Agenda, decisions and minutes

Any apologies for absence which have been received will be noted at this stage.

The Planning Committee will be informed at this point in the meeting of any planning applications which have been deferred or withdrawn and so will not be discussed and determined at this meeting.

The Chairman welcomed all present to the meeting. He explained there would be no recording of the meeting due to it being held off site at County Hall.

The Chairman announced that Cllr Cross had stepped down from his role as Vice Chairman and would be replaced by Cllr S Johnson. The Chairman thanked Cllr Cross for the work undertaken during is time in the role.

The Chairman read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

Apologies were received from Cllr’s Burton and Cross.

The minutes relate to the meeting of the Planning Committee on 11 September 2024.

Following a vote, the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 11 September were approved as a true and accurate record.

The chairman will announce any urgent items that due to special circumstances will be dealt with under agenda item 10(b).

There were no urgent items.

Details of members’ personal interests arising from their membership of parish councils or West Sussex County Council or from their being Chichester District Council or West Sussex County Council appointees to outside organisations or members of outside bodies or from being employees of such organisations or bodies.

Such interests are hereby disclosed by each member in respect of agenda items in the schedule of planning applications where the Council or outside body concerned has been consulted in respect of that particular item or application.

Declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interests are to be made by members of the Planning Committee in respect of matters on the agenda or this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Approval of Reserved Matters following planning permission 20/02491/OUT, relating to appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for 70 no. dwellings.

Delegate to officers.

Mr Bushell introduced the report. He drew attention to the agenda update sheet which included; clarification that the applicant was Mr Alex Laney on behalf of Dandara Southern Ltd; an amendment to the red line of the site location plan; a correction to paragraph 8.32; additional drawings to be included within condition 1 and an additional comment from WSCC Highways.

The Planning Committee visited the site on Monday 30 September

Mr Bushell explained the application was a Reserved Matters (REM) application for 70 dwellings. He outlined the site location and highlighted its proximity to the Hilton Park commercial estate, Briar Cottage Caravan Park, Sandpiper Walk and the Scotts Farm Camping Site.

Mr Bushell presented the proposed layout, drawing attention to the open space areas, the children’s play area; the landscaping arrangements and the distribution of Affordable Housing.

Mr Bushell detailed a proposed non-vehicular footpath link between the development site and the boundary with the neighbouring Sandpiper Walk estate. He explained that whilst the link was desirable it’s deliverability was a private matter between the applicant and the estate managers of Sandpiper Walk.

Mr Bushell showed the Committee the proposed elevations and designs, highlighting the proposed boundary treatments and ‘corner turners’.

Mr Bushell acknowledged there were concerns regarding the proposed finish floor levels, however, the application had been considered by the Environment Agency and the Lead Local Flood Authority at WSCC and no objections had been made.

Representations were received from;

Cllr Keith Martin – West Wittering Parish Council

Mr Steve Debeger – Objector

Mr Tobias Coblin – Objector (statement read by Fiona Baker)

Ms Dawn Appleton – Agent

Mr Mark Chilton – CDC Ward Member.

Officers responded to comments and questions as follows;

As a point of clarification; Mrs Stevens explained the procedural difference between a proposal to ‘delegate to officers’ and a proposal to ‘defer for further negotiation’.

Responding to the letter from the Environment Agency (EA), Mr Bushell acknowledged the comments made by the Committee. However, he explained that the comments made by the EA regarding finished floor levels (FFL) at the adjacent Stubcroft Farm development site referred to a minimum FFL of 6.21m AOD and were only advisory. Whilst the EA levels for Stubcroft Farm were expressed as being preferable, they were not a requirement and, he reminded the Committee that the EA had raised no objection to the current application being considered.

Regarding the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA); Mr Bushell informed the Committee the SFRA was currently being tested as part of the Local Plan Examination, therefore it carried limited weight in decision making.

On the matter of the link route between the proposed development and Sandpiper Walk, Mr Bushell explained it was good practice to encourage permeability between developments. The proposed link would allow residents from either estate to access amenities such as the proposed play areas. He informed the Committee there may be future access to CIL funding to assist in securing the link.

Mr Bushell confirmed the site was within Flood zone  ...  view the full minutes text for item 302.

Change of use of the land to a residential caravan site together with associated works, including the provision of a day room and timber utility shed.

Approved

Mr Price introduced the report.

He outlined the application site and showed its layout. Mr Price explained the dayroom was seeking retrospective permission.

Mr Price detailed the site access and highlighted the planting which was well established using native species.

Mr Price informed the Committee that the timber structure climbing frame would be removed through condition if the Committee chose to support the application.

Mr Price explained that whilst the site was deemed to cause significant harm to the South Downs National Park, it must be considered against the requirement to deliver Gypsy and Traveller accommodation within the SDNP. The needs of the applicant and their dependants were also detailed within the report.

Representations were received from;

Mr Barker – Funtington Parish Council

Mr Watson – Applicant

Officers responded to comments and questions as follows;

Mrs Stevens informed the Committee the needs of the applicant and their personal circumstances were a material consideration. In addition, the Human Rights of the applicant must also be considered.

Regarding the previous temporary approval; Mrs Stevens explained the temporary approval had been allowed, to give the Local Planning Authority time to bring sites forward to accommodate the identified gypsy and traveller need. Since the temporary application was determined the need for sites had increased and there continued to be a shortfall within the National Park.

On the matter of the day room; Mr Price confirmed the size of the day room as 45msq. He informed the Committee that dayrooms were a cultural feature within the gypsy and traveller community.

Mr Price further explained the Planning Inspector, having considered the personal circumstances of the applicant and their dependants, felt the need for a stable family environment outweighed the harm caused. in addition, they considered that it was reasonable for the need to continue.

On the matter of the climbing frame; Mr Price drew the Committee’s attention to condition 7 which, if the application was approved, required the removal of the climbing frame.

Addressing concerns raised by the Committee regarding the dependants, the Chairman used discretion to invite Miss Maria Wayne to clarify and confirm who would be living on site.

In addition, Mrs Stevens explained if the applicants were to vary from those named in Condition 2 of the report, a new application would need to be submitted to vary the condition.

Following a vote, the Committee agreed to support the report recommendation to approve

Resolved; Approved subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report

The Planning Committee will consider the monthly schedule updating the position with regard to planning appeals, litigation and recent planning policy publications or pronouncements.

Mrs Stevens introduced the report, she highlighted the recent appeal case; use of land as a single private travelling showperson’s site, which had been allowed by the inspector due to the unmet need.

The Committee agreed to note the item.

The Planning Committee will consider the monthly schedule updating the position with regard to planning appeals, litigation and recent planning policy publications or pronouncements.

Mr Saunders introduced the report. Mr Saunders drew attention to the agenda update sheet which included the appeal decisions for SDNP/23/00540/LDE Land Adjacent to Hazelnut Cottage, The Street, Lodsworth; and SDNP/23/04624/HOUS Freshfields, Sandy Lane, East Ashling.

The Committee agreed to note the item.

The Committee are asked to consider the attached report and make the proposed recommendation;

That the Committee notes the updated Planning Enforcement Strategy and endorses the strategy to Cabinet.

The Committee support the report recommendation.

Mrs Archer introduced the report. She explained the purpose of the report was to ensure the Planning Enforcement Strategy was up to date and in line with current legislation.

Mrs Archer highlighted some of the key amendments which included; the provision for Planning Enforcement to investigate planning breaches up to 10years after and; the introduction of the new power to issue enforcement warning notices.

Cllr Briscoe asked if ward members could be informed of enforcement decisions before being made public. Mrs Archer agreed that could be accommodated into the enforcement process. She reminded members that all enforcement decisions were available on the Public Access system.

Cllr Potter asked if the enforcement list could be circulated to Parish Council; Mrs Archer agreed it could.

Mrs Archer updated the Committee on the recent prosecution case at Scant Road East.

Following a vote, the Committee agreed to support the report recommendation.

Resolved; That the Committee notes the updates Planning Enforcement Strategy and endorses the strategy to Cabinet.

The Planning Committee will consider any late items announced by the Chairman at the start of this meeting as follows:

a)    Items added to the agenda papers and made available for public inspection

b)    Items which the chairman has agreed should be taken as matters of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be reported at the meeting

There were no late items.

There are no restricted items for consideration.

There were no part 2 items.