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 Moore declared an interest in agenda item 5.2 (minute 228) as she had responded to the online consultation following a conversation with a member of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Community regarding an unrelated planning matter.

Councillor Gray declared an interest in agenda item 5.2 (minute 228) as he was a member of the Surrey County Council Regulatory Committee, which would consider Tandridge District Council’s response to the consultation.  It was noted that this would not preclude him from taking part in the debate, but he may be unable to take part in any discussions on the item in future meetings of the Surrey County Council Regulatory Committee.

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

The Committee considered an application for the erection of four, 3-bedroom, terraced dwellings to the rear of Sandiford House, together with associated car parking and amenity space.

The Officer recommendation was to permit, subject to conditions.

Mr Russell Dixon-Box, an objector, spoke against the application.

Pre-recorded representations against the application from Councillor Maria Grasso of Caterham Hill Parish Council were shown to the Committee.

Mr Nigel Bennett, the applicant’s agent, spoke in favour of the application.

Councillor Duck put forward the following motion for refusal:

The proposal, by reason of the form, massing and detailing of the dwellings would fail to respect or reflect the character and appearance of the surrounding area or contribute positively to local distinctiveness. As such, significant harm would be caused contrary to Policy CSP18 of the Tandridge District Core Strategy (2008), Policy DP7 of the Tandridge District Local Plan: Part 2 - Detailed Policies (2014) and Policies CCW4 and CCW5 of the Caterham, Chaldon and Whyteleafe Neighbourhood Plan (2021).

Councillor Prew seconded the motion.  Upon being put to the vote, the motion was lost.

R E S O L V E D – that planning permission be granted, subject to conditions.

The applicant, Surrey County Council, sought permission to use land at Pendall Camp as a ten-pitch transit site for the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) community, including the erection of amenity blocks, site manager’s office, creation of a vehicular access, landscaping and parking.  The formal decision on the application will be made by Surrey County Council.  Tandridge District Council were a consultee in the application process and the report before the Committee provided a summary of the matters to be considered locally. 

The Officer recommendation was to object to the consultation. 

Following publication of the report and officer recommendation, Surrey County Council had contacted Tandridge District Council to request that the item be deferred to allow them time to address the Council’s objections relating to the use of the site.  Accordingly, the Interim Chief Planning Officer recommended to the Committee that the item be deferred.

R E S O L V E D – that the item be deferred to the Planning Committee on 3 March 2022

To receive a verbal update from officers relating to appeal decisions by the Planning Inspectorate resulting from previous committee decisions or service of an enforcement notice by the Council.

The Interim Chief Planning Officer advised that the following application had been allowed by the Planning Inspectorate on appeal:

TA/2019/1538 - Coulsdon Lodge, Coulsdon Road, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 5YA – the application has been refused by the Planning Committee on 2 July 2020.  Costs had also been awarded against the Council in respect of the appeal.  The total amount of the costs had yet to be determined.

The Interim Chief Planning Officer advised that an update relating to 2 Comforts Place Cottages, Lingfield, RH7 6LW would be discussed at a future committee.