Agenda and minutes

To Appoint a Chairman for the meeting of the Development Management Committee.

It was RESOLVED that Councillor David Keast be appointed as Chairman for the meeting.

To receive and record apologies for absence.

There were none

To approve the minutes of the Development Management Committee held on  26 May 2016.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Development Management Committee held on 26 May 2016 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

There were no matters arising

To receive and record declarations of interests from members present in respect of the various matters on the agenda for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman to report the outcome of meetings attended or other information arising since the last meeting of the Committee.

The Chairman advised members that Councillor Caren Howard was no longer a member of the Development Management Committee and Councillor Gary Hughes had been formally appointed to the committee.

The Committee are invited to consider any matters they wish to recommend for site viewing or deferment.

There were no matters considered for site viewing or deferment.

To receive requests to make a deputation to Committee.

(1)  Mr D Crichton (objector) – Application APP/16/00182 – Unit 3, The Precinct, Waterlooville, PO7 7DT

(2)  Mr T Cook (applicant’s agent) – Application APP/16/00182 – Unit 3, The Precinct, Waterlooville, PO7 7DT

Proposal:       Change of use to ground floor from retail (A1) to betting shop (Sui Generis) and new shop front.

Additional documents:

http://tinyurl.com/jmyjj3g

(The site was viewed by the Site Viewing Working Party)

Proposal: Change of use to ground floor from retail (A1) to betting shop (Sui Generis) and new shop front.

The Committee considered the written report and recommendations of the Head of Planning Services to grant permission.

The Committee was addressed by the following deputees:

(1)  Mr D Crichton who objected to the proposal for the following reasons:

a.    The proposal had created a high level of public concern and attracted 102 objections from the public.

b.    Under the NPPF the proposal had no environmental or social benefits for the community.

c.    A Betfred betting shop was already situated within the town centre and it was unnecessary to relocate.

d.    The town centre had experienced an increase in anti social behaviour and it was felt the proposal would contribute to this. The Police had also not been consulted on the proposal.

e.    The applicant had not provided an economic statement outlining the benefits to the community for the proposal.

(2)  Mr T Cook who supported the proposal for the following reasons:

f.     The recommendation to approve the proposal was based on an extensive and informative report outlining all principal planning considerations.

g.    It was an appropriate use of the site and was compliant with Policy AL3 of the Havant Borough Local Plan in terms of the balance of retail and non-retail uses in the frontage of shops.

h.    The proposal would fill a long standing empty unit. Extensive marketing reports had also been submitted for inspection.

In response to questions raised by the Committee, the officers advised that:

(1)  The existing Betfred shop was located further south of the high street from the proposed new location.

(2)  The move would situate Betfred in a more prime location.

The Committee discussed the application together with the views raised by the deputees. The committee understood the concerns from the public regarding the proposal, however also raised the following points:

·         A consistent frontage of shops would be attractive to the public and the proposal would fill a premises that had been vacant for an extended period of time.

·         The proposal would increase footfall in the area of the town centre and aid in regeneration by encouraging the public into the town centre.

·         The public had raised concerns over an additional betting shop being placed in the town centre, however the proposal was not to create an additional betting shop, but to move from the existing site already in the town centre.

It was therefore

RESOLVED that the Head of Planning Services be authorised to grant permission for application APP/16/00182 subject to the following conditions:

1          The development must be begun not later than three years beginning with the date of this permission.

Reason: To comply with the requirements of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2          Notwithstanding any description of materials in the application no shopfront works  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

It was RESOLVED that Councillor Diana Patrick was nominated as Chairman for the next meeting of the Development Management Committee.