Agenda and minutes

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of meeting held on 13^th January 2025 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of 13^th January 2025 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

There were no items of urgent business.

To receive declarations by Councillors of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Councillors are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). 

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Councillors should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Councillors are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

Councillor Mandy Bannon declared an interest in agenda items A7 24/00638/FUL and A8 24/00637/LB East Lodge, Aldcliffe Road, Lancaster. The reason being that she was a regular user of that route. Councillor Bannon stated that she would be viewing the applications fairly and with an open mind.

Councillor Martin Gawith declared an interest in agenda items A7 24/00638/FUL and A8 24/00637/LB East Lodge, Aldcliffe Road, Lancaster. The reason being that he was a member of the Ramblers Association who had taken part in the consultation. Councillor Gawith stated that he would be viewing the applications fairly and with an open mind.

Councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox declared an interest in agenda items A7 24/00638/FUL and A8 24/00637/LB East Lodge, Aldcliffe Road, Lancaster. The reason being that he would be speaking as Ward Councillor and against application A7 24/00638/FUL. Councillor Hamilton-Cox stated that he would recuse himself from the meeting for the consideration of both items.

Councillor Jack Lenox declared an interest in agenda items A7 24/00638/FUL and A8 24/00637/LB East Lodge, Aldcliffe Road, Lancaster. The reason being that he sold cycles and cycle trailers likely to be used on that route. Councillor Lenox stated that he would be viewing the applications fairly and with an open mind.

Councillor Andrew Otway declared an interest in agenda item A9 24/01210/FUL St Bernadettes Parish House, 120 Bowerham Road, Lancaster. The reason being that he would be speaking as Ward Councillor and against the application. Councillor Otway stated that he would recuse himself from the meeting for the consideration of this item.

There were no other declarations of interest.

Installation of a gate and control panel, repair of wall and fence and realignment of pedestrian/cyclist path.

Under the scheme of public participation, Patricia Clarke (Dynamo Cycle Campaign), Tim Dant (Aldcliffe with Stodday Parish Councillor), and Stephen Dickinson all spoke against the application. Michael Stainton (MH Stainton Homes) spoke in favour of the application, and Ward Councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox spoke against.

It was proposed by Councillor Dave Brookes and seconded by Councillor John Hanson:

“That the application be refused for the reasons given in the Committee Report.”

Upon being put to the vote, 13 Councillors voted in favour of the proposal with 1against and no abstentions, whereupon the Chair declared the proposal to have been carried.

Resolved:

That the application be refused for the reasons given in the Committee Report.

Proposal Listed building application for installation of a gate and control panel, repair of wall and fence and realignment of pedestrian/cyclist path.

It was proposed by Councillor Dave Brookes and seconded by Councillor Sandra Thornberry:

“That the application be refused for the reasons given in the Committee Report.

Upon being put to the vote, 13 Councillors voted in favour of the proposal with 1 against and no abstentions, whereupon the Chair declared the proposal to have been carried.

Resolved:

That the application be refused for the reasons given in the Committee Report.

Change of use of parish house (C3) to 7-bed HMO (Sui-generis), installation of replacement doors/windows, conversion of garage to bicycle store and shed, removal of garage door, partially block up with a wall and installation of new timber doors.

Under the scheme of public participation, Ward Councillor Andrew Otway spoke against the application. Mark Atkinson (Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocese Trust) spoke in favour of the application.

An update to the Committee report was read out by Officers.

It was proposed by Councillor Margaret Pattison and seconded by Councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox:

“That, against the Officer recommendation, the application be refused for reasons of Highway safety, proximity to a neighbouring school, and the negative impact an additional HMO would have on the rental market.”

Following debate, Councillors Pattison and Hamilton-Cox both agreed to withdraw the proposal without proceeding to a vote.

It was proposed by Councillor Keith Budden and seconded by Councillor Martin Bottoms:

“That the application be approved subject to the conditions in the Committee Report and subject to an additional condition restricting the maximum number of residents to seven.”

Upon being put to the vote, 9 Councillors voted in favour of the proposal with 3 against and 2 abstentions, whereupon the Chair declared the proposal to have been carried.

Resolved:

That the application be approved subject to an additional condition restricting the maximum number of residents to seven, and subject to the following conditions:

1.    Standard Timescales.

2.    Approved Plans.

3.    Bicycle Storage.

Construction of a solar farm with associated access and infrastructure to include substation, inverter stations, cabling, landscaping, CCTV and boundary treatments (pursuant to the variation of conditions 2 and 3 of planning permission 23/00505/VCN to alter site entrance, layout, design and landscaping).

It was proposed by Councillor Martin Gawith and seconded by Councillor Keith Budden:

“That the application be approved subject to the conditions in the Committee Report.”

Upon being put to the vote, 15 Councillors voted in favour of the proposal with none against and no abstentions, whereupon the Chair declared the proposal to have been carried.

Resolved:

That the application be approved subject to the following conditions:

1.    Approved plans – Updated to reflect approved plans list.

2.    Implementation of approved landscaping scheme – Updated to reflect approved details.

3.    Outline surface water management plan.

4.    Work outside bird nesting season.

5.    Construction Traffic Management Plan.

6.    25 year consent and decommissioning scheme.

7.    Cabling details.

8.    Final Sustainable Drainage Strategy.

9.    Survey and repairs of the adopted highway.

10.  Surfacing of access.

11.  Provision of visibility splays.

12.  Invasive species method statements.

13.  Details of materials for substation building.

14.  Operation and Maintenance Plan & Verification Report of Sustainable Drainage System.

15.  BNG proposals and associated Landscape and Biodiversity Management Plan.

16.  Construction Phase Surface Water Management Plan.

17.  Wheel washing facilities.

18.  Implementation of hedgerow planting to mitigate glint and glare.

19.  Employment Skills Plan.

20.  Development in accordance with AIA addendum.

21.  Tree Protection Plan and Arboricultural Method Statement.

22.  Details and installation of new pond.

23.  Zone 1 panel heights.

Erection of 25 adaptable bungalows for over 55's with associated access, internal roads and landscaping (pursuant to the variation of conditions 2, 12, 14 and 16 on approved application 21/01284/FUL to revise the energy report (omitting solar panels and to include air source heat pumps), to provide full details of the finished floor levels and retaining features to accommodate amendments to the site layout and boundary layout plans).

It was proposed by Councillor Margaret Pattison and seconded by Councillor Joyce Pritchard:

“That the application be approved subject to the conditions in the Committee Report.”

Upon being put to the vote, 15 Councillors voted in favour of the proposal with none against and no abstentions, whereupon the Chair declared the proposal to have been carried.

Resolved:

That the application be approved subject to the variation of conditions of the planning permission and subject to a deed of variation to vary the original S106 Agreement to tie it to this permission and subject to the following conditions:

1.    Time Limit (2 years from the original date granted).

2.    Approved Plans (varied to reflect the proposed changes).

3.    Employment and Skills Plan (varied to reflect the details approved by condition application).

4.    Details of the access, visibility splays and new retaining structures adjacent to the highway and implementation.

5.    Phase II Site Investigation (varied to reflect the details approved by condition application).

6.    Site entrance provision and detailing - stonework and sample panel, details of coping finish, planting schedule maintenance plan for living wall (additional condition).

7.    Surface water construction method statement (varied to reflect the details approved by condition application).

8.    Construction method statement (varied to reflect the details approved by condition application).

9.    Surface water and foul drainage scheme (varied to reflect the details approved by condition application subject to pending condition application).

10.  Habitat and species protection and enhancement scheme including CEMP (and RAMS) (varied to reflect the details approved by condition application).

11.  Material samples (dwellings and hard landscaping) (varied to reflect the details approved by condition application subject to pending condition application).

12.  In accordance with Energy Statement (varied to reflect proposed changes).

13.  Lighting scheme (varied to reflect the details approved by condition application subject to pending condition application).

14.  Provision of approved boundary treatments and retaining features.

15.  Details of scheme for cycle storage provision.

16.  Off-site highway improvement to street lighting and 4 local bus stops to encourage and improve use of public transport.

17.  Management and maintenance of estate street prior to adoption.

18.  Validation, management and maintenance of surface water drainage scheme.

19.  Scheme for improvements to PROW gates/connections.

20.  In accordance with the AIA and Tree Protection Measures to be implemented before construction of development.

21.  Implementation of landscaping scheme (varied to reflect proposed changes).

22.  Removal of PD.

23.  M4(2).

The Service Manager – Development Management submitted a quarterly report on the performances of both the Planning Enforcement Team and the Applications Team.

 Resolved:

That the report be noted.

The Chief Officer - Planning and Climate Change submitted a Schedule of Planning Applications dealt with under the Scheme of Delegation of Planning Functions to Officers.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.