Agenda and minutes

To elect a Vice-Chair of the Planning Applications Committee for the remainder of the 2022/2023 municipal year.

That Councillor Laurence O’Connor be elected Vice-Chair of the Planning Applications Committee for the remainder of the 2022/2023 municipal year.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 27 April 2022 (attached herewith).

The minutes of the meeting held on the 27 April 2022 were submitted and approved and the Chair authorised to sign them as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Christoph von Kurthy, Sylvia Lord and Steve Saunders. It was declared that Councillor Julie Carr was acting as substitute for Councillor von Kurthy for the duration of the meeting.

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. A supplementary report will be posted on the Council’s website prior to the start of the meeting to update the main reports with any late information.

There were no urgent items. A supplementary report, however, was circulated to the Committee prior to the start of the meeting, updating the main reports on the agenda with any late information (a copy of which was published on the Council’s website).

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.

Councillor Brian Hodge spoke on behalf of Newick Parish Council. Anthony Turk (Newick Village Society) and Stephen Clancy (Neighbour) spoke against the proposal. Mark Best (Agent) and John Lewin (Applicant) spoke for the proposal.

Resolved:

That planning application LW/21/0700 for erection of 36 dwellings (including 40% affordable), access, landscaping and associated infrastructure (re-submission) be refused due to overdevelopment of the site, height and density of the layout, and its impact on the rural village scene and character.

Councillor Nick Beaumont (Chair) spoke on behalf of Plumpton Parish Council. Rachel de Vial (Near Neighbour) spoke against the proposal. Pete Bland (Applicant) spoke for the proposal. Councillor Rob Banks spoke in his capacity as the Lewes District Ward Councillor.

Resolved:

That planning application LW/21/0697 for erection of 20 new dwellings including 8 affordable houses & flats, with associated access and parking, including a new garage for the former Rectory be approved, subject to theconditions set out in the report and supplementary report, and additional conditions in respect of protection of the lych gate/war memorial; the maintenance of approved landscaping and replacement of like-for-like trees; and strengthening of the buffer along the south, north and west boundaries of the site. The Committee also added an informative requesting that the number of electrical charging points per space be increased.

Prior to the consideration of this item the Committee adjourned for a short comfort break.

John Kay spoke on behalf of Ringmer Parish Council. Dominic Buckwell (Neighbour), Peter Daniel (Neighbour) and Corinna Fletcher (Neighbour) spoke against the proposal. Dan Page (Planning Consultant) spoke for the proposal. The Committee Officer read a speech on behalf of Councillor Johnny Denis in his capacity as the Lewes District Ward Councillor.

Resolved:

That planning application LW/20/0485 for amended scheme - replacement of existing farmyard manure store with an upgraded facility, repair and upgrade of existing slurry lagoon, with reduction in size and associated earth engineering works be approved, subject to the conditions set out in the report and supplementary report, and additional conditions to include dust and noise mitigation to be added to the Construction Management Plan; and that hours of construction commence between the hours of 8:00am - 4:00pm Monday through Friday only, not on weekends or bank holidays. The Committee also added an informative that construction be completed within a five-month time period and that a one-month notice of the start date of construction be given to the local planning authority and local residents.

Councillor Nicholas Belcher spoke on behalf of Chailey Parish Council. Rachel Seccombe (Near Neighbour) and John Goulds (Near Neighbour) spoke against the proposal. Mark Best (Agent) spoke for the proposal.

Resolved:

That planning application LW/21/0942 for the erection of 7no. dwelling houses be deferred, so that an independent consultant can be appointed by the Council to further evaluate details of the drainage works, and that the details of that investigation be reported back to the Committee at a future meeting.

To note that the next meeting of the Planning Applications Committee is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 6 July 2022, in the Council Chamber, County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1UE, commencing at 5:00pm.

That it be noted that the next meeting of the Planning Applications Committee was scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 6 July 2022, in the Council Chamber, County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1UE, commencing at 5:00pm.