Agenda and minutes

Councillor Jill Simpson-Vince apologised for the delay in starting the meeting which was due to technical issues.

To receive any apologies from Members of the Committee.

Apologies were received from  Councillor Jack Kennaugh and Councillor Tim Sinclair. 

Councillor Jeff Clarke declared that he would leave the meeting for item four due to his position at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.

Councillor Caroline Phillips wished it to be noted that she is a member of Warwickshire County Council’s Corporate Parenting Panel – in relation to item four on the agenda.

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 1 August 2023 were approved as a true and accurate record.

There were no matters arising.

Members are asked to note the applications dealt with under delegated powers since the last meeting.

Members noted the delegated decision made by officers since the last meeting, as set out in the report.

Deborah Moseley, Democratic Services Team Leader,  presented the report in relation to the outside appointments as attached in Appendix 1. It was confirmed that if the report was approved by the Committee, then the appointments would take effect immediately.

The Committee was asked to note that the appointment to the West Midlands Combined Authority Overview & Scrutiny was an annual appointment. In addition, the appointment to the post of Director of Warwick Technology Park  Management Company 1 and 2 Limited was an officer appointment.

Councillor Judy Falp raised the fact that the Council does not receive any feedback from the appointments to outside bodies and confirmed that it is common practice in another local authority where reports are presented to scrutiny committees. Deb Moseley confirmed that this process is not in place at Warwickshire County Council but that she would take the comments away for review.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Jill Simpson-Vince and seconded by Councillor John Cooke. A vote was held and the Committee voted unanimously in favour of the recommendation.

Resolved

That the Regulatory Committee agree and/or confirm the proposed appointments as set out in the appendix to the report.

Georg Urban, Senior Planner gave an overview of the report, highlighting the application location and details of the local area. Councillors noted the existing premise and the proposed changes, including two additional parking spaces at the front of the property and the pond in the back garden being filled in. There would also be an additional shower room added and the garage is proposed to be turned into an office.

It was noted that the proposed site is on an established estate within Nuneaton considered to be an acceptable and sustainable location.

It was confirmed to the Committee that in relation to planning policy H1, the proposed application will not adversely affect environmental assets in the area. It was confirmed that there had been no objection from the county ecologist.

It was noted that the application confirms to the need for the housing in the area, due to the responsibility of Warwickshire County Council to care for looked after children within the county. Currently, children in care are sometimes placed outside of Warwickshire. Provision has also been created in Stratford and Leamington but is lacking in the north of the county.

The Committee noted that one response in objection to the application was in relation to the site being an inappropriate location but no clear reason given by objectors as to why the location is inappropriate.

In response to the objection in relation to the design and appearance of the application site, the Committee was informed that design considered to be acceptable and in keeping with the area.

In response to the objection in relation to the fear of crime, the Committee was informed that National Planning Policy Framework guidance states that fear of crime can be considered as a material planning considered only if there is evidence of previous crime in the area. The police have confirmed that this is not the case in the proposed area.

Questions

Councillor Adrian Warwick asked, in relation to the changes at the front of the house if there were any plans for plants/screening to keep the look of a residential property. Georg Urban confirmed that there is a requirement for an ecological enhancement scheme for the property and that officers can add a requirement for the planting at the front of the property to be replaced as appropriate and in keeping with the other properties,  It was noted that it would be preferable to keep as much of the original vegetation as possible.  Caroline Gutteridge, Delivery Lead Commercial & Regulatory, confirmed that additional proposals for the front of the property could be added to Condition Six of the application.

Councillor Dave Humphreys requested confirmation that the home would be for Warwickshire children in care. It was confirmed that the proposal was to accommodate and meet the need of children in care in Warwickshire but that it could not be guaranteed that children from outside the county would never be housed there.

Public Speaking

Mr. R.V. Scrine stated that the meeting was the first  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider passing the following resolution:

‘That members of the public be excluded from the meeting for the items mentioned below on the grounds that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 7 of Schedule 12A of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972’.

Resolved

That the motion to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting be approved.

The exempt minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 1 August 2023 were approved as a true and accurate record.

There were no matters arising.