PITSTONE PARISH COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE
Minutes of the Parish Council Planning Committee Meeting held on 27 July 2015 
in the Meeting Room at the Memorial Hall, starting at 7.30pm and 
concluding at 8.30pm

11PC/15	ATTENDANCE AND APOLOGIES
		
PLANNING COMMITTEE PRESENT:  Cllr Mrs Crutchfield (Chair), Cllr Starling, Cllr Blunt, Cllr Nicholls and Cllr Mrs Groom.

OTHERS PRESENT:  Clerk: Laurie Eagling.  Members of the public:  Applicant re Campbell Lane.

12PC/15	DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE MEETING

•	Colin Starling, Margaret Crutchfield and Jo Groom declared an interest as they sit on the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) Steering Group.  The NDP pre-submission consultation phase has concluded.  Dispensation is granted for these councillors to debate and vote on standard planning matters where they hold no other interest.
•	Ben Blunt declared his position of Chair of Governors for Brookmead School but there are no planning applications on the agenda where the school is raised as a consideration.
•	Colin Starling declared that he resided on Vicarage Road in Pitstone, upon which Erlegh Manor is situated.  However, the two properties are not closely located and there is no declosable interest.
•	Joanne Groom declared an interest as a relative-in-law of A P Whiteley Consultants Ltd, who submitted the Erlegh Manor appeal.  Cllr Groom abstained from voting on this agenda item.

13PC/15	APPROVE MINUTES – It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 
18 June 2015 were a true and correct record of the meeting and the Chair was duly authorised to sign on behalf of the council.

14PC/15	PLANNING MATTERS

1)	Applications: 

a)	40 Campbell Lane, 15/02276/APP, rear conservatory.  No objections were received from the neighbour notification scheme.  It was RESOLVED to notify AVDC that the parish council had no objection to this application.
b)	11 Short Hale, 15/01923/APP, conversion of garage into living accommodation.  No objections were received from the neighbour notification scheme.  It was RESOLVED to notify AVDC that the parish council had no objection to this application.
c)	93 Windsor Road, 15/02077/APP, conversion and single storey front extension of existing detached garage into habitable accommodation.  No objections were received following the neighbour notification program.  Concern was expressed by the council that the new accommodation could be sold as a separate dwelling, setting an undesirable precedent in Castlemead.  Therefore the parish council RESOLVED to advise AVDC that it would have no objection if the following conditions were imposed (1) to request AVDC place a condition on the application that the unit can only be used as ancillary to the main property, and not sold individually.  (2) AVDC should also ensure that there are sufficient parking spaces for 3 vehicles for the main 4 bedroom property plus an additional 1 space for the converted accommodation which looks as though it will be utilised independently.

2)	Decisions: 

a)	4 Queen Street, 15/01634/APP, single storey rear and front extensions: AVDC approved (PPC tendered no objections)
b)	14 Durham Road, 15/01709/APP, two storey side extension: AVDC approved (PPC deferred to AVDC)
c)	
41 Rushendon Furlong, 15/01673/ACL, single storey rear/side extension and conversion of garage to family room: AVDC issued permitted development certificate (PPC tendered no objections)

3)	Other:

a)	Erlegh Manor, Vicarage Road, 15/00059/REF, appeal against refusal of planning permission by AVDC (PPC opposed) for outline submission with access and scale to be considered and all other matters reserved for the erection of one dwelling.  It was RESOLVED to advise AVDC and the Planning Inspectorate that (1) the parish council still supports and upholds its original objections to this application (2) the Parish Council agrees with the AVDC officer that the Erlegh Manor application constitutes a new home in the countryside for which there are no special circumstances and that this would result in adverse harm to the landscape character of the site and its surroundings.  The application site is directly in front of our historic & protected 13th Century church, in an area where the emerging NDP seeks to protect our heritage and environment by preserving it as an Area of Attractive Landscape.  Such a designation is not unique to this location in Pitstone (so is not an isolated policy) and reflects the community views of wishing to preserve and enhance our heritage sites, maximise environmental and biodiversity opportunities and create a green girdle around the village to help preserve and protect the village’s unique identity. (3) The parish council and community welcome residential developments that lie inside both the observable and proposed NDP settlement boundary (unless on leisure/community land), unfortunately Erlegh Manor is situated outside of these areas. (4) the appeal statement refers to a grant of planning permission at 120 Vicarage Road, however this site falls inside the current visual boundary & proposed settlement boundary within the NDP, is enclosed with residential properties on three far sides, has no special view to/from the church and is closer to the village centre at the Memorial Hall, so is not a comparable application (5) the appeal statement correctly states that the Coach House was granted planning permission for change of use in 2014.  However, this application related to an existing building so did not require a new build and merely converted the property back to a previous use, as living accommodation.  Therefore, offered no change to the visual aspect/density and is therefore not a comparable application. (6) the application is for a substantial part two storey property equal in ground space to the main manor itself. (7) there is concern that any grant of new build planning at this site will set a precedent for further new build / conversion applications within the Erlegh Manor grounds, which are extensive.
b)	Electronic receipt of “How to Comment on Planning Applications” NALC Guide noted by members of the committee.  Hard copies to be provided to Cllrs Starling & Groom.
c)	AVDC planning training session scheduled for 17/9/15 only one attendee permitted per council, therefore Cllr Crutchfield to attend with Cllrs Starling & Groom on reserve/waiting list.

15PC/15	CLOSURE OF MEETING

	There being no further business to be transacted, the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.30pm.

Signed:			Date:	________________
	 Chairman