Apologies had been received from Cllrs Bridge and Murphy.  Cllrs Barber and Hirst were substitutes respectively.

To follow

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 18^th July 2023 were agreed as a true record.

The Chair proposed to vary the order of the agenda and hear Item 6, Land East of Nags Head Lane, as the first application.  This was agreed by Members.

Ms Fiona Dunning presented the report to Members.

The committee heard from Mr Caruso on behalf of Mascalls Gardens Resident’s Association.  Mr Caruso stated there had been little engagement from the developers with residents and the current application impacted their homes and gardens blocking light, loss of countryside, loss of natural habitat and unsafe highways.  They objected to the application in its current form.

Mr Orr addressed the committee in support of the application.

Cllr Kendall, was present at the meeting and spoke in objection to the application. 

Cllr Mynott MOVED and Cllr M Cuthbert SECONDED a motion to DEFER the application.

A full debate identified several concerns from Members which required further engagement from officers with the applicant, including cumulative highway issues and how the site engages with the Gateway site; layout/design particular the street adjacent to the eastern boundary and landscaping/buffer zone; clustering of affordable housing units; ecology/and landscaping including the need for a badger survey; consultation with neighbours.

Mrs Corrigan summarised the following points :

·       Further Badger survey be undertaken - Mrs Corrigan advised the Ecology officer had reviewed both Badger and Butterfly reports and this could be dealt with under pre-commencement condition.

·       Thames Water conflicting advice in report – Mrs Corrigan advised that both Surface and Foul water drainage had been deemed acceptable by Thames Water and this could be conditioned.

·       Brentwood Gateway – the Gateway application has resolution for approval but at present the decision has not been issued.  It would be unreasonable to withhold permission on the current application on that basis, as it is not a planning reason for refusal.

·       Road Safety improvement  – Brentwood LPA defers to the Highway Authority on this and the Highways Authority have requested conditions and infrastructure contributions to be dealt with via s106 contributions from the developer.

·       Landscaping – this can be secured by condition and enforced if breached. 

·       Removal of Permitted Development Rights – these are used where considered necessary but are not site wide.

Members voted as follows:

FOR:  Cllrs Dr Barrett, Barber, M Cuthbert, N Cuthbert, Francois, Gelderbloem, Gorton, Heard, Hirst, McCheyne, Munden, Mynott (12)

AGAINST: (0)

ABSTAIN: (0)

The motion to DEFER the application was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

[Cllr Hirst declared a non-pecuniary interest as Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in relation to consultations mentioned in the report.]

The application had been referred to the Committee because the applicant, Mr Clifford Poppy, is a borough Councillor.

Mrs Carole Vint presented the report. 

Both Cllr Parker and Cllr Gelderbloem, Ward Councillors, spoke in favour of the application. 

Cllr Barrett MOVED a motion to APPROVE the application.  This was SECONDED by Cllr Hirst.

Members voted as follows:

FOR:  Cllrs Dr Barrett, Barber, M Cuthbert, N Cuthbert, Francois, Gelderbloem, Gorton, Heard, Hirst, McCheyne, Munden, Mynott (12)

AGAINST: (0)

ABSTAIN: (0)

The motion to APPROVE the application was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

[The Monitoring Officer had granted a dispensation to all committee members in relation to the Applicant being a Borough Councillor.]

The item has been referred to Committee by Cllr Jan Pound for the following

reason:

Policy BE:13 Parking Standards states that proposals which make under

provision of parking in respect of the Essex Parking Standards should be

justified by evidence detailing the local circumstances that justify deviation from the standard. Whilst the site is located near to Shenfield there is clear evidence submitted by local residents in opposition to the application that Alexander Lane is already suffering from dangerous on street parking that is resulting in highways safety issues. Coupled with the need for deliveries and workman to service the building this application will result in further highways safety issues for road users and should be rejected for this planning reason. There is no evidence that the normal parking requirements can be reduced without causing thesesafety issues.

Mr Daryl Cook presented the report to Members.

Mr Shah was present at the meeting and spoke in objection to the application.

The committee also heard from the Applicant in support of the application.

Cllr Pound, Ward Cllr, reiterated her reason for referral and further concerns regarding the design and scale of the development and its impact upon the character of the area.

Following discussion a motion was MOVED by Cllr Barber to REFUSE the application and was SECONDED by Cllr Heard.

Members raised concerns regarding material reasons why this application should not be approved.

Following a full debate, Members voted as follows:

FOR:  Cllrs Barber, Francois, Gelderbloem, Heard, Hirst, McCheyne (6)

AGAINST:  Cllrs Dr Barrett, M Cuthbert, N Cuthbert, Gorton, Munden, Mynott (6)

ABSTAIN: (0)

The Chairman used his casting vote.

The motion to REFUSE the application was LOST.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Mynott and SECONDED by Cllr M Cuthbert to APPROVE the application.

Members voted as follows:

FOR:  Cllrs Dr Barrett, M Cuthbert, N Cuthbert, Munden, Mynott (5)

AGAINST:  Cllrs Barber, Francois, Gelderbloem, Heard, Hirst, McCheyne (6)

ABSTAIN:  Cllr Gorton (1)

The motion to APPROVE the application was LOST.

A further motion to APPROVE the application was MOVED by Cllr Mynott and SECONDED by Cllr M Cuthbert.

Members voted as follows:

FOR:  Cllrs Dr Barrett, M Cuthbert, N Cuthbert, Gorton, Munden, Mynott (6)

AGAINST:  Cllrs Barber, Francois, Gelderbloem, Heard, Hirst, McCheyne (6)

ABSTAIN:   (0)

The Chairman used his casting vote.

The motion to APPROVE the application was CARRIED.

The application was APPROVED subject to conditions outlined in the report.

MONITORING OFFICER ADVISORY NOTE:

The correct voting process was not followed on the application 20/00411/FUL, Shencot, Alexander Lane, Hutton, Hutton, Brentwood, Essex CM13 1AG.

Therefore, I have asked that the application be re-considered at a future Planning Committee.

This application was reported to the Planning Committee in accordance with the requirements of the Councils Constitution.

Mr Daryl Cook presented the report to Members.

Mr Ellingworth, a resident, was present and spoke objecting to the application.

Following discussion a motion was MOVED by Cllr M Cuthbert and SECONDED by Cllr Mynott to REFUSE the application.

Members voted as follows:

FOR:  Cllrs Dr Barrett, Barber, M Cuthbert, N Cuthbert, Francois, Gelderbloem, Gorton, Heard, Hirst, Munden, Mynott (11)

AGAINST: Cllr McCheyne (1)

ABSTAIN: (0)

The motion to REFUSE the application was CARRIED.

This report provided a summary of recent appeal decisions that have been

received relating to sites in the borough. This report is regularly presented to

the committee and was last reported on 22 March 2023 (summary of appeals

between December 2022 and February 2023, Item 423).

Mr Corrigan introduced the report.

The report was noted by Members.

There were no urgent items.

The meeting concluded at 22:00