Agenda, decisions and minutes

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Contact: Democratic Services, email:  democraticservices@epsom-ewell.gov.uk  tel: 01372 732000

Items
No. Item

18.

Question Time

To take any questions from members of the Public.

Decision:

The Committee received one verbal question from a member of the public with regard to the non-enforcement of Tree Replacement Notices and it was noted that the Chair of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee would respond directly to the questioner.

Minutes:

The Committee received one verbal question from a member of the public with regard to the non-enforcement of Tree Replacement Notices and it was noted that the Chair of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee would respond directly to the questioner.

19.

Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in respect of any item of business to be considered at the meeting.

Decision:

In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Steven McCormick declared that he is a member of the Epsom and Ewell Tree Advisory Board,  and Councillors Neil Dallen, Steve Bridger, Chris Frost and Steven McCormick declared that they are members of the Epsom Civic Society.

Minutes:

The following Declarations of Interest were made by Councillors in relation to items on the agenda:

Declarations of Interest

Councillor Chris Frost BSc, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Chris Frost declared that he is a member of the Epsom Civic Society.

Declarations of Interest

Councillor Neil Dallen, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Neil Dallen declared that he is a member of the Epsom Civic Society.

Declarations of Interest

Councillor Steve Bridger, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Steve Bridger declared that he is a member of the Epsom Civic Society.

Declarations of Interest

Councillor Steven McCormick, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Steven McCormick declared that he is a member of the Epsom and Ewell Tree Advisory Board and the Epsom Civic Society.

 

20.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 193 KB

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 9 September 2021 (attached) and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.


Minutes:

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee held on 9 September 2021 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

21.

Response to Mole Valley DC Regulation 19 Consultation pdf icon PDF 332 KB

Mole Valley District Council (*MVDC*) is seeking responses to its final draft local plan (“Regulation 19”) version. It is proposed to respond to the consultation raising concern that MVDC does not intend to meet its Standard Method derived housing need in full.

Additional documents:

Decision:

(1)      Approve the draft response set out at Appendix 1, subject to consideration of maintaining Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s concern expressed in response to the previous Regulation 18 consultation regarding the retention of the “Emryn House/Emryn Way” site in the Mole Valley District Council’s draft plan, based on highways grounds.

(2)      Delegate authority to the Head of Place, after consultation with the Chair of Licensing and Planning Policy Committee, to make any amendments to the response to the Mole Valley District Council Regulation 19 consultation following the receipt of privileged legal advice.

 

 

Minutes:

The Committee received a report seeking approval for the draft response to Mole Valley District Council’s final draft (Regulation 19) local plan.  The report proposed to respond to the consultation raising concern that, because MVDC does not intend to meet its Local Housing Need figure in full, there is a risk that Epsom & Ewell might be asked to accommodate some of this unmet housing need, either in its emerging Local Plan or through speculative planning applications for new housing development.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Approve the draft response set out at Appendix 1, subject to consideration of maintaining Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s concern expressed in response to the previous Regulation 18 consultation regarding the retention of the “Emryn House/Emryn Way” site in the Mole Valley District Council’s draft plan, based on highways grounds.

(2)          Delegate authority to the Head of Place, after consultation with the Chair of Licensing and Planning Policy Committee, to make any amendments to the response to the Mole Valley District Council Regulation 19 consultation following the receipt of privileged legal advice.

 

 

22.

Planning Enforcement Plan pdf icon PDF 237 KB

This Draft Enforcement Plan sets a framework for how the Council and it’s Planning Service will handle complaints and any subsequent investigations into breaches of planning control. It sets out clearly the aims and background to planning enforcement, and the scope of enforcement powers.

This Draft Enforcement Plan sets out priorities for responses to complaints and clarifies the timescales for response by Planning Officers. This policy document will also seek to formulise how Councillors and the general public will be kept up to date in relation to the enforcement work being carried out by the Planning Officers.

Additional documents:

Decision:

(1)      Note the 30 responses received during the public consultation on the previous Draft Enforcement Plan.  A summary of these responses has been set out in Appendix 2, along with the influence these responses have made to this amended Draft Enforcement Plan.  The full response from the Epsom Civic Society, as well as the influence this response has had on the amended Draft Enforcement Plan, has been set out in Appendix 3. 

(2)      That Members resolve to adopt the amended Draft Enforcement Plan attached at Appendix 1.

(3)      That “breaches of condition where serious harm/implication is caused”, be included under Level 1 (highest category) as a top level priority for planning enforcement investigations. (page 11 of Appendix 1 to the report).

(4)      That a review of the Planning Enforcement Plan be conducted by the Committee in 12 months’ time.

 

Minutes:

The Committee received a report regarding the Draft Enforcement Plan.  The Plan sets a framework for how the Council and it’s Planning Service will handle complaints and any subsequent investigations into breaches of planning control. It sets out clearly the aims and background to planning enforcement, and the scope of enforcement powers.

This Draft Enforcement Plan sets out priorities for responses to complaints and clarifies the timescales for response by Planning Officers. This policy document will also seek to formulise how Councillors and the general public will be kept up to date in relation to the enforcement work being carried out by the Planning Officers.

Following consideration, it was resolved:

(1)          To note the 30 responses received during the public consultation on the previous Draft Enforcement Plan.  A summary of these responses has been set out in Appendix 2, along with the influence these responses have made to this amended Draft Enforcement Plan.  The full response from the Epsom Civic Society, as well as the influence this response has had on the amended Draft Enforcement Plan, has been set out in Appendix 3. 

(2)          To adopt the amended Draft Enforcement Plan attached at Appendix 1.

(3)          That “breaches of condition where serious harm/implication is caused”, be included under Level 1 (highest category) as a top level priority for planning enforcement investigations. (page 11 of Appendix 1 to the report).

(4)          That a review of the Planning Enforcement Plan be conducted by the Committee in 12 months’ time.