Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor R E R Morris.

To appoint substitute Members in accordance with Rule 4 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

None.

Members are reminded that any declaration of interest should be made having regard to the Members’ Code of Conduct. In particular, Members must make clear the nature of the interest and whether it is 'pecuniary' or ‘non-pecuniary'.

In respect of planning application number 16/00552/FUL, the Chair declared a non-pecuniary interest insofar he had been contacted by an objector regarding the same.

In respect of report containing exempt information (at pages 22 – 23), the Chair declared a non-pecuniary interest insofar he had been approached by a third-party in relation to the exempt subject-matter(s) of the same report.

In respect of planning application number 16/00377/COU, the Vice-Chair declared a non-pecuniary interest insofar that she had been contacted by a resident regarding the same.

The Chair and Vice-Chair confirmed that they attended the meeting without prejudice and with an open-mind.

To read, confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting in accordance with Rule 17 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on 19 January 2017 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

To receive any Petitions and, or, Deputations in accordance with Rule 24 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

None.

1.      Application No. 16/00377/COU – 1 Ladysmith Road, Wigston, Leicestershire, LE18 4UZ

Ms Roopa Rahman spoke upon the application on behalf of the applicant.

Ms Rahman stated that residents’ traffic management and volume concerns were to be mitigated by a pick-up and drop-off mini-bus nursery service. It was said that the application had flexibility in terms of drop-off points located at the main entrance to the building and its front walkway and garden area(s) and a contingency plan to expand existing car parking capacity was envisaged. A spatial limit of 26 children in accordance with Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (OFSTED) regulations and planned control measures were also said to mitigate any excessive traffic movements. The proposed perimeter fencing of the application site was said to be a security measure to ensure the children’s safety and would not obstruct views to/from the (unadopted) highway.

Ms Rahman stated that the application would bring the existing derelict building back into use and enhance the character of the local area by virtue of the installation of CCTV acting as a deterrent to delinquent activity. It was said that it was unlikely that the application would impact on the private sewer/drainage system due to the limit of children across different age ranges meaning most would be in nappies/pull-ups and that further guidance would be sought, if necessary, to accommodate an advised capacity. It was said that the application would not entertain the same high volumes of human traffic seen in neighbouring establishments and would have no discernible effect. Ms Rahman stated that the intended childcare establishment was to provide a nurturing home-from-home environment for children within the community.

Councillor Mrs H E Loydall sought clarification from the speaker as to:

(a)       how many members of childcare staff were to be employed; and

(b)       how many parking spaces were to be provided.

Ms Rahman advised that:

(a)       in accordance with OFSTED regulations and upon the assumption of not fulfilling or exceeding the spatial limit of 26 children, a minimum of between 2 and 4 members of childcare staff were to be employed; and

(b)       four parking spaces and 4 drop-off points were to be provided.

Mr Simon New, managing agent at Preim Ltd, spoke upon the application on behalf of the 59 shareholders/ properties incorporated as the South Wigston Residents Company Ltd (SWRC) - the management company responsible for the road infrastructure, lights and maintenance of communal land in the immediate unadopted estate encompassing the application site - as an objector.

Mr New stated that the estate had an existing inadequate, multiple-parking provision for properties sited thereon and that the parking provision of three parking spaces envisaged by the proposed childcare establishment was insufficient to accommodate all the operational and personnel requirements of the same. It was said that all existing parking spaces on the estate were privately-assigned to individual properties and could not be made available for use. He raised concerns as to increased traffic and pedestrian activity insofar as:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

The press and public are likely to be excluded from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Exempt Information) during consideration of the item(s) below on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraph(s) 1, 2 and 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and, that in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exempt item(s) outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED THAT:

The press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Exempt Information) during consideration of the item(s) below on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraph(s) 1, 2 and 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and, that in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exempt item(s) outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Committee gave consideration to the report containing exempt information (at pages 22 - 23) as delivered and summarised by the Planning Enforcement Officer which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

A debate considering the exempt subject-matter(s) of the report was held by Members in closed session.

It was moved by the Chair and seconded by the Vice-Chair that the report be noted.

RESOLVED THAT:

The report containing exempt information be noted by Members.

Votes For                   7

Votes Against            2

Abstentions               2