Agenda and minutes

The report set out a proposal for the rationalisation of the Strategic Planning Committee and Development Management Committee into a single committee in the interest of efficiency and effectiveness.  The same report had been submitted to the Strategic Planning Committee at its meeting on 11 March 2009.

It was noted that this report had been previously submitted to the Strategic Planning Committee.

Resolved to RECOMMEND: (to Council)

That (1) there be a return to a single decision making committee for all non?delegated planning decisions to be known as the Planning Committee and with the terms of reference attached as an appendix to the report with effect from the Municipal Year;

(2)  any consequential and necessary amendments to the Constitution be undertaken.

[The Committee wished for it to be recorded that the decision was unanimous].

(See also Minute 345)

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 agree requests to speak from Councillors who are not Members of the Committee, in accordance with Committee Procedure 4.1.

It was moved and agreed that for efficiency reasons, only the ward Councillor would be permitted to speak on item 3/02 – Veneto House, Park Drive, Rayners Lane.

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 declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Committee, Sub Committee, Panel or Forum;

(b)               all other Members present in any part of the room or chamber.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2009 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2009, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents/organisations under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 19 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED: To note that no public questions were put.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors.

RESOLVED: That the petitions be received and noted.

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 17 (Part 4B) of the Constitution.

The Panel received a late request to receive a deputation on agenda item 12 – Tree Preservation Order No. 929.

RESOLVED: That (1) in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 27.1, Procedure Rule 17 be suspended for Item 12 – Tree Preservation Order No. 929, to receive a deputation.

(2)  to note that no further deputations had been received.

(See minute 344).

To receive references from Council and any other Committees or Panels (if any).

RESOLVED: To note that there were no references.

To confirm whether representations are to be received, under Committee Procedure Rule 18 (Part 4B of the Constitution), from objectors and applicants regarding planning applications on the agenda.

The Committee received a request to make a representation from the applicant of item 3/02 – Veneto House, Park Drive, Rayners Lane, on the list of planning applications.  This item had been deferred from the last meeting and officers had recommended the application for refusal.

RESOLVED: That (1) in accordance with the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 18 (Part 4B of the Constitution), representations be received in respect of items 2/07 and 2/12 on the list of planning applications;

(2)  representations not be received in respect of item 3/02 on the list of planning applications.

Report of the Head of Planning - circulated separately.

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Planning Protocol, where Councillors disagree with the advice of the Chief Planning Officer, 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.

RESOLVED:  That (1) in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1985, the following information be admitted to the agenda by reason of the special circumstances and grounds for urgency stated:

and;

(2)  authority be given to the Head of Planning to issue the decision notices in respect of the applications considered, as set out in the schedule attached to these minutes.

Report of the Head of Planning – for information.

The Committee received a report of the Head of Planning which listed those enforcement notices awaiting compliance.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Report of the Tree Preservation Officer.

The Committee received a deputation from Mr Simon Pryce.  Objecting to the confirmation of the Tree Preservation Order (TPO), Mr Pryce outlined reasons why he felt imposing a TPO on the relevant trees would not be beneficial.  In response an officer explained to the Committee why he had recommended that a Tree Preservation Order be confirmed notwithstanding the objections.

RESOLVED:  That Tree Preservation Order No. 929 be confirmed.

(The Committee wished to be recorded that the decision was unanimous).

(See minute 339).

Report of the Head of Planning.

(See Recommendation I).

Report of the Head of Planning.

In accordance with the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, an information report on the Householders Appeal Service was admitted late to the agenda as the reason for urgency arose from the late publication of details of the new Householder Appeals Service on 16 March 2009 and for the need to ensure that Members were aware of the new arrangements prior to their implementation on 6 April 2009.

The report set out details of the new arrangements for determining householder appeals which were due to come into effect on 6 April 2009.  The Chairman commented that one of the most significant issues arising from the new proposals was that no further representations could be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for applications which went to appeal.  The Chairman commented that she would be liaising with the Nominated Member to investigate how the minutes of the Council’s Planning Committees could be revised to ensure that they contained the necessary information, as they would be more important in the consideration of an appeal.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To arrange dates for Member site visits that have been agreed during the course of the meeting (if any).

RESOLVED: That Member Site Visits take place on Tuesday 21 April 2009 at 6.15 pm to the following sites:

·                     2/08 – 58/60 Nibthwaite Road, Harrow.

·                     2/12 – 9 Nelson Road, Stanmore.

·                     2/13 – 83A and 83B Hindes Road, Harrow.