Agenda item

The application before members related to Council owned undeveloped land. The application proposed the erection of two 1- bedroom chalet bungalows.

With its agreement Councillors Lawrence Webb, Pat Murray and Keith Darvill addressed the Committee.

Councillor Webb commented that the majority of local residents opposed the proposal and that they had previously submitted a petition to the Council making their views known. Councillor Webb also commented that the development site could be at risk from future flooding as it was situated on a major waterway. Councillor Webb also advised that the current resident of 84 Dorking Road maintained an area of landscaping to the side of his property and wished to continue doing so.

Councillor Murray commented that he was speaking for the residents of the area who were having to again defend the use of green spaces in the local area. Councillor Murray commented that the area was well used by local residents as a play area and that new housing developments in the area were eroding any green areas that remained.

Councillor Darvill re-iterated the points made by Councillors Webb and Murray and commented that the Council should be protecting green spaces in the borough.

During a brief debate members received clarification on the siting of windows in the proposed development which were to be facing the proposed parking site and noted that conditions contained in the report could be amended to allow for the provision of low level lighting on the access road.

Members noted that the proposed development would be liable for a Mayoral CIL payment of £1,500 and it was RESOLVED that planning permission be delegated to the Head of Regulatory Services to approve subject to the proviso that unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Fire brigade a planning condition requiring a domestic sprinkler system be installed and that the proposal was unacceptable as it stood but would be acceptable subject to the applicant entering into a Section 106 Legal Agreement under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) (and subsequently on taking transfer of title to the application site from the Council to enter a further Deed under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 confirming that the obligation set out below bind the applicant as transferee/owner of the application site), to secure the following:

·         A financial contribution of £12,000 to be used towards infrastructure costs.

·         All contribution sums shall include interest to the due date of expenditure and all contribution sums to be subject to indexation from the date of completion of the Section 106 agreement to the date of receipt by the Council.

·         To pay the Council’s reasonable legal costs in association with the preparation of a legal agreement irrespective of whether the legal agreement is completed.

·         Payment of the appropriate planning obligation/s monitoring fee prior to completion of the agreement.

That staff be authorised to enter into a legal agreement to secure the above and upon completion of that agreement, grant planning permission subject to the conditions as set out in the report.

The vote for the resolution to grant planning permission was carried by 9 votes to 1.

Councillor McGeary voted against the resolution to grant planning permission.