Agenda and minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 July 2023 (attached herewith).

The minutes of the meeting held on the 12 July 2023 were submitted and approved and the Chair was authorised to sign them as a correct record.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Sean MacLeod.

Disclosure by councillors of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the councillor regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

There were none.

Items not on the agenda which the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances as defined in Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were none.

To receive petitions from councillors or members of the public in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13 (Page D9 of the Constitution).

There were none.

To deal with written questions from members pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 12.3 (page D8 of the Constitution).

There were none.

Where additional information has been received by Planning Officers subsequent to the publication of the agenda, a supplementary report will be added to this item and published on the Council’s website the day before the meeting to update the main reports with any late information.

A supplementary report was circulated to the Committee the day before the meeting, updating the main reports on the agenda with any late information (a copy of which was published on the Council’s website).

Michael Wood (Agent) spoke for the proposal.

Resolved:

That outline planning application LW/22/0517 with all matters reserved except for access for the erection of up-to 375 new homes, a two-form entry primary school, burial ground, allotments, open space with associated infrastructure, landscaping, and parking areas be approved, subject to the conditions set out in the report and:

1)    An additional archaeological condition;

2)    That an appropriate percentage of the allotments be reserved for Lewes District residents, to be agreed within the S106 agreement; and

3)    An additional condition set out in the supplementary report that the Head of Planning be delegated to refuse the application if the S106 agreement is not completed by the 10 November 2023.

Robin St Clair Jones (Local Resident), Isabelle Linington (Local Resident) and Alex Lahood (Near Neighbour) spoke against the proposal. Peter Rainier (Agent) spoke for the proposal. Councillor Mark Slater spoke in his capacity as the Lewes District Ward Councillor.

Resolved:

That planning application LW/23/0090 for approval of a reserved matters application for details of appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale relating to outline approval LW/21/0530, for the erection of 26 dwellings be approved, subject to the conditions set out in the report and:

1)    An additional condition relating to hard and soft landscaping as set out in the supplementary report;

2)    That Officers be delegated to deal with some discrepancies in the conditions between the outline permission and proposed conditions on the reserved matters approval; and

3)    That the discharge of the drainage conditions be referred back to the Committee for determination.

Councillor Wendy Maples read out a statement on behalf of Lewes Town Councillor Adrian Ross. Craig Kenny (Local Resident), Peter Earl (Local Resident) and Dr Jennifer Chibnall (Local Resident) spoke against the proposal. Councillor Dr Janet Baah spoke in her capacity as the Lewes District Ward Councillor.

Before going to the vote, Councillor Meek requested a recorded vote, and this was supported by more than five other Members, meeting the threshold for this request as set out in the Council’s Constitution.

The proposal was put to a recorded vote and declared carried as follows:

For: Councillors Agace, Alexander, Amy, von Kurthy, Sharkey and Spiteri (6).

Against: Councillors Francomb, Keene and Meek (3).

Abstentions: None.

Resolved (by 6 votes to 3):

That Section 73a retrospective application SDNP/23/01760/FUL for the erection of temporary site hoardings and gates be approved, with temporary planning permission given subject to the temporary nature being six months from the date of permission.

The Committee added two informatives, that any further applications to be received the Committee to include the provision of artwork and murals, and the requirement for appropriate maintenance of the hoardings.

To consider, under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), excluding the public and press from the meeting during the discussion of Item 12 on this agenda as there are likely to be disclosures of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 6a and 6b of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Resolved:

That, in accordance with Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), the public and press be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of Item 12 on the agenda as there was likely to be disclosures of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 6a and 6b of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Report of Head of Planning

The Committee considered the Officer’s report which detailed a proposed course of action to be taken by the Council in relation to a dangerous structure within Lewes District.

Resolved:

1)    That the Director of Planning and Regeneration be authorised to pursue the appropriate legal authority to enable the Council to pursue direct action to remove the dangerous structure under S77 (8) of the Building Act 1984; and

2)    That Officers be authorised to secure the necessary funding to cover the cost of the works.

To note that the next meeting of the Planning Applications Committee is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 6 September 2023, in the Council Chamber, County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1UE, commencing at 5:00pm.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Planning Applications Committee was scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 6 September 2023, in the Council Chamber, County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1UE, commencing at 5:00pm.