Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

There were no declarations of interest notified

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2009 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

It was confirmed that all items of business would be considered in public.

Forward Plan  - December 2009 to March 2010

The Committee considered extracts of items in the Forward Plan for the Cabinet meeting on 17 December 2009.  The reports on the following topics to be circulated to members.

        i.            the Update on Ealing’s Local Development Framework and the impact on Hillingdon (Cabinet Member Report in December)

      ii.            Accessible Hillingdon Supplementary Planning Document (Cabinet Report in September)

Resolved – That items on the Forward Plan be noted and members asked for a briefing notes on

        i.            London Common Permit Scheme for the Management of Street Works and Road Works.

      ii.            Street Trading Regulations.

Members were informed that the Work Programme needed to be amended as the final report for the review on Planning Enforcement - Construction And Use Of Detached Outbuildings (Homes In Back Gardens) would not be presented to the committee until the February meeting.  The February meeting would also be the first witness session for the next review.

Resolved: That the Work Programme as amended be noted.

Witness Session - Planning Enforcement - Construction and Use of Detached Out Buildings (Homes in Back Gardens)

The Chairman welcomed the witnesses: James Rodger (Head of Planning and Enforcement), Jim Lynne (Enforcement Officer), and Eddie Adamzyck (Deputy Enforcement Manager). 

Officers were thanked for the background information that had been provided in the scoping report, which provided members with details of where the Council currently was in relation to planning enforcement of construction and use of detached out buildings.  

A member asked what changes had been made to the Permitted Development Order in October 2008, which had been referred to.

Officers reported that the change made in relation to outbuildings was in regard to the height and distance from the dwellinghouse and needing to be incidental to the dwellinghouse.  Prior to 2008 larger outbuildings were allowed under permitted development rights.  Officers further advised that where occupiers applied for Certificates of Lawfulness for outbuildings if it was felt the building was not being used incidental to the main dwellinghouse the certificate had been refused.

A member stated that although this change had tackled the size of outbuildings allowed in rear gardens the committee should not be distracted by this change.  The use being made of outbuildings in rear gardens was the issue and what could be done to improve the timescales for enforcement of the unauthorised erection and use of outbuildings within existing residential properties.

The Chairman stated that whilst members recognised that officers worked closely with other departments it was important that this continued and suggested a recommendation to this effect.

The committee asked what working relationship the Enforcement Team had with outside agencies.

Officers reported that they had built up links with various outside agencies sharing intelligence where appropriate.

The committee suggested that where it was known that an outbuilding was being used as a separate dwelling that the District Valuer should be notified immediately.

Officers advised that they would liaise with Council Tax to see whether the principle of notifying the District Valuer in relation to the use of outbuildings as separate dwellings was something that could be bought into practice.  The Chairman and Labour Lead to be advised if this was able to be undertaken.

The committee asked for a brief summary of the current database system used by the Enforcement Team.

Officers advised that the Enforcement Team liaised with various departments within the Council all the time.  It was felt there was a need to look at the databases held by departments to see whether the information held could be made accessible corporately, which would save time when investigating cases across the Council. 

Officers advised that Ocella was the database system being used in the Enforcement Team and that changes were being made to enable exchange of information in regard to retrospective planning applications in relation to the erection and use of outbuildings within existing residential properties to be shared with officers in the Enforcement Team.  This would enable a Part 2 enforcement report to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.