Agenda and minutes

Councillors Walshaw; Nash; Hamilton; Ritchie; and, Wilkinson attended the site visits earlier in the day.

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents.

There were no exempt items.

There were no late items.

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 interests. However, the Chair, Cllr. Walshaw informed the Panel that he knew Stuart Natkus the speaker for the application from an application in the Headingley ward.

Apologies for absence had been received from Cllr. R Grahame. Cllr. Nash was present at the meeting as his substitute.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 1^st December 2016 as a correct record.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 1^st December 2016 be confirmed as a correct record subject to the following amendments:

a)  Minute 97 – the description of the application was incorrect and should read as follows; Application 15/06569/FU - Change of use of dwelling, land and outbuildings used for fish farm to use as a single dwelling with garden and domestic outbuildings, including removal of condition 3 of approval 33/336/03/FU, 47 Thorner Lane, Scarcroft

b)  Minute 101 – 4^th paragraph to include the following; A further report would be provided to Members with the recommendations of the Appointed Inspectors’ findings after the conclusion of the Non-Statutory Public Inquiry.

Further to minute number 96 the report of the Chief Planning Officer asks Members to consider the change of use and extension of building from a workshop and storage to a combined heat and power plant and the storage of Fuel at Moor Lodge Caravan Site 103, Blackmoor Lane, Bardsey, Leeds.

(Report attached)

Further to Minute 96 the report of the Chief Planning Officer provided Members with information requested at the meeting held on 1^st December 2016.

Members had deferred this application so that more information could be provided in relation to the proposed Combined Heat and Power unit (CHP) to be installed at Moor Lodge Caravan Park.

The information was set out at paragraphs 1.4, 1.5, and 1.6 in the submitted report. It related to the process, the amount of power to be generated and emission levels.

One objection letter had been received from Chris Finn on behalf of a number of local residents. Mr Finn was at the meeting and informed the Panel that the site would require the installation of a District Heating Scheme to distribute the heat produced by the power plant to the house, shower block and workshop. He said that the distance between the shed where the CHP was to be located and the buildings to be heated would not make the system efficient.

Mr Finn said that he had read a document by The Green Consultancy which questions the use and efficiency of CHP systems. This document had been submitted with the letter of objection.

Mr Finn expressed his view that the proposed size of the CHP could provide power to 300 plus homes and had concerns that the unit was being installed to produce more energy than was required by the site in order to sell to the National Grid.

Mr Dewar the DPA Planner attended the meeting along with Matthew Dowley from the company that supplies ArborElectroGen systems.

Members were informed that this particular CHP unit was one of the most advanced and was encouraged by Government.

Members were also informed that the application to extend the building was to house the hopper not the CHP unit. 

Cllr. Cleasby expressed his concerns in relation to the storing of wood to be chipped and used in the burner.

Members were advised that the CHP would burn only G50 woodchips which had to be purchased through an approved supplier. The site would not be storing wood or chipping wood to be used in the burner.

Cllr. Procter advised the meeting that he knew something about moisture content in woodchips as he had previously had business interests at Drax Power Station. He explained that he had not been at the previous meeting when this application had been presented.

Cllr. Procter said that he was considering this application with an open mind and reiterated the Legal Officers clarification of the Code of Conduct for Elected Members.

Cllr. Procter expressed his concerns that the CHP seemed to be large given that it was only to be used to power and heat the workshop, the house, the shower block and the dryers.

Members were informed that if the unit was not required through summer the unit would be turned off and powered down. Members noted that the output from the unit proposed was about 100Kw

The Panel were informed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 109.

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer for the erection of nine dwellings, landscaping and infrastructure at land off Belle Vue Road, Scholes, Leeds, LS15.

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Planning Officer informed Members of the erection of 9 dwellings with associated landscaping and infrastructure at land off Belle Vue Avenue, Scholes, LS15 4AA.

The application proposed a residential development of 9 detached four bedroom two storey dwellings on a greenfield site.

The greenfield site is located on the eastern edge of the village of Scholes, the village has a mix of houses and bungalows. The site is located close to the Manor House Community Centre which is used regularly by the community of Scholes. It was noted that an area used for parking would be lost due to the development. However, it was proposed that 6 visitors’ car parking spaces would be provided to compensate for the loss of parking.

Members were informed that the site comprises of a number of mature trees along the eastern edge of the site as well as a large oak tree towards the centre of the site and also a large oak tree adjacent to the vehicular access point on Belle Vue Road. These trees had been the subject of a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). It was noted that trees are to be planted to the boundary.

Members heard that one tree on the site is due to be removed as it was suffering from decay.

Members had attended a site visit earlier in the day and were shown photographs and plans at the meeting.

Members were informed that the site is relatively flat and surrounded by residential properties on three sides. The properties are a mix of bungalows (sheltered housing) and two storey houses, with small groups of semi-detached properties and terraces with some detached properties on Belle Vue Avenue.

Members noted that a strip of land to the east was unallocated in the UDP and that beyond this was an area of land which is Safeguarded Land.

Members were advised that a number of objections had been raised from residents, the Barwick & Scholes Parish Council and ward member Cllr. Stephenson. The concerns raised were listed at 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 of the submitted report.

Ms Hassell, Chair of Barwick and Scholes Parish Council was at the meeting and informed the Panel that the Parish Council opposed the development as they did not feel that the type of houses proposed were right for the area. She said that they needed smaller houses so that residents could downsize and stay in the area. Ms Hassell said that the houses were out of character for the area and would dominate the existing properties nearby.

Ms Hassell informed the Panel that the residents or the parish council had not been consulted about the development. She also informed the Panel that the Neighbourhood Plan had been submitted for inspection and therefore carries weight. The Neighbourhood Plan sets out the need for smaller properties.

Ms Hassell advised the Panel that it was Belle Vue Road that was the access point to the development not Belle Vue Avenue as stated by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 110.

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer for change of use from a vacant retail unit (Class A1) to a hot food takeaway (Class A5) including new shopfront and installation of extraction / ventilation equipment.

(Report attached)

The submitted report of the Chief Planning Officer proposed an application for the change of use of a vacant unit on Main Street, Garforth from a shop (A1) to a hot food takeaway (A5) with new shopfront and installation of extraction /ventilation equipment.

Members were informed that there is a car park to the rear of the unit with 2 designated spaces for the unit and a bin storage. Members noted that the car park is locked from 6pm until 7am.

Members were informed that bungalows back on to the rear of the car park with a distance of 21 metres which are separated by palisade fencing.

Members had visited the site earlier in the day and were shown photographs and plans at the meeting.

The new shop front would be of aluminium the same as other shop fronts in the centre.

Members noted that the conditioning unit was to be replaced with a new unit to eject fumes.

Members also noted a typo at 4.3 of the submitted report should read ‘allowed at appeal 6^th February 2014’

Sue McQuire the secretary of the Garforth Neighbourhood Forum attended the meeting. She told the Panel that there was a need in Garforth for a greater variety of shops as the majority on the Main Street are takeaways or hairdressers. She said that the report had omitted to take account of a survey conducted with householders in Garforth which asked to see less hairdressers and takeaway premises.

Ms McQuire said that the A3 and A5 uses conflicted with the policy of Leeds City Council. She informed the Members that Garforth was listed as one of the highest in the city for obesity.

Ms McQuire made a number of references to Leeds City Council policies and priorities including Child Friendly policies, Leeds Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Core Strategy and the mission for Leeds to be the best for health and wellbeing.

Ms Mcquire said that the report of the Chief Planning Officer omitted to include the concern that there are inaccuracies around the frontage measurements, and they would exceed the core strategy percentages of 30% non-retail on this parade.

Nigel Cussen on behalf of Dominos Pizza UK and Ireland and the outlet Operations Manager were at the meeting.

Mr Cussen informed the Members that the outlet would employ local people and would keep footfall in the area. He said that the spaces in the car park would be used for delivery people outside of normal operating hours. The car park would be locked and only the manager would have the key.

Members expressed their concerns that these type of car parks attracted anti- social behaviour. However, they were of the view that the car park in Garforth seemed to be well run.

The Operations Manager said that the car parking spaces would be used by staff not by delivery staff, therefore the car park would remain closed and locked. He said that there would normally be up to 4 delivery cars and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 111.

The next meeting of North and East Plans panel will be Thursday 9^th February 2017 at 1:30pm.

The next meeting of the North and East Plans Panel will be Thursday 9^th February 2017 at 1:30pm.