Agenda and minutes

In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, Councillors of the Council are reminded that it is a requirement to declare interests where appropriate.

The following disclosure of interest was made:

The Planning Code of Conduct requires Councillors who have been lobbied, received correspondence or been approached by an interested party with respect to any planning matter should declare this at the meeting which discusses the matter. Councillors should declare if they have been lobbied at this point in the agenda.

Lobbying Declaration

          The following lobbying declaration was made by a Councillor:

Councillor Irvine had been lobbied regarding application CR/2018/0549/FUL

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 25 September 2018

The minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 25 September 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider report PES/286 (a)of the Head of Economy and Planning.

RECOMMENDATION to PERMIT

The Committee considered report PES/286 (a) of the Head of Economy and Planning which proposed as follows:

Erection of a temporary ice rink and related temporary structures (to house cafe and reception) and equipment to operate for 72 days between 10 November 2018 to 20 January 2019 and for the same length of time annually in the period November – January until January 2023 (total period of five years) (amended description).

Councillors A Belben, Boxall, Jaggard, P Smith, Stone, Tarrant and Thomas declared they had visited the site.

The Principal Planning Officer provided a verbal summation of the application. In so doing she explained that a key issue was parking. WSCC Highways had confirmed that there were no road capacity or safety issues, but the key concern was over parking and this had been the subject of discussions with officers, WSCC and the applicant.  An Events Plan had been submitted which gave details about the operation of the use, including the parking situation.  Given the concerns particularly over parking and the objections received, a one-year permission approach had since been discussed and agreed with WSCC Highways in order to test the situation.   The Highways Authority acknowledged the difficulty in resisting the overall proposal on parking grounds based on the Applicant’s submitted evidence and the Events Plan.  Whilst overall the proposal would provide a seasonal leisure facility and attract increased visitors to the park and town (in accordance with the relevant economic policies), this needed to be balanced against the potential impact on parking and highway safety. Thus given the submitted evidence which had been provided by the Applicant, the temporary nature of the use and the agreement of the Highways Authority, officers recommended a planning permission to be granted for one year to test the location’s feasibility in terms of parking arrangements and assess the impact.

The Principal Planning Officer also advised the Committee that since the publication of the report the Council’s Archaeological Officer had commented that whilst the application site was in an archaeological notification area, the proposed works were limited in nature and would pose negligible risk to below ground deposits.

Mr Richard Bradley (the Applicant) and Mrs J Roskilly (speaking on behalf of the Friends of Goffs Park Group) addressed the meeting in support of the application. 

The Committee then considered the application. In response to concerns and issues raised, the Principal Planning Officer:

·         Confirmed that whilst other locations within Crawley might have been available, the application received was for the site in Goffs Park, and as such the application had to be determined on the basis of that site. 

·         Emphasised that in terms of the reinstatement of the site on the expiry of the application event, this was covered by the requirements in Condition 1

·         Clarified that the application was received and validated at the end of August and was dealt with as quickly as it could have been.

• Explained that in terms of the Goffs Park car park (which was free of charge),  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider report PES/305of the Head of Economy and Planning.

The Group Manager (Development Management) introduced report PES/305 of the Head of Economy and Planning,which sought to determine whether to confirm this Tree Preservation Order (TPO)with or without modification for continued protection or, not to confirm the TPO.

Councillors A Belben and B J Burgess declared they had visited the site.

Having considered the issues raised in the report, the Committee agreed to confirm the TPO without modification.

RESOLVED

Confirm.

To consider report PES/304of the Head of Economy and Planning.

The Committee considered report PES/304 of the Head of Economy and Planning.

The report summarised all the Section 106 (S106) monies received, spent and committed to project schemes in Quarters 1 and 2 of the financial year 2018/19. 

RESOLVED

That the update on S106 monies received, spent and committed in Quarters 1 and 2 of the financial year 2018/19 be noted.

Any urgent item(s) complying with Section 100(B) of the Local Government Act 1972.