Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils
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Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Committee Services 

Items
No. Item

162.

Apologies for absence/substitutions

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Councillors John Levantis and Berry Humphreys MBE.

163.

To receive any declarations of pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest by Members

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

164.

Declarations of lobbying

Minutes:

There were no declarations of lobbying.

165.

Declarations of personal site visits

Minutes:

There were no declarations of personal site visits.

166.

SA/06/17 Confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2017 pdf icon PDF 232 KB

Minutes:

Report SA/06/17

 

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2017 were confirmed as a correct record with the following amendment:

 

Councillor Jane Storey declared non-pecuniary interest in application 3469/16 in her capacity as Suffolk County Councillor for Woolpit and as an acquaintance of the landowner.

 

167.

SA/07/17 Confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2017 pdf icon PDF 236 KB

Minutes:

Report SA/07/17

 

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2017 were confirmed as a correct record subject to the following corrections:

 

Page 12, last paragraph to read:  Garry Deeks, Vice Chairman of the Parish Council.

 

Page 18, Decisions, second bullet point: Bus Stop improvements £25,000 and not Bust Stop.

 

 

 

168.

SA/08/17 Confirmation of the minutes of the Planning Referrals Committee meeting held on 22 February 2017 pdf icon PDF 154 KB

Minutes:

Report SA/08/17

 

The minutes of the Planning referrals Committee meeting held on 22 February 2017 were confirmed as a correct record.

169.

To receive notification of petitions in accordance with the Council's Petition Scheme

Minutes:

None received.

170.

Questions by the public

The Chairman to answer any questions from the public of which notice has been given no later than midday three clear working days before the day of the meeting in accordance with Committee and Sub-Committee Procedure Rule 7.

Minutes:

None received.

171.

Questions by Councillors

The Chairman to answer any questions on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affects the District and which falls within the terms of reference of the Committee, of which due notice has been given no later than midday three clear working days before the day of the meeting in accordance with Committee and Sub-Committee Procedure Rule 8.

Minutes:

None received.

172.

SA/09/17 Schedule of planning applications pdf icon PDF 396 KB

Note: The Chairman may change the listed order of items to accommodate visiting Ward Members and members of the public

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

Report SA/09/17

 

In accordance with the Council’s procedure for public speaking on planning applications representations were made as detailed below:

 

Application Number                               Representations From

 

0118/17                                                Mel Harvey (Applicant)     

 

                             

Application Number:          0118/17

Proposal:                          Erection of detached one and a half storey dwelling and detached garaging (and associated works, including partial infilling of pond)

Site Location:                    WETHERDEN – Ye Old Smithy, Elmswell Road IP14 3LL

Applicant:                          Mrs Harvey

 

 

The Case Officer presented the application and pointed Members to an additional site map showing a better relation of the site to Wetherden.

 

Members questioned the Case Offer on various issues including the partially infilled pond and the ecological impact caused by reduction of the size of the pond.  Some members said that overflow water from the pond had previously caused floods on the highway and they felt that additional infilling of the pond would increase the risk of flooding. The Case Officer responded that further ecological surveys were recommended and that satisfactory drainage could be included in the recommendations.

 

Mrs Mel Harvey, the applicant, informed Members that she and her partner had purchased the property over a year ago and it was not their intentions to reduce the site by overdevelopment. She said the site was a piece of scrubland and a sympathetic design of the development and an appropriate planting scheme would ensure the site and the pond maintained a natural habitat for wildlife. Mrs Harvey also said that there was enough space provided to enable a car to turn round and access the highway safely. 

 

In response to questions regarding the pond overflowing, Mrs Harvey said she had contacted Suffolk County Council Highways and asked them to unblock the drain in front of the site to enable the surface water to drain away in the appropriate ditches.  She had also asked the neighbouring farms to dig out the ditches. 

 

Some Members felt that the size and shape of the pond had changed considerably and asked how much of the pond had already been filled in and what material had been used.  Mrs Harvey responded that she felt the site plans did not reflect the actual shape and size of the pond and that the infill had contained rubble and soil.

 

Following her representation Mrs Harvey left the meeting.

 

Councillor Rachel Eburne, Ward Member, said that residents in Wetherden had no objections to the additional dwelling on the site, but had raised concerns regarding the partially infilled pond and the subsequently increased risk of flooding on the highway.

 

Members debated the application and it was felt that there was not enough information provided regarding the ecological impact of the reduced pond.  Members also felt that suitable drainage would have to be provided on site to manage drainage and surface water on the highway.

 

 

 

By a unanimous vote

 

Decision – Defer application for receipt of ecological survey