Agenda and minutes

  The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and informed Members that the meeting would be audio recorded

  The Chair referred to a letter which had been sent to Members from a Unison Steward in Planning Services raising concerns about third party recording of Plans Panel meetings.  In responding to this, the Chair stated that new legislation was being brought in by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which would allow public meetings, which included Plans Panels to be recorded and that the Council had agreed a protocol for such recordings to be made.  In terms of recording meetings, the Chair advised that full Council had recently begun to be televised and that for many years, a verbatim record was made of full Council meetings.  For clarity, the Council would be making its own recording of Plans Panel meetings

  In respect of any filming of meetings, Unison had raised concerns about the siting of cameras and camera angles in relation to individuals

  The Chair stated that it was unusual for Unison to write to Elected Members and he advised that Unison contact the Chief Planning Officer with any concerns

  Unison had also raised the issue of Officers possibly being pursued on social media, with the Chair stating that he would expect support to be provided from within City Development, if this situation arose

  The Chair also announced that this would be Bob Pritchard’s last meeting as the Panel’s legal adviser, before he took up a post outside the Council.  On behalf of all Members, the Chair thanked Bob for all the top quality advice he had given to Members on meetings of full Council and Plans Panels and stated that he would be greatly missed

  In responding, Bob Pritchard stated that he had enjoyed the last four years and that he was proud to have worked for Leeds City Council

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct. 

  With reference to Application 13/05506/FU – 29 Wellington Street, Councillor Nash declared a disclosable pecuniary interest through being in receipt of a small income from the Co-op, which had a store located close to the proposed development (minute 166 refers)

  Apologies for absence were received from Councillor P Gruen, J Lewis, N Walshaw and R Procter.  The Chair welcomed Councillors Macniven, Harland and Coulson who were substituting for their respective colleagues

  The Chair referred to the site visit which had taken place earlier in the day to view the materials for Phase 1 of this development

  In commenting on the sample materials provided on site, Members were largely supportive of the proposed materials, although some concerns were raised about the brickwork which had been displayed.  The Chief Planning Officer stated that the colouring of the brickwork and mortar would be picked up with the architect and that further work on a colour mix could be undertaken

To approve the minutes of the City Plans Panel meetings held on 13^th February 2014 and 27^th February 2014

(minutes attached)

  RESOLVED -  To approve the minutes of the City Plans Panel meetings held on 13^th February 2014 and 27^th February 2014

  With reference to minute 144 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 13^th February 2014 which referred to Application 13/03998/FU – land to the west of Cottingley Springs LS27, the Head of Planning Services informed Members that the application had been called in by the Secretary of State and that it would be dealt with by a Public Inquiry

  Members were also informed about the introduction of the NPPG – National Planning Policy Guidance which would sit under the National Planning Policy Framework.  The Head of Planning Services stated that further permitted development rights would come into effect from 6^th April 2014, with a report on these changes being brought to the next Joint Plans Panel meeting in July 2014

Further to minute 94 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 24^th October 2013, where Members considered a position statement on proposals for the erection and installation of an Energy Recovery Facility (using Autoclave and Pyrolysis) and an Anaerobic Digestion Facility, an integrated education/visitor centre, provision of rail freight handling infrastructure and an new industrial link road access to the site via Knowsthorpe Gate, associated parking and landscaping, to consider a further report of the Chief Planning Officer on the formal application

(report attached)

  Further to minute 94 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 24^th October 2013, where Members considered a position statement on the proposals, the Panel considered a further report of the Chief Planning Officer setting out the formal application

  Plans, photographs, graphics and an artist’s impression of the buildings were displayed at the meeting

  Officers presented the report which related to an application for a waste management facility which would be capable of treating up to 195,000 tonnes per annum of unsorted, non-hazardous municipal, commercial, industrial and green (biodegradable) wastes, which would operate 24 hours a day, 7 days per week except during shutdowns for maintenance

  Members were informed that the waste would be imported to the site from within the Leeds administrative boundary and that the proposals would deliver a new link road and upgrade the adjacent rail sidings infrastructure

  Having considered the scheme, Officers were of the view that the application should be refused, with recommended reasons for refusal being included in the submitted report

  Members were informed of additional letters of representation which had been received, including one from local Ward Member, Councillor R Grahame, who was supportive of the application.  Councillor Grahame’s letter was read out to the Panel.  A letter had also been received about the nature of the proposed waste management processes and whether this constituted incineration.  Members were informed it was the view of Officers that the pyrolysis element of the processes constituted incineration at this stage

  Further information had also been received on the ecological aspects of the proposals, which Officers were now satisfied with and a letter of response from the Agent in respect of the objection made by Miller Homes

  The Panel heard representations firstly from the applicant who provided information to Panel which included:

·  that the site was a brownfield site

·  that the scheme would bring sustainable benefits to Leeds

·  the waste stream and that there was sufficient waste feed stock within Leeds for the facility

·  the use of rail for transporting waste

The Panel then heard from an objector who supported the Officer’s

recommendation and provided information to Panel which included:

·  the impact of the proposals on the residents at Yarn Street

·  concerns about odour, noise and the visual impact of the proposals

·  that the application was contrary to policy and would lead to the reindustrialisation of the area

·  that a nearby unauthorised waste management use (LPR at the Knostrop Depot) had adversely impacted on the living conditions of residents at Yarn Street

·  25m flues would dominate the landscape and the proposal would result in the re-industrialisation of the site

·  investment in road was recognised but asked Members not to attach too much weight to this

The Chair allowed the applicant’s agents who were in attendance, to

respond to questions from the Panel

Members discussed the proposals with the following matters being

raised:

·  the extent of the buffer which would be required between the site and the housing land opposite, together with planting required for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 165.

Further to minute 112 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 21^st November 2013, where Panel considered pre-application proposals for a mixed used development on the former Lumiere development site, to consider a further report of the Chief Planning Officer on the formal application for proposed office (B1) building with ancillary retail (A1), restaurant and café (A3) drinking establishments (A4) and Wellness Centre (D2) uses, with internal and external public open space, access, circulation and landscaping provision, including ancillary structures

(report attached)

  Having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in this matter, Councillor Nash withdrew from the meeting

  Further to minute 112 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 21^st November 2013, where Panel considered pre-application proposals for a mixed use development on the former Lumiere development site at 29 Wellington Street LS1, Members considered a further report of the Chief Planning Officer setting out the formal application

  Officers presented the report which sought approval for an office building with ancillary ground floor retail, restaurant and café, drinking establishments and wellness centre (A1,A3, A4 and D2) uses, with internal and external publicly accessible space and landscaping above basement car parking

  Details of the proposed layout of the accommodation, public areas and basement parking were outlined together with the landscaping proposals and details of materials.  Members were informed that the scheme contained a degree of private rooftop spaces in order to make the office offer more attractive to prospective occupiers

  Regarding the issue of bus stops, it was explained that Metro were in the process of finding an alternative location for the bus service which uses stop W1, located to the north of West Central on Wellington Street, as this stop would compromise the use of guard-rails which are proposed to protect pedestrians from an existing distressful wind environment in the area

  Members were impressed with the scheme although the orientation of the sloping glass wall was queried as it was felt this would be in darkness for much of the day

  A query was raised in relation to the treatment of the parking surface and whether this could lead to flooding.  The Head of Planning Services advised that as the parking was sited in the basement, surface water run-off would be dealt with appropriately

  The possibility of including some reference to the railway heritage of the site was made, with the Chair offering to provide some historic images of the former Central Station, for consideration

  The Panel welcomed the prestigious scheme and the provision of a Winter Garden for the City

  RESOLVED -  To approve the application in principle and to defer and delegate to the Chief Planning Office for approval, subject to the specified conditions and following completion of a Section 106 Agreement to cover the following matters:

  Winter garden to be open 0700 to 2300 every day

  Public transport contribution

-  for the office element: £229,804 payable on first occupation of the office

-  for the ground floor commercial uses: £25,644 total – proportions to be paid on occupation of each unit

Travel Plan items

-  agreed travel plan

-  travel plan review fee £11,810

-  car club spaces

-  funding for free trial membership and usage of car club for office workers - £11,000

-  electric car charging points: 5% of spaces (6 no) with charging infrastructure, rising to 10% (12 no) if the first 5% are fully utilised

Highway works:

Financial contribution towards laying out of Whitehall Road/Northern Street Junction - £69,000

Provision of off  ...  view the full minutes text for item 166.

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on pre-application proposals for Park and Ride facility with other uses and to receive a presentation of the proposals on behalf of the developer

This is a pre-application presentation and no formal decision on the development will be taken, however it is an opportunity for Panel Members to ask questions, raise issues, seek clarification and comment on the proposals at this stage. A ward member or a nominated community representative has a maximum of 15 minutes to present their comments. 

(report attached)

  Plans, photographs and graphics were displayed at the meeting.  A Members site visit had taken place earlier in the day

  Members considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer and received a presentation on behalf of the developer in respect of pre-application proposals for a park and ride facility, together with other uses on land to the south of Pontefract Lane, a 10.5 ha site within the Aire Valley Enterprise Zone (AVEZ), close to Junction 45 of the M1 motorway and which formed part of the former Waterloo Colliery site

  The key elements of the proposals were outlined to Members, with these including:

·  the potential of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone to deliver high levels of employment; that the site had been identified for a park and ride scheme for a number of years and would service the AVEZ

·  the proposals would deliver a park and ride transport hub with petrol filling station, a branded coffee shop/sandwich shop and car dealerships

·  grant funding of £8.5m had been secured from central government although the terms of the grant required the land remediation works to be completed by Spring 2015

·  that 1000 parking spaces would be provided in a safe, secure facility which would be attractively landscaped and illuminated

·  that additional funding was being sought to provide improvements along the East Leeds Link Road

·  that dedicated buses running from 7am – 7pm  at a 15 minute frequency would be provided, with the fare being £3

Members discussed the proposals and commented on the following

matters:

·  the importance of the site in creating an initial impression of Leeds and whether the proposals were of sufficient quality to create the right impression of the City

·  the odour which was present on the site and the need to deal with this issue.  Discussion took place on this, with the view being that the odour was emanating from the nearby sewage works.  The possibility of engaging with Yorkshire Water to consider enclosing the sewage works as had been done in Reading was also raised.  It was suggested by a local Councillor that the odour was from particular businesses and that Environmental Health Officers were aware of this

·  whether car showrooms were the best use for the outlets proposed and that something more aspirational should be considered.  Members were informed that the developer had moved away from hotel or food uses due to the proximity of the sewage works and considered that the proposed uses were complimentary to the park and ride facility

·  whether the park and ride would be staffed and if so, the need to ensure facilities were provided for them

·  public toilet provision, with Members being informed this would be considered

·  the feasibility of car dealerships wishing to locate to the site.  The developer’s representative stated that some soft market testing had been carried out and that there was some level of interest for new or relocated facilities at the site

·  that car dealerships could vary in design and appearance but that high  ...  view the full minutes text for item 167.

Thursday 10^th April 2014

Thursday 8^th May 2014

  Thursday 10^th April 2014 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds

  Thursday 8^th May 2014 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds