A MEETING OF THE REGULATORY BOARD
WAS HELD ON 8 APRIL 2003
Chairman of the Policy and Organisation Board (Councillor Cully) (ex-officio) (P); Councillors Mrs Angus (P), Carr (P), Elshaw (P), Farr (P), Gill (P), Hayward (P), Searle (P) Smith (P), Train (P) and Taylor (P)
235. MINUTES
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory Board held on 11 March 2003 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.
236. DEPUTATIONS
It was reported that deputations had been received relating to planning application K.16268 – Pedestrianised Area, High Street, Gosport.
237. K.15650/2 – OUTLINE APPLICATION – USE OF LAND FOR MIXED EMPLOYMENT USES (CLASSES B1, B2 & B8) AND AN ENTERPRISE CENTRE
LAND ADJOINING FRATER GATE, FAREHAM ROAD, GOSPORT
Consideration was given to a report of the Regulatory Services Manager (a copy of which is attached in the Minute Book as Appendix "A").
Members were informed that at the January 2003 Regulatory Board meeting outline planning had been granted for this site. The report advised the Board of the subsequent request by the applicant to amend the draft planning condition relating to the implementation of the Aerodrome Road scheme prior to occupation of any building on the site.
RESOLVED: That the additional condition 02 relating to occupation of the buildings be amended to allow a phased occupation subject to a staged implementation of the access road scheme.
238. K.15000/3 – DETAILS PURSUANT TO OUTLINE PLANNING APPLICATION – PROPOSED OPENING OF NEW ROAD JUNCTION WITH TWYFORD DRIVE TO VEHICLES
CHERQUE FARM, LEE-ON-THE-SOLENT
Consideration was given to a report of the Regulatory Services Manager (a copy of which is attached in the Minute Book as Appendix "B").
Members were informed that at the July 2000 Planning and Transportation Committee meeting, conditional planning permission had been granted. The report advised the Board of the current details approved within the overall development of the Cherque Farm estate, adding a recommendation that the previously approved road access onto Twyford Drive be opened to vehicular traffic following completion of the road junction construction works.
RESOLVED: That the previously approved road access onto Twyford Drive be opened to vehicular traffic following completion of the road junction construction works.
239. REPORTS OF THE REGULATORY SERVICES MANAGER
The Regulatory Services Manager submitted a report on applications received for planning consent setting out the recommendations in each case (a copy of which is attached in the Minute Book as Appendix "C").
RESOLVED: That decisions be taken on each application for planning consent as detailed below:
240. K.16237 – ERECTION OF SINGLE STOREY SIDE AND REAR EXTENSIONS AND CONSERVATORY (as amended by plans received 24.03.03)
109 PRIVETT ROAD, GOSPORT
RESOLVED: That planning application K.16237 – 109 Privett Road, Gosport be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report of the Regulatory Services Manager.
241. K.15633/2 – ERECTION OF 14no. FLATS AND ASSOCIATED
CAR PARKING (as amplified and amended by letter dated
19.03.03 and plans received 20.03.03)
26/30 HIGH STREET, LEE-ON-THE-SOLENT
Members were informed that one further letter of objection had been received regarding the parking provision made in the plans. Members were informed that the level of parking allocated at the site was in accordance with the Gosport Local Plan.
RESOLVED: That planning application K.15633/2 – 26/30 High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent be approved subject to the satisfactory completion of a Section 106 Agreement of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 relating to the payment of a commuted sum towards the provision and/or improvement of outdoor playing space and subject to the conditions set out in the report of the Regulatory Services Manager.
242. K.14302/2 – OUTLINE APPLICATION – ERECTION OF 3no. DETACHED HOUSES WITH INTEGRAL GARAGES (as amplified by letter dated 20.03.03)
LAND ADJACENT TO 47 MONCKTON ROAD, GOSPORT
RESOLVED: That outline planning application K.14302/2 – Land Adjacent to 47 Monckton Road, Gosport be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report of the Regulatory Services Manager.
243. K.574/2 – CONVERSION OF EXISTING DWELLING TO FORM TWO FLATS (as amplified and amended by letter dated 26.02.03 and plans received 28.02.03)
46 HIGH STREET, LEE-ON-THE-SOLENT
RESOLVED: That planning application K.574/2 - 46 High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent be approved subject to the satisfactory completion of a Section 106 Agreement of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 relating to the payment of a commuted sum towards the provision and/or improvement of outdoor playing space and subject to the conditions set out in the report of the Regulatory Services Manager.
244. K.16268 – FELLING OF 11no. TREES AND LOPPING OF 19no. TREES AND OTHER GENERAL TREE WORKS (CONSERVATION AREA)
PEDESTRIANISED AREA, HIGH STREET, GOSPORT
Members were informed that a further 44 letters of objection had been received and one petition of 96 signatures had also been received since the report was prepared.
Members were informed that the petition and objections referred to the cost of felling the trees, the enhanced quality of life the trees offered, that resiting the cameras would be cheaper, that options for pruning and lopping should be considered, new replacement trees would be vandalised, that more police on the High St would solve all the problems. Members were informed that these issues were not relevant as the proposal was not an application but a notification; it was only open to Members to consider whether any of the trees were worthy of a Tree Preservation Order taking into account size, life expectancy, position, setting, form and special factors such as rarity. If after 6 weeks of receipt of the notification the Council did not make a Tree Preservation Order it was open to the applicant to carry out the works.
Members were advised that it would not be appropriate to make a Tree Preservation Order in respect of the 19 trees for which only minor works were proposed and it was recommended that none of the 11 trees to be felled were of sufficient amenity value individually or as a group to warrant a tree preservation order.
Councillor Mrs Cully, as Ward Councillor, was permitted to address the Board. Councillor Mrs Cully stated that –
· she was a strong advocate of CCTV cameras and believed them to be a strong deterrent to crime. However, to fell trees because they were now in the way was excessive and unacceptable;
· every possibility should be looked at first, such as moving the cameras, before adopting this extreme measure;
· the cost of felling the trees, issues surrounding roots, surface water, air quality, visual/physical impact and the reduce in appeal to the High Street showed that this proposal had not been carefully considered;
· that consideration to the height and reach of cameras should be measured first before felling twenty years of growing history;
· options such as pruning and lopping should be considered instead of felling.
Mrs Burton of The Gosport Society and Miss Sullivan-Weeks of Gosport and Fareham Friends of the Earth were permitted to address the Board on behalf of the objectors. Mrs Burton made the following points:
· that people enjoyed the current environment of the High Street and were disgusted with the arrogance of the officers;
· compared to 30 – 40 years ago, the High Street was a vast improvement and to remove the trees would be to undo a lot of the hard work done and success achieved;
· that Tree Preservation Orders should be placed on the trees to stop this happening;
· removing the trees using the excuse of CCTV cameras was not good enough, especially as a Home Office report stated that their effectiveness in preventing crime was only a negligible 2%;
· that the Board should consider having more police or better lighting before felling trees.
Miss Sullivan-Weeks submitted a petition of 2399 signatures objecting to the removal of the trees and stated that:
· nobody could dispute the importance of trees in the environment, not only as counters to carbon dioxide but as beautifying factors;
· a broader view should be taken, and the longer term implications of felling these trees must be considered;
· as Council representatives, the Board had a duty to take a responsible, long term decision.
Councillor Edgar, as the Chairman of the Highways and Transportation Committee when the landscaping of the High Street was first considered, was permitted to address the Board. Councillor Edgar stated that –
· he remembered when the plans for the soft and hard landscaping of the High Street were first discussed and questions and concerns were raised over the trees, Members were informed then that the trees would be enjoyed by all and a highlight to the Town;
· cutting down the trees now seems unreasonable. Simple answers such as amending the pavements and moving the cameras could solve the problem;
· there was nothing to warrant such a drastic action as this, that the Ward Councillor should be listened too and the Board should think again before robbing a generation of trees in the High Street.
Councillor Wright, as the Chairman of Community and Environment Board, was permitted to address the Board. Councillor Wright stated that –
· as the Chairman of the Community and Environment Board, he was concerned about public safety regarding the trees;
· that the Police had come to Gosport Borough Council stating a problem with the viewing ranges of the CCTV cameras;
· there was £35,000 worth of CCTV cameras and most of it was unusable, that it would cost between £5 – 8,000 to move them all;
· he was also concerned about issues raised by the tree specialist that referred to roots damaging pavements and making pathing unsafe;
· while he was not an expert, he wasn't prepared to leave trees in the High Street that were a threat to people and property.
Members questioned why this item had come to Regulatory Board and had not been dealt with by Community and Environment Board when the full regeneration of the town was due to be discussed in a few months time. Members were informed that this was seen as a separate issue. The issue before the Board was whether any of the trees within the notification site were worthy of a Tree Preservation Order. Concern was also raised about issues of liability should someone injure themselves via one of the trees. Members were informed that this was a question of maintenance and would be dependant on the contributing circumstances.
Members also raised concern about the lack of time they were given to make a decision in this matter as deferment was not an option. Members were informed that as six weeks notice needed to be given which meant that there was only the opportunity to bring it to the Board once. Members suggested that by putting Temporary Tree Preservation Orders on the trees the Board would be able to protect the trees and maintain them now, and delay any further action until such time as the regeneration of the town took place. This amendment was seconded.
RESOLVED: That a temporary Tree Preservation Order be made on all the trees within the Conservation Area proposed to be felled.
245. K.6785/2 – CHANGE OF USE FROM SHOP (CLASS A1) TO RESTAURANT AND TAKE AWAY (CLASS A3) (as amended by letters dated 17.02.03 and 19.02.03 and plans received 05.02.03)
93 PALMYRA ROAD, GOSPORT
RESOLVED: That planning application K.16785/2 – 93 Palmyra Road, Gosport be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report of the Regulatory Services Manager.
246. K.15660/7 – FELLING OF 2 LIME TREES T.19 AND T.20 WITHIN
TPO G.99 (FRONTING CLARENCE ROAD) (CONSERVATION AREA)
(as amplified by letter dated 13.03.03 and plans received
17.03.03)
ST GEORG BARRACKS (SOUTH), MUMBY ROAD, GOSPORT
RESOLVED: That planning application K.15660/7 – St George Barracks (South), Mumby Road, Gosport be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report of the Regulatory Services Manager.
247. K16220 – REGULATION 3 – ERECTION OF TIMBER FRAMED
INTERPRETATION CENTRE FOR OXSTALL MEADOW ECOLOGY
PARK (as amplified by plans received 25.03.03)
OXSTALL MEADOW, GRANGE FARM, LITTLE WOODHAM LANE, GOSPORT
RESOLVED: That planning application K.16220 – Oxstall Meadow, Grange Farm, Little Woodham Lane, Gosport be approved.
248. K.16226 – CHANGE OF USE FROM RETAIL SHOP (CLASS A1)
TO SINGLE DWELLING AND ERECTION OF TWO STOREY AND
SINGLE STOREY REAR EXTENSIONS (as amplified by letter
dated 18.02.03 and plans received 18.02.03)
66 SAN DIEGO ROAD, GOSPORT
RESOLVED: That planning application K.16226 – 66 San Diego Road, Gosport be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report of the Regulatory Services Manager.
249. K.11915/1 – CHANGE OF USE FROM SHOP (CLASS A1) TO ESTATE AGENCY (CLASS A2)
175 HIGH STREET, LEE-ON-THE-SOLENT
RESOLVED: That planning application K.11915/1 – 175 High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent be approved.
250. K.16244 – CHANGE OF USE FROM RETAIL SHOP (CLASS A1)
TO ESTATE AGENT/FINANCIAL SERVICES (CLASS A2)
167 HIGH STREET, LEE-ON-THE-SOLENT
RESOLVED: That planning application K.16244 – 167 High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent be approved.
251. K.5586/2 – CHANGE OF USE FROM SHOP (CLASS A1) TO
ESTATE AGENTS (CLASS A2) (CONSERVATION AREA)
10 SOUTH STREET, GOSPORT
RESOLVED: That planning application K.5586/2 – 10 South Street, Gosport be approved.
252. K.8230/3 – ERECTION OF CONSERVATORY
2 RUSSELL ROAD, LEE-ON-THE-SOLENT
RESOLVED: That planning application K.8230/3 – 2 Russell Road, Lee-on-the-Solent be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report of the Regulatory Services Manager.
253. APPLICATION FOR THE RENEWAL OF A PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT LICENCE FOR THE WHITE HART PUBLIC HOUSE
Consideration was given to a report of the Regulatory Services Manager in connection with an application for the renewal of a public entertainment licence for The White Hart Public House, 195 Stoke Road, Gosport (a copy of which is attached as Appendix "D").
Members were informed that although there were several written complaints attached to the report, there had been no further complaints received about The White Hart since the new manager had been installed. Members were also informed by the Police that the calls received by them to deal with incidents at the premises had dropped and was in accordance with other public houses in the Borough. The Police also informed the Board that there was still evidence of drugs being used and distributed in the premises. However the Police were keen to inform Members that the situation was improving and that the conditions were working.
Members suggested that "blue lights" that made use of intravenous drug taking methods difficult should be installed in the toilets as a further deterrent to drug use. Concern was raised that no other pub in Gosport had "blue lights" and that an unwanted reputation and association to the pub might be achieved, however it was acknowledged that a pub would have to be first eventually.
Mr Taoufik, the manager from The White Hart stated that although there had been problems he could see no reason not renew the licence. Mr Taoufik stated that with time, and with the new design planned for the pub, a lot more could be achieved. Members expressed concerns that Mr Taoufik was merely being used by the brewery as a "trouble shooter" and that he would soon leave The White Hart and the problems would return. The Police also requested that should Mr Taoufik move on, then the standards achieved and promised by the Brewery would remain. Members were given assurances that Mr Tufeck was not being used as a stop-gap trouble shooter. The Police were also informed that the standards achieved so far were for the best and that every endeavour would be undertaken to maintain them.
RESOLVED: That –
(i) consent to a renewal of a public entertainment licence for the premises for a period of 6 months be approved; and
(ii) that a condition be secured to impose the installation of "blue lights" in the toilets to further deter the use of intravenous drugs.
254. VOTE OF THANKS
The Board wished to place on record its thanks to the Chairman and Officers for their support during the 2002/2003 Municipal Year.
CHAIRMAN
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