Agenda and minutes

Apologies had been received from Councillor Janet Duncan with Councillor Jas Dhot substituting.

Councillor Jas Dhot declared a non pecuniary interest in Item 6 and left the meeting whilst the item was discussed.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 July were agreed as a correct record.

The Chairman notified the meeting that he had accepted 2 urgent items one of which was an enforcement report.  These reports were contained within a supplementary agenda.

It was confirmed that items marked Part 1 would be heard in public and items in Part 2 would be heard in private.

Two storey side extension and part two storey part single storey rear extension, involving the demolition of existing single storey side extension.

Recommendation : Approval

Two storey side extension and part two storey part single storey rear extension, involving the demolition of existing single storey side extension.

Officers introduced the report and referred members to the addendum sheet that had been circulated.  It was explained that a previous planning application for similar extensions and the change of use of the property to a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) had been withdrawn in May 2013.  It was further explained that the current application did not propose a change of use to a HMO and the property was in use as a single family dwelling.

In accordance with the Council's constitution a representative of the petitioners objecting and the agent/applicant addressed the meeting.

The petitioner made the following points:

·         Local residents strongly objected to the planning application.

·         There had been concerns which also related to a previous application submitted to the Council.

·         Residents were worried that the house would revert to a HMO.

·         The application was deceiving.

·         If the applicant gained planning approval there was concern about the type of residents who would be living at the premises.

·         The applicant was not a local resident and did not live in the Borough.

The agent/applicant was not present at the meeting to make comment.

A Local Ward Councillor spoke in support of petitioners and made the following points:

·         A petition objecting to the proposals had been signed by 37 local residents.

·         There was a legal covenant in the deeds of the property.

·         The new application stated it was a single dwelling house but there had been previous plans to use the house as a HMO.

·         The property had previously been used by people engaging in anti-social behaviour which had been intimidating for residents.

·         There would be a loss of sunlight to neighbouring properties.

·         There were unknown parked cars left in the street.

·         Fellow Ward Councillors also supported petitioners' concerns.

·         There was concern that residents had not been given the full 21 days to respond to a consultation regarding the application.

The Chairman also read a letter to the Committee from another local Ward Councillor who wished for his concerns to be relayed to the Committee:

·         The original planning application had been submitted in June 2013 which referred to all rooms being used as bedrooms.

·         The property had not been used as a normal dwelling house.

·         Every single room apart from the kitchen had been used as sleeping accommodation, which was effectively a hostel.

·         There had been a number of visits by the police concerning illegal substances and noise associated with groups of males gathering at the front of the property.

·         A new application had been submitted and comments were due by 1 October 2014.

·         There had been no advertisement of the revised application.

·         The applicant had a poor record of complying with planning rules.

The Chairman referred to the addendum which was circulated at the meeting, which stated 'The development hereby approved shall not be sub-divided to form additional dwelling units or used in multiple occupation.

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 99.

Change of use from Use Class C3 (Single Dwellinghouse) to Use Class C2 (Residential Institutions) involving alterations to rear elevation.

Recommendation : Refusal

Change of use from Use Class C3 (Single Dwellinghouse) to Use Class C2 (Residential Institutions) involving alterations to rear elevation.

Officers introduced the report and outlined details of the application.

The proposal was seeking to replace residential accommodation with specialist care accommodation.  Officer explained that there was a general policy against the loss of residential use in the Hillingdon Local Plan and in principle the proposal was unacceptable.  There was evidence that the demand for additional care home capacity in the Borough was likely to fall in the future whilst the Council had more of such accommodation planned in several locations that would increase the current supply.

In accordance with the Council's constitution a representative of the petitioners objecting and the agent/applicant addressed the meeting.

The petitioner objecting to the proposals was not in attendance.

The applicant made the following points:

·         The property would accommodate 5 people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

·         The property could be reverted back to a residential property.

·         People who needed support would be living in the property, not those who required nursing care.

·         The proposals complied with the London Plan.

·         The proposals would support social exclusion.

·         The applicant had 25 years of experience.

Members discussed the potential occupants of the property and what safeguarding there was in place in place to protect local residents.  The applicant informed the Committee that there would be one member of staff on site at all times.  The applicant further explained that the CQC would provide training.    

Officers informed Members that any risk assessment was not a planning matter; however, the Council's safeguarding team had provided comment in the officer report which stated that there was not support for this development and that there was sufficient space in the Borough for residents who required supported housing accommodation. 

Members discussed the parking arrangements and whether any provision would be made for the 5 occupants if they drove.  The applicant informed Members that there would be 2 spaces located at the front of the property and one parking space situated at the back of the property.  It was also explained that the occupants would only be allowed to drive if the DVLA had assessed them to be fit to drive.   

The committee resolved to add an additional refusal reason, with the wording to be agreed by the Chairman and Labour Leader. 

'Given the intensity of the proposed use and the proximity of the site to nearby residential occupiers, as well as the lack of submitted management plan to show how noise and disturbance would be controlled, the applicant has failed to demonstrate that the proposal would not result in unacceptable adverse impacts on the amenity of nearby residential occupiers due to noise and disturbance contrary to policies OE1 and OE3 of the Hillingdon Local Plan: Part Two - Saved Unitary Development Plan Policies (November 2012)'.

The recommendation for refusal was moved, seconded and on being put to the vote was unanimously agreed.

Resolved - That the application be refused as per the officers'  ...  view the full minutes text for item 100.

Additional ground level equipment cabinet and replacement of existing 14.7m high mast with new 14.7m high telecommunication mast (application under Part 24 of schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order for determination as to whether prior approval is required for siting and appearance).

Recommendation : Refusal

Additional ground level equipment cabinet and replacement of existing 14.7m high mast with new 14.7m high telecommunication mast (application under Part 24 of schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order for determination as to whether prior approval is required for siting and appearance)

Officers introduced the report and outlined details of the application.

Members noted that the area surrounding the existing mast was saturated with various electrical cabinets and an additional one would add to the clutter of existing street furniture.

The recommendation for refusal was moved, seconded and on being put to the vote was unanimously agreed.

Resolved - That the application be refused as per the officers' report.

2 x 1-bed, semi-detached bungalows with associated parking and amenity space involving demolition of existing garage block.

Recommendation : Refusal

2 x 1-bed, semi-detached bungalows with associated parking and amenity space involving demolition of existing garage block

Officers introduced the report and outlined details of the application.

Members discussed the application and agreed with the 5 reasons for refusal contained in the officers report  

The recommendation for refusal was moved, seconded and on being put to the vote was unanimously agreed.

Resolved - That the application be refused as per the officers' report.

Resolved -

1. That the enforcement action as recommended in the officer’s report was agreed.

2. That the Committee resolved to release their decision and the reasons for it outlined in this report into the public domain, solely for the purposes of issuing the formal breach of condition notice to the individual concerned.

This item is included in Part II as it contains information which a) is likely to reveal the identity of an individual and b) contains information which reveals that the authority proposes to give, under an enactment, a notice under or by virtue of which requirements are imposed on a person. The authority believes that the public interest in withholding the Information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information under paragraphs 2 and 6(a) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 as amended).

Resolved -

1. That the enforcement action as recommended in the officer’s report was agreed.

2. That the Committee resolved to release their decision and the reasons for it outlined in this report into the public domain, solely for the purposes of issuing the formal breach of condition notice to the individual concerned.

This item is included in Part II as it contains information which a) is likely to reveal the identity of an individual and b) contains information which reveals that the authority proposes to give, under an enactment, a notice under or by virtue of which requirements are imposed on a person. The authority believes that the public interest in withholding the Information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information under paragraphs 2 and 6(a) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 as amended).

Resolved -

1. That the enforcement action as recommended in the officer’s report was agreed.

2. That the Committee resolved to release their decision and the reasons for it outlined in this report into the public domain, solely for the purposes of issuing the formal breach of condition notice to the individual concerned.

This item is included in Part II as it contains information which a) is likely to reveal the identity of an individual and b) contains information which reveals that the authority proposes to give, under an enactment, a notice under or by virtue of which requirements are imposed on a person. The authority believes that the public interest in withholding the Information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information under paragraphs 2 and 6(a) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 as amended).

Resolved -

1. That the enforcement action as recommended in the officer’s report was agreed.

2. That the Committee resolved to release their decision and the reasons for it outlined in this report into the public domain, solely for the purposes of issuing the formal breach of condition notice to the individual concerned.

This item is included in Part II as it contains information which a) is likely to reveal the identity of an individual and b) contains information which reveals that the authority proposes to give, under an enactment, a notice under or by virtue of which requirements are imposed on a person. The authority believes that the public interest in withholding the Information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information under paragraphs 2 and 6(a) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 as amended).

Change of use from Use Class A1 (Shops) to Use Class A3 (Restaurants) and associated installation of ventilation system and louvered grills to rear elevation (Re-consultation following receipt of revised drawings indicating extract/ventilation plant)

Recommendation : Approval

Change of use from Use Class A1 (Shops) to Use Class A3 (Restaurants) and associated installation of ventilation system and louvered grills to rear elevation (Re-consultation following receipt of revised drawings indicating extract/ventilation plant).

Officers introduced the report and outlined details of the application.

The proposal was seeking a change of use to enable the relocation of an existing unit within Uxbridge Town Centre. The timing of the planning permission was crucial to ensuring that the unit could be refurbished and in time for the re-location of other units within the Pavilions Shopping Centre.  Accordingly, the application was considered to warrant urgent consideration.

The recommendation for approval was moved, seconded and on being put to the, vote was unanimously agreed.

Resolved – That the application be approved as per the officers' report.

Resolved -

1. That the enforcement action as recommended in the officer’s report was agreed.

2. That the Committee resolved to release their decision and the reasons for it outlined in this report into the public domain, solely for the purposes of issuing the formal breach of condition notice to the individual concerned.

This item is included in Part II as it contains information which a) is likely to reveal the identity of an individual and b) contains information which reveals that the authority proposes to give, under an enactment, a notice under or by virtue of which requirements are imposed on a person. The authority believes that the public interest in withholding the Information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information under paragraphs 2 and 6(a) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 as amended).