Agenda and minutes

  The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked Members and Officers to introduce themselves

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

  RESOLVED -  That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following part of the agenda designated exempt on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as designated as follows:

  The appendix to the main report referred to in minute 149 under Schedule 12A Local Government Act 1972 and the terms of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (3) and on the grounds it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).  It is considered that if this information was in the public domain it would be likely to prejudice the affairs of the applicant.  Whilst there may be a public interest in disclosure, in all the circumstances of the case, maintaining the exemption is considered to outweigh the public interest in disclosing this information at this time

  There were no formal late items, however the Panel was in receipt of supplementary information in respect of Application 12/02571/OT land between Wetherby Road, Skeltons Land and York Road and Application 15/00651/FU – River Aire at Leeds Weir, which had been circulated to Members in advance of the meeting and had been published on the Council’s website (minutes 149 and 150) refer

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. 

  There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest

To receive apologies for absence (If any)

  Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor G Latty, with Councillor J Procter substituting for him.  Apologies had also been received from Councillor Campbell

Further to minute 120 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 29^th January 2015, where Panel considered a position statement on an outline application for means of access and erection of residential development (circa 2000 dwellings), retail, health centre, community centre and primary school development, with associated drainage and landscaping, to consider a further report of the Chief Planning Officer seeking determination of the formal application

(report attached)

  Further to minute 120 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 29^th January 2015, where Panel considered a position statement on an outline application for a major, residential-led development on the Northern Quadrant of the East Leeds Extension, Members considered a further report of the Chief Planning Officer setting out the formal application.  Appended to the report were minutes of the City Plans Panel’s previous discussions on the proposals, together with details of the S106 proposals and the delivery triggers for the payment of the planning contributions.  An exempt appendix which contained financial information was also appended to the report

  Plans, drawings, photographs and a schedule setting out the key milestones of the proposals were displayed at the meeting.  It was noted that Members had last visited the site ahead of the meeting on 29^th January 2015

  Officers presented the report and outlined the main issues in respect of:

·  East Leeds Orbital Route (ELOR) – that the Council had obtained funding for the whole of ELOR from the West Yorkshire Transport Fund; that it was anticipated that the road would be open by 2021 and that if the application was approved, only 250 dwellings could be constructed on the site by 2021

·  affordable housing – that the policy requirement was for 15% affordable housing; that Members had required a higher level; that now 12% affordable housing had been guaranteed through a correction in the cost of ELOR; funding proposed for Metrocards being redirected, in line with Members’ comments at the meeting in January 2015; funding from off-site public transport works and a further contribution from the developers of £557,371.  In addition to this, there was provision for further excesses through the roof tax payments which could take the level of affordable housing to be achieved on the site to 14%

·  highways – that a key concern raised in the consultation process had been the proposed closure of Red Hall Lane at the eastern end and that a sum of money had been put aside to address any unforeseen highway impacts arising from this closure, as well as unforeseen impacts elsewhere arising from the development

·  the split between the amount of social rented dwellings and sub market dwellings in the affordable housing provision; in a 40/60 split; that the Core Strategy reversed these amounts however a more pragmatic approach was being proposed to this site and that 60% submarket and 40% social rent was being recommended to Panel

·  that in the event Panel was minded to approve the scheme and that the S106 had not been signed before 6^th April, when CIL came into effect, there were implications for the scheme under the CIL regulations

The Panel then heard from an objector who was representing local

residents and who set out local concerns about the scheme which included:

·  the sustainability of the development

·  the design of ELOR

·  the extent of the greenspace provision

·  proposed road closures

·  the impact of increased traffic in the area

·  the location of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 149.

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on a variation of condition 18 of previous approval 14/01511/FU for minor material amendment relating to the use of external finishing material at Leeds Weir

(report attached)

  Plans, photographs and graphics were displayed at the meeting

  The Panel considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer on proposals for a variation of condition 18 of the previously approved application for flood defences and the replacement of the existing Leeds and Knostrop Weirs with moveable weirs, as part of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme.  A further update report on the application had been circulated prior to the meeting, with Members also having regard to this supplementary document

  The application sought approval for the use of concrete for the external facing material for the piers at Leeds Weir, which although this material had been proposed to be used originally, in approving the scheme, Members had required stone be used to construct the piers, with this being controlled by condition

  The Deputy Area Planning Manager presented the report and advised Members that the applicant had appointed a contractor however further consideration of the use of stone had taken place with the following issues being raised with Planning Officers:

·  the increased construction requirements if stone was used

·  there would be an increased maintenance liability

·  significant health and safety risks with that maintenance

·  significant increase to the cost of the project and a delay to the implementation of the scheme of over 2 months

It was reported that that use of concrete was considered to be the most

appropriate engineering solution

  In terms of the character of the area, this was varied, with different buildings constructed from a range of materials and from a planning perspective, the main consideration was the impact of the proposals on the character and appearance of the Conservation Area

Conservation colleagues had confirmed that the historic significance of the weir was based on its use and location rather than its detailed construction and that the Canals and Rivers Trust was satisfied with the proposals and that English Heritage and the Environment Agency did not object to the proposals

The Panel discussed the application and commented on the quality of the concrete to be used and the possibility of matching the colour of the concrete to the heritage weir.  The Chair invited a representative of the applicants to respond to the issue of the colour of the concrete, with Members being informed it would be possible to colour match the concrete, although when wet, algal growth would occur and over time, the concrete would colour naturally

RESOLVED -  To grant approval for variation of condition 18 to allow the use of high quality concrete (option 4) as an external facing material, with the colour of the concrete to match the heritage weir and subject to agreement of a sample panel

To note that the next meeting will take place on Thursday 26^th March 2015 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

  Thursday 26^th March 2015 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds