Agenda and minutes

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

RESOLVED:  To note that Councillor Anne Whitehead be appointed Vice?Chair for the 2015/16 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED: That no Members, who were not members of the Committee had indicated that they wished to speak at the meeting.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 11 – Planning Applications Received

Councillor Keith Ferry declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to application 1/01, in that he was a regular attender at football matches at the Hive.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Councillor Stephen Greek declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to application 1/01, in that he was on the Board of Harrow Weald Forest School, which had received grants from the John Lyon Trust.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Councillor Graham Henson declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to application 2/03, in that he was the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

CouncillorSachin Shah stated that he had made a number of comments regarding application 1/01 which could be deemed as predetermination.  He would therefore leave the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Councillor Anne Whitehead declared a non-pecuniary interest in that she was a trustee of the Harrow Law Centre, which had received grants from the John Lyon Trust.  She would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2015 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions or petitions were received.

RESOLVED:  That, having resolved to suspend procedure rule 16.2, part 4B of the Constitution, the following deputation be received:

1.            Over development of South Harrow

The deputee stated that a recent meeting of local residents in South Harrow had highlighted a number of serious concerns regarding the over development of South Harrow, and made the following points:

·                     the local community was diverse and close knit and residents drew on their varied backgrounds to offer a range of entrepreneurial services;

·                     there was a market offering affordable goods and services and a successful industrial park in Brember Road.  The importance of supporting economic activity on Northolt Road was recognized in the core strategy;

·                     many commercial use premises were being converted into small, compact flats, marketed at a single, or transient rental demographic, which undermined the needs of local residents.  Harrow had one of the largest populations of young families in London and developers were catering to the needs of the commuter rather than families.  This was having an impact on traffic flow, parking, and infrastructure which was having a cumulative effect on local residents’ standard of living and there was an associated rise in anti-social behaviour and crime;

·                     South Harrow could be revitalised and the over-development stopped.  This would require with guidance from the local core strategy and dialogue with stakeholders.  She proposed the following measures:

-        a Supplementary Planning Document that would extend the work of the local core strategy;

-        preservation of, and investment in local SMEs.  Access to parking and/or business permits, commercial venues and networking and promotional opportunities;

-        retention and promotion of commercial-use buildings;

-        capitalising on the area’s close proximity to Harrow-on-the-Hill and investment in the market to make it active and profitable;

-        urgent need for family housing and additional support and investment in local infrastructure to support this and limiting the number of small or single person dwellings in the area;

-        a cohesive, visionary plan for the area.

Members made the following comments:

·                     a number of the conversions referred to by the deputee were done under permitted development rights granted by the government.  Permitted development rights from office to residential had reduced the powers of the local Planning Authority to control such conversions;

·                     the Supplementary Planning Document should be given further consideration and the Council should be looking at the wider impact of the developments in South Harrow in terms of traffic, flooding, infrastructure, etc;

·                     the Department for Communities & Local Government was expected to announce an extension of permitted development right from office to residential by a further three years.  A previous  request to exclude areas of Harrow from permitted development had not been agreed by the government;

·                     some of the developments referred to by the deputee had been allowed at the appeal stage.  Many of the new developments in South Harrow were not suitable or affordable for families.  This had led to the establishment of an increasingly commuter-based, transient population in the area.  Police had been targeting anti-social behaviour in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 142.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were none.

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 despatch 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.

RESOLVED:  That authority be given to the Head of Planning to issue the decision notices in respect of the applications considered.

Councillor Sachin Shah left the chamber during consideration of item 1/01.

1/01 - PRINCE EDWARDS PLAYING FIELDS, CAMROSE AVENUE, EDGWARE

Reference: P/2191/15 (The Hive (PEPF) Development Ltd)

Description: Variation Of Condition 1 (Drawing Numbers) Attached To Planning Permission P/0665/13 Allowed On Appeal Reference App/M5450/A/14/2215248 Dated 19/12/2014 To Allow For A Larger North Stand And Associated Facilities Than That Approved By The Original Consent For An Enlarged Football Stadium And Clubhouse, Floodlights, Games Pitches, Banqueting Facilities, Health And Fitness Facility, Internal Roads And Parking. Phase 1 Involves Internal And External Alterations To The East Stand Including An Additional Row Of Seats, An Increase In The Height, Depth And Capacity Of The West Stand, Including Camera Position, Reduction In Capacity Of Standing Areas, Increase In The Height Of Floodlights, Additional Turnstiles, Spectator Circulation, Fencing, Food Kiosks And Toilets And Alterations To The Parking Areas. Phase 2 Involves The Replacement Of The North Stand With A Seated Stand, Reduction In The Capacity Of The Standing Area In The South Stand And An Extension To The Rear Of The West Stand To Provide Indoor Spectator Space Extension.

The Capacity Of The Stadium Would Not Exceed 5,176.

Following questions from Members, an officer advised that:

·                     any conditions imposed on planning applications were required to meet the relevant statutory test;

·                     the north stand would be slightly higher than the railway embankment, however, this would only apply to the top most tier of seating and the distance between the stands and nearest properties was in excess of 80 metres;

·                     there was both seating and standing capacity at the ground.  If attendance at matches increased, then the applicants would be obliged to submit a revised application, an amended transport statement, a safety certificate and any mitigating measures to deal with the increase.  Currently the club had no intention of varying the capacity.

The Chair advised that:

·                     at a recent meeting with CAPRA, it was agreed that a line of trees, which would screen the North stand, would be planted adjacent to the river;

·                     the average attendance currently was in the region of 1,700 spectators;

·                     2,500 letters has been circulated to local residents and businesses regarding the plans, however, only 3 responses had been received.

DECISION:  GRANTED, subject to planning conditions, as amended by the addendum.

The Committee wished it to be recorded that the decision to grant the application was by a majority of votes and three abstentions.

Councillors Keith Ferry, Graham Henson, and Anne Whitehead voted for the application. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 145.