None received.

Members to declare any interests as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

Councillor Lee Parker declared that he would be taking part as the Ward Member for application DC/20/03362 and would not participate in the debate and vote.

It was Resolved that the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2020 were confirmed as a true record. The Minutes would be signed at the next practicable opportunity.

To Follow.

It was Resolved that the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2020 were confirmed as a true record. The Minutes would be signed at the next practicable opportunity.

None received.

In addition to any site inspections which the Committee may consider to be necessary, the Acting Chief Planning Officer will report on any other applications which require site inspections.

None requested.

An Addendum to Paper PL/20/6 will be circulated to Members prior to the commencement of the meeting summarising additional correspondence received since the publication of the agenda but before 12 noon on the working day before the meeting, together with any errata.

In accordance with the Council’s arrangements for Public Speaking at Planning Committee, representations were made as detailed below relating to the items in Paper PL/20/6 and the speakers responded to questions put to them as provided for under those arrangements.

It was RESOLVED

That subject to the imposition of conditions or reasons for refusal (whether additional or otherwise) in accordance with delegated powers under Council Minute No. 48(a) (dated 19 October 2004) decisions on the items referred to in Paper PL/20/6 be made as follows:-

23.1    Item 7a

          Application              DC/20/03362

Proposal                  Full Planning Application – Erection of Nursery School (Yorley Barn, Upper Road, Little Cornard) (Class D1) with ancillary parking and construction of vehicular access to The Street.

Site Location           ASSINGTON – Land South Of, Access Road from C733 to the Church, Assington, Suffolk

Applicant                 Yorley Barn Nursery School

23.2    The Case Officer presented the application to the Committee outlining the proposal before Members, the layout and location of the site, the content of the tabled papers, and the officer recommendation of refusal.

23.3    The Case Officer responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the area of the consultation zone, whether a private nursery facility falls within the accessibility criteria for primary education, any Tree Protection Orders on site and whether any safety work could be carried out on these trees, and the response from the Councils arboricultural officer.

23.4    Members considered the representation from Andrew Hill of Assington Parish Council who spoke against the application.

23.5    The Parish Council representative responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the number of objectors to the proposed application, the location of alternative sites, whether sites would be made available under the Neighbourhood Plan and any assistance provided to the applicant from the Neighbourhood Planning group, and the distance from the existing site to the proposed site.

23.6    Members considered the representation from Matthew Lait who spoke in support of the application.

23.7    Members considered the representation from Donna Page who spoke as the applicant.

23.8    The applicant responded to Members’ questions on issues including: whether any pre application advice was obtained from Babergh Planning department, the geographical area of parents using the nursery, the waiting list of the nursery, whether work experience is offered, the number of children who would attend each day and the use of the car park, if Ofsted have been consulted with the application, and the timescales for occupying the site.

23.9    Members considered the representation from County Councillor James Finch.

23.10  The County Councillor responded to Members’ questions on issues including: the safety of the access road and whether a donation from the applicant would allow Highways to improve the safety of the road, and the speed limit of the road.

23.11  Members considered the representation from Councillor Lee Parker who spoke as the Ward Member.

23.12  The Ward Member responded to Members’ questions on issues including: any potential alternative sites in the area, the pre-application advice provided to the applicant, and the importance of the nursery provision in the area.

23.13  The Area Planning Manager provided clarification regarding the pre-application advice and the officers recommendation. The Planning Lawyer confirmed that pre-application advice is understood to be without prejudice of any Committee decision.

23.14  Members debated the application on issues including: the pre-application advice provided, and the impact of the loss of view and heritage compared to the loss of the nursery provision.

23.15  The Heritage Officer commented on the view and responded to Members’ question on the location of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.