Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Akhtar, Gloster, Hudson and Leach.

There were no items of urgent business received.

There were no declarations of interest received.

The following question was asked by Ms Andrea Roberts:-

“My question is regarding 5 Williams Crescent (my next door neighbour)

If a person or people request that a retrospective planning application be put to the Planning Committee rather than a Planning Officer (of which there has been three regarding 5 William Crescent) within the requested time frame and to the contact listed by the council on this application online. This was requested by email (of which date sent and recipient sent to is logged) and the Councillor contact does not request this, for reasons unknown?

Would this normally be up to the Councillor to decide if they submit this request to the Committee or not? Bearing in mind the amount of correspondence, emails to and from planning and other relevant departments 39 to date sent. This was not my understanding after reading the information on OMBC website.

I believe this to be a breach of my human rights and my right to express my concerns Freedom of Speech”

The Chair responded that, in accordance with the Council’s constitution, only elected Members could refer a matter to the Committee and this had been the case for many years. There was a target from the Government that 95% of applications should be determined by officers under delegated powers and only 5% by Committee. A procedure had been provided whereby a member of the public could ask their local Councillor to refer the matter to the Committee.  

The Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 18^th July 2018 are attached for Members’ approval.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 18^th July 2018 be approved as a correct record.

The Committee were informed that this application had been withdrawn.

PA/340209/17 - 149A Manchester Road, Greenfield, OL3 7HJ       

APPLICATION NUMBER: PA/340209/17 (Reserved matters)

APPLICANT: Kaberry Building

PROPOSAL: Reserved matters application for 4 .no dwellings (approval of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) following outline permission for residential development approved under application no. PA/337274/15.

LOCATION:  149A Manchester Road, Greenfield, OL3 7HJ

It was MOVED by Councillor Harkness and SECONDED by Councillor Murphy that the application be REFUSED (against Officer recommendations).

On being put to the vote 6 VOTES were cast IN FAVOUR OF REFUSAL and 2 VOTES were cast AGAINST with 0 ABSTENTIONS.

DECISION: That the application be REFUSED contrary to Officer recommendations for the following reasons:-

The proposal is overdevelopment of the site that results in:

-          increased overlooking and a loss of privacy to adjacent residents; and

-          insufficient amenity space being available for occupiers of the new houses;

As such, the proposal is unsustainable development and contrary to:

-          Policy 9 of Oldham's LDF Joint DPD which seeks to protect the amenity of existing and future residents.

NOTES:

1.         The Agent for the Applicant and an Objector attended the meeting and addressed the Committee on this application.

RESOLVED that the content of the Planning Appeals update report be noted.