Agenda and minutes

All Members present are required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter:

(i)            any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs) and / or

(ii)           other interests arising under the Code of Conduct

in respect of any item(s) of business being considered at the meeting. Anyone with a DPI must, unless a dispensation has been granted, withdraw from the meeting during consideration of the relevant item of business.  If in doubt, advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer or his staff prior to the meeting.           

Councillor Farr stated that, whilst he was not declaring a pecuniary interest, in respect of agenda items 5.1 (minute number 141) and 5.2 (minute number 142), he is a Godstone Ward District councillor.  Both applications were located either wholly or partly in his Ward. He confirmed that he is also a Godstone Parish councillor.  However, is not a member of the Parish Council Planning Committee and had not been present at any meeting where the applications were discussed. Consequently, he had no predisposition or predetermination in the matters to be decided by the Committee. 

Councillor White informed the Committee that Councillor Farr’s declaration also applied to him.

Councillor Moore stated that she was a qualified diver but had no links with the applicant for agenda item 5.1 (minute number 141).

The minutes of the meeting were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

The Interim Chief Planning Officer informed the Committee that he was hopeful that all of the issues that had been affecting the website over the past weeks had now been identified and a significant improvement in performance levels should be seen from next week.

The Planning Department would now be focussed on reviewing application timescales with applicants, clearing the backlog of validations and introducing new procedures for redacting documents before they were published on the website.

It was acknowledged that the last few weeks had been trying for anyone who had been trying to access the website and apologies were given on behalf of the Council to anyone who had been affected by this situation.

The Committee considered a variation of conditions that would extend the opening times attached to planning application 2015/1122 for the "Change of use of land to diving centre (Class D2) with associated ancillary portacabins and car parking”.

The Officer recommendation was to permit, subject to conditions.

Anne Appleyard, an objector, spoke against the application.

Tom Baker, the applicant, spoke in favour of the application.

Councillor Farr proposed a motion that the item be deferred as there was a lack of clarity on a number of key aspects of the application, including the actual hours of operation applied for.  Councillor Chotai seconded the motion.  Upon being put to the vote, the motion was carried.

R E S O L V E D – that the application be deferred

The Committee considered whether to agree to a Deed of Variation to a Section 106 Agreement that was associated with a planning permission for the demolition of existing buildings and the erection of 22 dwellings with associated parking and amenity space.

The Officer recommendation was to agree to the Deed of Variation to the Section 106 Agreement.

Following a lengthy debate, the Interim Chief Planning Officer recommended that the item be deferred so further enquires could be made as to whether the Planning Committee was the correct forum for agreeing the Deed of Variation.  Councillor Farr proposed a motion to defer the item.  Councillor Botten seconded the motion.  Upon being put to the vote, the motion was carried.

            R E S O L V E D – that the item be deferred