Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

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

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4, the Committee noted the termination of Councillors Owen and Anderson and the appointments of Councillors Burnside and Dowling 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 urgent items of 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.)

1.    Councillor A Blundell declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of planning application 2023/0231/FUL relating to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Martin Mere, Fish Lane, Burscough as he recently had become a Member of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. 

2.    Councillor A Blundell declared a pecuniary interest in respect of planning application 2022/1210/FUL relating to land adjacent the Old School, Higher Lane, Dalton, Wigan as the company he worked for handled the sale of the property and that he would therefore leave the Chamber during consideration of this application and take 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 Declarations of Party Whip.

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on the 27 July 2023.                                        .

RESOLVED:         That the minutes of the meeting held on the  27 July 2023                           be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources as contained on pages 219 to 291       of the Book of Reports and on pages 293 to 296  of the Late Information Report.

(Notes:

1.    An Objector and the Applicant spoke in connection with planning application 2023/0444/FUL relating to 39 Brandreth Drive, Parbold.

2.    An Objector and the Applicant spoke in connection with planning application 2023/0231/FUL relating to The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Martin Mere, Fish Lane, Burscough.

3.    Councillor A Blundell had declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of planning application 2023/0231/FUL relating to The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Martin Mere Fish Lane, Burscough.

4.    Councillor A Blundell had a declared a pecuniary interest in respect of planning application 2022/1210/FUL relating to Land Adjacent the Old School, Higher Lane, Dalton and therefore left the Chamber during consideration of this application and took no part in the decision making process.

The Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources submitted a report on planning application 2023/0169/FUL relating to Lane Farm, Mossy Lea Road, Wrightington.

RESOLVED:        That planning application 2023/0169/FUL relating to Lane Farm, Mossy Lea Road, Wrightington be deferred at the request of Officers to allow for further consideration.

The Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources submitted a report on planning application 2023/0444/FUL relating to 39 Brandreth Drive, Parbold.

RESOLVED:        That planning application 2023/0444/FUL relating to 39 Brandreth Drive, Parbold be approved subject to the conditions and reasons as set out on pages 238 to 240 of the Book of Reports and with a revision to Condition 5 and an additonal condition as set out below:-

                               Amended Condition 5

The building/extension hereby permitted shall be used wholly in conjunction with, and ancillary to the use of 39 Brandreth Drive, Parbold; as a single dwelling-house and shall not be used as a separate independent unit of residential accommodation, or for use for business purposes, holiday letting or air bed and breakfast uses.

Reason: The proposed development lacks satisfactory standards of privacy, garden space and in-curtilage car parking space to be occupied satisfactorily as a separate dwelling unit complying with Policy GN3 in the adopted West Lancashire Local Plan 2012-2027 Development Plan Document.

Additional Condition

All first floor windows on the rear (south west) elevation of the rear extension hereby permitted shall be non-opening and remain fixed shut at all times.

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.

The Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources submitted a report on planning application 2022/1210/FUL relating to Land Adjacent to the Old School House, Higher Lane, Dalton.

RESOLVED:        That planning application 2022/1210/FUL relating to Land Adjacent to the Old School House, Higher Lane, Dalton be approved subject to the conditions and reasons as set out on pages 256 to 258 of the Book of Reports and that a further condition and a revision to Condition 6 as set out on page 294 of the Late Information Report be added and with an amendment to Condition 6 and an additional Condition as set out below:-

                               Amended Condition 6

The allotment and replacement building hereby permitted shall be for the personal and private use of the applicant at all times. No trade or business use unconnected to the permitted use of the land shall be carried out at any time, including any use of the replacement building for the storage of building materials.

Reason: To safeguard the amenities of occupants of existing dwellings located in the vicinity of the application site and to comply with the provisions of Policy GN3 in the West Lancashire Local Plan 2012-2027 Development Plan Document.

                              Additional Condition

The replacement building hereby permitted shall be externally completed in accordance with the applicant's submitted statement of 5 September 2023 (i.e. no later than 31 January 2024) and all existing loose materials removed from site.

Reason: To ensure a satisfactory external appearance and to comply with the provisions of Policy GN3 in the West Lancashire Local Plan 2012-2027 Development Plan Document.

The Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources submitted a report on planning application 2022/1333/FUL relating to Woodside Barn, Cranes Lane, Lathom.

RESOLVED:        That planning application 2022/1333/FUL relating to Woodside Barn, Cranes Lane, Lathom be approved subject to the conditions and reasons as set out on pages 272 to 276 of the Book of Reports and with a further condition as set out on page 296 of the Late Information Report and with the amendment to Condition 9 and with an additional condition as set out below:-

                               Amended Condition 9

Notwithstanding the details shown on the approved drawings, no part of the development shall be occupied until full details of both hard and soft landscaping works have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

The details shall relate to all land surfaces not built upon and shall include:

- Land-levels and gradients resulting in the formation of any banks, terraces or other earthworks

- Hard surfaced areas and materials,

- Planting plans including additional trees adjacent to the hedgerow on the western boundary of the site, specifications and schedules, planting size, species and numbers/densities, trees to be retained and a scheme for the timing / phasing of work.

- Existing plants / trees to be retained

- A detailed regime for the ongoing and longer term management and maintenance of all soft landscaping is also required to be submitted for approval.

Additional Condition

Prior to the first occupation of the hereby approved dwelling all outbuildings existing on the application site at the time shall be removed in their entirety from the site.

Reason:

To ensure that the development does not harm openness of the Green Belt in accordance with Policy GN1(b) of the West Lancashire Local Plan 2012-2027 Development Plan Document and National Planning Policy Framework - Protecting Green Belt Land.

The Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources submitted a report on planning application 2023/0231/FUL relating to Martin Mere, Fish Lane, Burscough, Ormskirk.

RESOLVED:        That planning application 2023/0231/FUL relating to Martin Mere, Fish Lane, Burscough, Ormskirk be approved subject to the conditions (delegated powers following conclusion of matters regarding the HRA with Natural England) and reasons as set out on page 288 of the Book of Reports.