Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Hibbert and Lane.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 December 2012 were agreed and signed by the Chair.

Councillor Meredith declared “predetermination” of application no N/2012/1132 as intending to speak against the application.

The Head of Planning, submitted a List of Current Appeals and Inquiries and reported that since the publication of the agenda, the appeal in respect of application no N/2012/0058 had been dismissed. He also noted that the hearing in respect of application no. N/2012/0640 would be held on 19 February 2013 in the Jeffery Room.

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(The following applications are considered in a single report)

N/2012/1237-           Non illuminated sign at Ask, 10 St Giles Square,              Northampton                 (Ward: Castle)

N/2012/1238-           Listed Building Consent for wall mounted sign at Ask,10 St Giles Square, Northampton  (Ward: Castle)

N/2012/1239-           Non illuminated signs, corner of Victoria Promenade and Derngate, Northampton (Ward: Castle)

N/2012/1240-           Non illuminated sign at Guildhall Road, Northampton   (Ward: Castle)

N/2012/1242-           Non illuminated signs at St Johns Multi Storey Car Park, St Johns Terrace, Northampton  (Ward: Castle)

N/2012/1243-           Non illuminated signs at Central Museum & Art Gallery, 4 Guildhall Road, Northampton  (Ward: Castle)

N/2012/1244-           Non illuminated sign, corner of Albion Place and Derngate, Northampton    (Ward: Castle)

N/2012/1245-           Non illuminated sign at 9 Guildhall Road, Northampton            (Ward- Castle)

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: Castle

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of applications N/2012/1237, N/2012/1239, N/2012/1240, N/2012/1242, N/2012/1243, N/2012/1244, and N/2012/1245, referred to the Addendum that set out comments from the Town Centre Conservation Area Advisory Committee and the Highway Authority and responses thereto and noted that recommendation 1.1 as set out in the report could be amended to reflect the receipt of those comments.

The Committee discussed the applications.

RESOLVED:  1.That the Advertisement Consent Applications N/2012/1237, N/2012/1239, N/2012/1240, N/2012/1242, N/2012/1243, N/2012/1244, N/2012/1245 be approved subject to the standard conditions set out in the report.

                          2. That the Head of Planning be authorised to approve in principle Listed Building Consent Application N/2012/1238 after the end of the consultation period on 24 January 2013, provided that no additional material considerations were raised and shall be subject to the conditions set out in the report and referred to the Secretary of State as the proposal had no significant adverse impact on the character or appearance of the listed building and accords with Policies E20 and E26 of the Northampton Local Plan and National Planning Policy Framework.

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: Castle

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of application no. N/2011/0867, referred to the Addendum that set out two representations from the owner of neighbouring flats and bungalow and the responses thereto and elaborated thereon.

Mr Noble, stated that he was representing a family business that owned and managed 195 to 197 Kettering Road and 102 Hood Street and that he wished to object to the application as he did not believe that the report accurately reflected the concerns he had raised since 2011. He believed that the basement was not suitable for the use applied for and had raised concerns with the Council’s officers. Furthermore, there was no outside smoking area for customers and only limited car parking. Mr Noble believed that customers would be unlikely to walk to the premises. He also considered that the report and application made little reference to the restaurant use but concentrated on the pub use and noted that the closing hours stipulated in the planning consent did not match the hours granted by Licensing. In answer to a question, Mr Noble commented that he had received complaints from some of his tenants and had lost the tenants adjacent to the first floor. There had also been complaints about smoking in the street and from the tenants of the bungalow in Hood Street in respect of their children. Mr Noble confirmed that most of the complaints had been whilst the works had been carried out.   

Mr Hepworth, the applicant, commented that his pub was different to most in that he did not sell lager or alcopops. His clientele tended to be older and he was not aware of any particular issues. Mr Hepworth noted that the soundproofing installed was ten times better than the standard required by Building Control. He referred to three references from customers in support of the premises. In answer to questions Mr Hepworth commented that the noise limiter was set to 85db on the advice of Environmental Health; that from the 1880’s to the 1970’s the premises had been a butchers with heavy equipment in the basement and that he played background music, generally, from the 1960’s and 1970’s. 

Councillor Glynane, as a sometime customer stated that the premises were a pleasant place for a meal and drink and noted the support other customers had given to it. He had walked to it from where he lived in Far Cotton. He was dismayed by some of the comments that had been made particularly about smoking; the premises were located in a commercial area with several other pubs, restaurants and takeaways nearby. He believed that it fitted in well with the area.

The Head of Planning noted that Mr Noble’s comments had been dealt with in the Addendum and in answer to questions commented that the issue of noise limiters was for Environmental Health and that proposed condition 2 dealt with noise and controlling it and could be amended to specifically prevent live music and reminded  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10a

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: Talavera

Councillor Meredith moved to the public seating in accordance with his declaration of predetermination set out at minute 4 above.

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of application no. N/2012/1132 and elaborated thereon.

Councillor Meredith as Ward and County Council Division councillor commented that Billing Lane had been a problem since his first election six years ago; there had been a fatality and recently a wall had been knocked down. The lane was used as a rat run from the A45 to the A43 and speeding traffic was a problem; he had used some of his County Council empowerment funding to have a slow- down speed sign put in place. Residents had complained to him that they were unaware of the application and some had concerns because of the problems along Billing Lane. Councillor Meredith commented that he used the lane frequently and the site was on a dangerous bend and that it was often difficult to get into the site because of parked vehicles. He noted that although the existing hedge was to be moved and replaced queried whether it was in the gift of the applicant to do so; that the existing hedge was part of the street scene and rural feel of Billing Lane; previous issues in getting the hedge to be maintained. Councillor Meredith made reference to an e-mail he had received from the Agent that he considered was intimidating. In answer to questions Councillor Meredith commented that the fatality had been 300 yards further along Billing Lane and that walls had been knocked down at Brittons Drive and Crabtree Drive; speeding had been a cause of the incidents; traffic flow monitoring had shown results of speeds in excess of 50mph; that he believed that the applicant would need consent to move the hedge and that there had not been any discussion with him in that respect; that the road was predominately rural; and that he did not agree with the Highway Authority’s assessment of accidents in the preceding five years. 

(Councillor Meredith left the meeting in accordance with his earlier stated declaration of predetermination.) 

Mr Dooley, the agent, commented that the hedge did belong to the applicant and comprised leylandii of no particular merit. The hedge would be removed and replanted to give a better visibility splay. He commented that there had been no accidents at this point along Billing Lane and the applicant had had a full traffic survey undertaken which the Highway Authority had agreed with the results. He believed that that the access arrangements would improve safety and hoped that the Committee would approve the application. In answer to a question, Mr Dooley stated that the existing access arrangements had been in place for a considerable period of time.   

Mr Pearson, the applicant, stated that he had lived at Southfields Cottage for 22 years. In the last five years he had had problems with burglaries and was keen to have a nearby neighbour to help improve security. He noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10b

Report of Head of Planning

(copy herewith)

Ward: Delapre and Briar Hill

The Head of Planning submitted a report in respect of application no. N/2012/1169 and elaborated thereon.

The Committee discussed the application.

RESOLVED: That the application be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report as the proposed change of use and associated boundary treatment would, due to its siting, scale and design not have an undue detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the area or on highway safety and complied with Policy E20 of the Northampton local Plan and aims of the NPPF.

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