Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Upjohn.

To be apprised of any changes to the membership of the Committee in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.

There were no changes to the membership of the Committee.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4, the Committee noted the termination of Councillor X and the appointment of Councillor Y for this meeting only, thereby giving effect to the wishes of the Political Groups.

Note: No other business is permitted unless, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified at the meeting, the Chairman is of the opinion that the item(s) should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no items of urgent business received.

If a member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Legal and Democratic Services Manager in advance of the meeting. (For the assistance of members a checklist for use in considering their position on any particular item is included at the end of this agenda sheet.)

Councillor Mrs Baybutt declared a pecuniary interest in respect of planning application 2021/0390/ARM relating to ORM Works and Former Railway Tavern, Railway Road, Skelmersdale as the applicant was a personal friend of hers and therefore left the Chamber and took no part in the decision making process.

Party Whips are not to be used by this Committee in respect of its functions concerning the determination of applications, approval of consents, the taking of enforcement action and the exercise of powers and duties with regard to highways, hedgerows, the preservation of trees and high hedge complaints. When considering any other matter which relates to a decision of the Cabinet or the performance of any member of the Cabinet, in accordance with Regulatory Committee Procedure 9, Members must declare the existence of any party whip, and the nature of it.

There were no Declaration of Party Whip.

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on the 22 July 2021.                                             .

RESOLVED:         That the minutes of the meeting held on the 22 July 2021,                    be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

The Corporate Director of Place and Community submitted a report on planning applications (all prefixed 2021 unless otherwise stated) as contained on pages 259 to 388 of the Book of Reports and on pages 403 to 412 of the Late Information Report.

(Notes:

1.    In accordance with Regulatory Procedure Rule 7(a), Councillor Pryce Roberts spoke in connection with planning application 2021/0390/ARM relating to ORM Works and Former Railway Tavern, Railway Road, Skelmersdale and left the meeting after consideration of this item.

2.    Councillor Mrs Baybutt had declared a pecuniary interest in respect of planning application 0390/ARM relating to ORM Works and Former Railway Tavern, Railway Road, Skelmersdale and therefore left the Chamber during consideration of this item.

3.    Councillor Johnson arrived during consideration of planning application 0418/FUL relating to Bank House, Ayrefield farm, Bank Brow, Roby Mill, Up Holland and therefore took no part in the debate and did not vote on this application.

4.    A Parish Councillor and Agent spoke in connection with planning application 0418/FUL relating to Bank House, Ayrefield Farm, Bank Brow, Roby Mill, Up Holland and left the meeting after consideration of this item.

5.    An Objector spoke in connection with planning application 0741/FUL relating to Tarleton Academy, Hesketh Lane, Tarleton and left the meeting after consideration of this item.

6.    Councillor D Evans left the Chamber during consideration of planning application 0390/ARM relating to ORM Works and Former Railway Tavern, Railway Road, Skelmersdale and was not present for the remainder of the meeting.

7.    An Objector and Agent spoke in connection with planning application 0390/ARM relating to ORM Works and Former Railway Tavern, Railway Road, Skelmersdale and left the meeting after consideration of this item.

8.    The meeting was adjourned for a 5 minute comfort break at 8.10pm to allow Officers to bring in more speakers to the Chamber at the conclusion of planning application 0390/ARM relating ORM Works and Former Railway Tavern, Railway Road, Skelmersdale.

9.    A Parish Clerk, 3 Objectors and the Agent spoke in connection with planning application 2020/0906/ARM relating to Land to the East of Firswood Road, Lathom and left the meeting after consideration of this item).

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

RESOLVED:             That planning application 0418/FUL relating to Bank House, Ayrefield Farm, Bank Brow, Roby Mill, Upholland, Skelmersdale be approved subject to the conditions and reasons as set out on page 277 to 278 of the Book of Reports.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

RESOLVED:             That planning application 0741/FUL relating to Tarleton Academy, Hesketh Lane, Tarleton, Preston be approved subject to the conditions and reasons as set out on pages 286 to 293 of the Book of Reports and with the amendments to conditions 13 and 15 and reasons as set out on pages 403 to 405 of the Late Information Report.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

RESOLVED:             That planning application 0390/ARM relating to ORM Works & Former Railway Tavern, Railway Road, Skelmersdale be approved subject to the conditions and reasons as set out on pages 301 to 303 of the Book of Reports, and with the following additional 3 conditions and reasons:-

                                    Additional Condition 9

Notwithstanding the submitted details, the location of the bin store specified in Plan Ref 17/064/BS01 shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The bin store shall thereafter be sited prior to occupation of the apartments in the approved location and retained as such for the duration of the development, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

Reason

To protect the amenity of surrounding residents and to ensure compliance with the provisions of Policy GN3 in the adopted West Lancashire Local Plan 2021-2027 Development Plan Document.

Additional Condition 10

Notwithstanding the submitted Enclosures Layout ref: 17/064/EN01/D,  the proposed 0.9m high picket fence along the eastern boundary of Plot 35 shall be substituted with a 1.8m high timber feather edged fence to match that proposed around the rear garden of Plot 35. The boundary treatment to Plot 35 shall be implemented prior to occupation of the dwelling on Plot 35 and retained in situ thereafter.

Reason

To protect the privacy and amenity of adjacent residential properties and so comply with the provisions of Policy GN3 in the adopted West Lancashire Local Plan 2012-2027 Development Plan Document.

Additional Condition 10

Notwithstanding the submitted site layout plans, details of the measures to prevent motorised vehicles, including motorcycles, from accessing the site from Taylor Street shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The agreed measures shall be implemented prior to occupation of any dwelling on the site and retained in situ thereafter.

Reason

To prevent vehicles including motorcycles from accessing the site from Taylor Street in the interests of highway safety and residential amenity in accordance with the provisions of Policy GN3 in the adopted West Lancashire Local Plan 2012-2027 Development Plan Document.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

RESOLVED:             That planning application 0439/FUL relating to Park House, Black Moss Lane, Scarisbrick, Ormskirk be approved subject to the conditions and reasons as set out on pages 314 to 321 of the Book of Reports and, with the amendment to paragraph 7.1 of the report as set out on page 407 of the Late Information Report and also with  amendments to conditions and reasons 2 and 6 as set out on pages 407 to 408 of the Late Information Report.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

RESOLVED:             That planning application 0549/FUL relating to Delph Cottage, Crow Lane, Dalton, Wigan be approved subject to the conditions and reasons as set out on pages 326 to 328 of the Book of Reports.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

RESOLVED:             That planning application 0444/FUL relating to 3 and 3A Moor Street, Ormskirk be approved subject to the conditions and reasons as set out on pages 334 to 335 of the Book of Reports.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

RESOLVED:             That planning application 0113/ARM relating to Land To The East Of Tollgate Road, Burscough be approved subject to the conditions and reasons as set out on pages 348 to 353 of the Book of Reports.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

RESOLVED:             That planning application 2020/0906/ARM relating to Land to the East of Firswood Road, Lathom be deferred to allow the applicant to meet with local residents

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

RESOLVED:             Planning application 0142/FUL relating to Land To The West Of Children And Parenting Support Services, Fairlie Birch Green, Skelmersdale had been removed from the agenda to allow time for Officers and interested parties to consider the additional information and the application will be brought back to a future Planning Committee.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community as contained on pages 389 to 402 of the Book of Reports, which outlined the proposed actions and updated Members on the progress with implementing the recommendations of the planning services review.

The Corporate Director of Place and Community outlined the report and explained that a Working Group, made up of cross departmental representatives, led by the Corporate Director Place and Community had met on a regular basis to drive the implementation of the recommendations which had been categorised into short, medium and long term actions.

In discussion comments and questions were raised in respect of:

·         That a further interim report was going back to an extra Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee in January 2022 to continue monitoring the review and whether this should also come back to Planning Committee.

·         Additional capacity needed in the Planning Department was imperative

·         Timescales involved for all of the reviews – 81 in total

·         Weekly lists for planning applications – members found these very useful

·         Call in procedures – members not understanding this process

·         Responsibility of each section in the plan – which officers were responsible.

·         Planning Applications down for refusal and being called into Planning Committee – if down for refusal why bring to Planning Committee.

RESOLVED:   That the comments be noted.

To note the following dates for future Committees:

14 October 2021

25 November 2021

Wednesday 12 January 2022

Wednesday 9 February 2022

17 March 2022

21 April 2022

19 May 2022

AGREED:      That the future dates of Planning Committees be noted.