Agenda and minutes

Councillor Klute welcomed everyone to the meeting. Members of the Committee and officers introduced themselves and the Chair outlined the procedures for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Khondoker.

There were no declarations of substitute members.

If you have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest* in an item of business:

§  if it is not yet on the council’s register, you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent;

§  you may choose to declare a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest that is already in the register in the interests of openness and transparency. 

In both the above cases, you must leave the room without participating in discussion of the item.

If you have a personal interest in an item of business and you intend to speak or vote on the item you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent but you may participate in the discussion and vote on the item.

*(a)  Employment, etc - Any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

(b)    Sponsorship - Any payment or other financial benefit in respect of  your expenses in carrying out duties as a member, or of your election; including from a trade union.

(c)    Contracts - Any current contract for goods, services or works,    between you or your partner (or a body in which one of you has a beneficial interest) and the council.

(d)     Land - Any beneficial interest in land which is within the council’s area.

(e)     Licences- Any licence to occupy land in the council’s area for a month or longer.

(f)      Corporate tenancies - Any tenancy between the council and a body in which you or your partner have a beneficial interest.

 (g)    Securities - Any beneficial interest in securities of a body which has a place of business or land in the council’s area, if the total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body or of any one class of its issued share capital. 

This applies to all members present at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The order of business would be as per the agenda.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2018 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

The construction of 24 new dwelling units (100% social rent) on Citizen Road with associated amenity space provided in two terraced blocks ranging from 2 to 3 storeys, including provision of refuse storage and bicycle parking spaces, improvements to the public realm and reconfiguration of existing car parking on Citizen Road.

(Planning application number: P2018/2767/FUL)

In the discussion the following points were made:

·         The planning officer stated that the standard condition removing permitted development rights should be added to ensure Network Rail had access to the viaduct for maintenance and emergency purposes.

·         The access for Network Rail was discussed and the planning officer stated that it was not possible to have an alleyway behind the gardens as it would need to be 2m wide which would shorten the gardens or mean the road would have to be moved forward. It would also encourage anti-social behaviour.

·         In response to a member’s concern the planning officer stated that the emergency services had been consulted and did not object to the scheme.

·         In response to resident’s concern that service charges for those currently living on the estate would be increased, the applicant stated that they would be reduced as the total cost would be divided by more units.

·         In response to a member’s concern about the proposed white render, the applicant stated that a high quality, self-cleaning, water repellent, white render would be used which would be in keeping with render used on many London buildings. The Design Review Panel were satisfied with the proposed render and where it had been used elsewhere it was wearing well.

·         In response to a member’s question as to how many units would be accessible, the planning officer explained that 10% was the requirement and this had been met. Four units would be wheelchair accessible. The remaining units were all adaptable. Space had been provided to install a lift at a later date if required.

·         A member commented that this was a well considered scheme with a low impact on existing accommodation.

·         The Construction Management Statement would manage the impacts of construction.

·         Members considered that the loss of open space and trees was carefully balanced against the acute housing needs in the borough. Garden and children’s play space provision would be improved. The trees that would be lost were getting very large and would be replaced with species that were smaller and required less maintenance. The creation of 24 homes would be life changing for the new residents.

·         Members considered that overall amenity would improve. The eastern boundary of the estate would have a clearly defined boundary with the terrace of housing. There was currently a ragged boundary and the car parking spaces were misused. The loss of parking was consistent with policy to encourage other means of travel and there were good transport links.

RESOLVED:

That following consideration of the case officer’s report (the assessment and recommendations therein), the presentation to Committee, submitted representations and objections provided verbally at this meeting, planning permission be granted subject  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.