Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)                 to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)               where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)             the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)              if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Members:-

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Committee;

(b)               all other Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 6 – Planning application 1/01

Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he had been involved in the Hive in his capacity as Portfolio Holder for Property and Major Contracts.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

RESOLVED: That, in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 4.1. the following Councillors who were not Members of the Committee, be allowed to speak on the agenda items indicated:

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4B of the Constitution) with regard to the planning application to be considered at the meeting.

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions or deputations were received at this meeting.

RESOLVED:  That in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 25.1, Part 4B of the Constitution, that Procedure Rule 30.3, Part 4B of the Constitution, be suspended in order to allow a resident of Hindes Road, who wished to object to Planning application 2/01, to address the Committee.

Report of the Divisional Director, Planning - circulated separately.

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Planning Protocol, where Councillors disagree with the advice of the Divisional Director, Planning, it will be the Members' responsibility to clearly set out the reasons for refusal where the Officer recommendation is for grant.  The planning reasons for rejecting the Officer's advice must be clearly stated, whatever the recommendation and recorded in the minutes.  The Officer must be given the opportunity to explain the implications of the contrary decision.

In accordance with the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the Addendum was admitted late to the agenda as it contained information relating to various items on the agenda and was based on information received after the dispatch of the agenda.  It was admitted to the agenda in order to enable Members to consider all information relevant to the items before them for decision.

THE HIVE FOOTBALL CENTRE (FORMERLY PRINCE EDWARD PLAYING FIELDS), CAMROSE AVENUE, EDGWARE

Reference: P/0665/13 (The Hive Developments Ltd) Variation Of Condition 29 (Approved Plans - Added Through Application P/2807/12) Attached To P/0002/07 Dated 08/04/2008 For 'Redevelopment For Enlarged Football Stadium And Clubhouse, Floodlights, Games Pitches , Banqueting Facilities, Health And Fitness Facility, Internal Roads And Parking' To Allow Minor Amendments To The Stadium Comprising: Phase 1: Internal And External Alterations To East Stand Including Additional Row Of Seats; Increase In Height, Depth And Capacity Of West Stand Including Camera Position; Reduction In Capacity Of Standing Areas; Increase In Height Of Floodlights And Re-Siting Of Southern Floodlights; Additional Turnstiles, Spectator Circulation, Fencing, Food Kiosks And Toilets; Alterations To Parking Areas. Phase 2: Replace North Stand With Seated Stand; Reduction In Capacity Of Standing Area In Southern Stand; Extension To Rear Of West Stand To Provide Indoor Spectator Space (Total Stadium Capacity Not To Exceed 5176 As Previously Approved)

The Divisional Director advised that, following publication of the addendum, it had been brought to his attention that officers had omitted to undertake a “screening opinion” in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (EIA).  He added that, as a result he was recommending that the application be deferred in order to allow this necessary procedural requirement to be undertaken and for the application to be submitted to a future meeting of the Planning Committee.

The Chairman advised Members that the Committee should focus its discussion on whether or not the application should be deferred and should not discuss the merits of the application itself.  He added that, therefore, Members would not be permitted to back bench on this item.

Following questions and comments from Members, the Divisional Director advised that:

·                     EIA regulations required Planning Authorities to carry out a screening opinion to determine if an Environmental Impact Assessment was required to accompany a planning application. This process would be based upon a consideration of the expected environmental effects of a development The screening process would consider the scheme as a whole along with any cumulative effects. Consideration of the merits of the proposals such as design and appearance of the stands or floodlights would not be considered as part of the process for determining whether an EIA was required. The application met the necessary thresholds for screening. The process was required to be carried out regardless of whether the application had been recommended for approval or for refusal;

·                     in Planning terms, the West Stand and floodlights were deemed to be unlawful but not illegal and officers would need to consider the expediency of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 437.