss of four letting rooms at the Barton Angler whilst
supporting the loss of seven at the Ingleside. She stated that there were already
three care homes in Mundesley and referred to an appeal case involving Colwyn BC
which was dismissed on grounds of the cumulatively damaging effect of such
changes of use. She considered that this application should be refused.
The Development Control Manager stated that each case had to be considered on its
own merits and careful consideration had been given to this application by the
officers including the Head of Regeneration and Strategic Housing.
The Planning, Legal and Enforcement Manager stated that whilst the Committee
could base its decision on the strategic plan, Norfolk County Council had raised no
strategic policy objection and this would be taken into account in the event of an
appeal.
It was proposed by Councillor Mrs S L Willis, seconded by Councillor J H PerryWarnes and
RESOLVED by 13 votes to 0 with 4 abstentions
That this application be refused on grounds of non-compliance with
Policy EC10 of the Norfolk Structure Plan on grounds that the proposal
would result in the loss of the hotel and related community and leisure
facilities which make an important contribution to the amenities of the
area and the local stock of holiday accommodation.
In response to a suggestion by Councillor B Cabbell Manners, supported by
Councillor H C Cordeaux that the application should also be refused on grounds that
the site is not suitable for the proposed use, the Development Control Manager
advised that the suitability of the site was an issue for the licensing authority.
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(6)
THORNAGE - 20051918 - Change of use of outbuildings to chiller, cutting and
processing rooms in association with proposed butchery and variation of
condition 3 of planning permission 20050471 to allow 20% of goods to be
sourced from outside region at Breck Farm, Fakenham Road for Mr D Astley
Councillor T H Moore declared a personal interest in this application as he knew the
applicant and had supplied cattle to the applicant in the past. The Planning, Legal
and Enforcement Manager confirmed that this was not a prejudicial interest.
The Committee considered item 2 of the officers’ reports in respect of an application
for the change of use of outbuildings to chiller, cutting and processing rooms in
association with proposed butchery and variation of condition 3 of planning
permission 20050471 to allow 20% of goods to be sourced from outside region.
Public Speaker
Mr Astley (supporting)
Councillor B G Crowe, the local Member, supported this application. He stated that
the business received a small number of visitors compared to Bale Garage or
Pinewoods, and unlike those businesses, did not receive visits from HGVs or
caravans.
Councillor T H Moore stated that he used the road regularly and had never witnessed
any problems at the site. However, he considered that no goods should be sourced
from outside the UK.
In answer to a question the Development Control Manager explained how the
amount of goods sourced from outside the region could be monitored. He stated that
“outside the region” could mean goods from outside the UK. He advised the
Committee on the conditions that he considered should be imposed in the event of
approval of this application.
It was proposed by Councillor H C Cordeaux, duly seconded and
RESOLVED by 15 votes to 0 with 2 abstentions
That this application be approved subject to the imposition of
appropriate conditions to include the goods to be sourced from outside
the East Anglian region to be limited to 20% and the cessation of the
retail use in the northern half of the building upon implementation of the
retail use in the southern half of the building.
Reason: the use is considered to be an appropriate form of farm
diversification, would reduce food miles and the improvements to the
access satisfy the previous requirements of Development Control
Committee (West).
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(7)
Enforcement Workload and Statistics – Quarterly Report
The Committee considered item 3 of the officers’ reports setting out details of the
workload and performance of the Enforcement Service for the quarter ending 31
December 2006.
RESOLVED
That the report be noted.
The meeting closed at 10.55 am.
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