Agenda and minutes

No declarations were made on this occasion.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 1srt August 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 1^st August 2017 were confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Please note that any late material relating to the applications detailed below will be published on the Council’s website as a supplement in the late afternoon of the day of the meeting.

Late material in respect of Agenda item 5, application 17/00616/FUL had been circulated.

Application for determination:

Installation of a play park and new footpath on an existing green space area at Tuffley Park.

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report which detailed an application for the installation of a play park and new footpath on an existing green space area at Tuffley Park.

She advised that the application had been submitted by the Podsmead Big Local group and would be funded from National lottery funding received by the group in 2012.

She advised members that there would be no nett loss of sports pitches and the plans indicated buffer distance of 30 metres from the boundaries of the nearest residential properties. This distance exceeded both local and national guidance which suggested a distance of 20 metres.

She noted that the location had been chosen as it would be overlooked by the nearby properties. She referred to the late material which contained two further representations and amended condition 2 and 3.

Councillor Deborah Smith, Ward Member for Podsmead, was invited to address the Committee.

Councillor Smith supported the application and advised that the initiative was started by a petition form the residents of Oaklands Park. She stated that Podsmead Big Local recognised that the scheme would make a positive difference to the area. She believed that it promoted the aims of the Gloucestershire Health and well Being Strategy as it would encourage family use and would provide equipment for users with a wide range of abilities.

She noted that there had been no objections from Sport England or the Highways Authority and the buffer distances exceeded local and national guidance.

She was not ignoring the concerns of local residents and would work with them to address any issues should they arise.

Nicola Tunbridge of 3 Podsmead Place addressed the Committee in opposition to the application.

Ms Tunbridge stated that a request for a meeting following receipt of the initial letter from Big Local had been refused by Penny Ryder. She had subsequently attended an open meeting where the concerns and fears of local residents had not been addressed and she questioned who were the 85 per cent of residents who had been said to be in favour of the scheme.

She believed that some residents would feel forced to move due to the loss of privacy, particularly for 2,3 and 4 Podsmead Place and the unwelcome proximity of lots of noisy children. She believed that the proposal would affect the character of the area and the proposed equipment, which included a zip wire, would be an eyesore on the green space.

She believed that the proposal would encourage anti-social behaviour and litter and when a proposal had been discussed with Councillor Watkins in the past residents had been assured that the play area would be sited on the raised area to the right of the clubhouse. She considered that properties would be blighted and there would be parking problems in the surrounding streets.

She expressed concerns regarding the safety of children due to the proximity of the football pitch and the potential for them to be struck by footballs.

She stated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

Application for determination:

Variation of Condition 3 of planning permission 15/01142/FUL  for the demolition of buildings, tree removal and redevelopment of site to provide a new bus station, highways and access works, landscaping and associated infrastructure works including provision of emergency staircase on existing NCP car park. The variation is for the reduced footprint to the hub element and main building and amendments to the design, height, materials, cycle parking, landscaping and trees on land at Gloucester Bus Station.

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report which detailed an application for the variation of condition 3 of planning permission 15/00622/FUL  for the demolition of buildings, tree removal and redevelopment of site to provide a new bus station, highways and access works, landscaping and associated infrastructure works including provision of an emergency staircase on existing NCP car park. The variation is for the reduced footprint of the hub element and main building and amendments to the design, height, materials, cycle parking, landscaping and trees at Gloucester Bus Station.

She outlined the proposed amendments detailed in paragraph 1.8 of the report.

Mr Peter Monk, a retired Chartered Surveyor, addressed the Committee in opposition to the application.

Mr Monk stated that the proposed amendments would tear the heart out of the approved scheme. He referred to the seriously reduced provision of toilet facilities at a time when Gloucester was showing signs of an upsurge. He also objected to the style of fencing proposed.

He thanked the Principal Planning Officer for her clear exposition of the application.

He referred to the Planning Advisory Service 2007 publication ‘Design and Access Statements’ which clearly stated that function should concern Planning and this included toilets. The variation proposed to remove both male and female washrooms which would be an inadequate provision and the small washbasins proposed would inevitably overflow causing cleaning problems.

He noted that buses from the Forest of Dean and other outlying areas were usually full due to the sparsity of the services and did not have on-board toilets.

He did not believe that the 24 hour disabled toilet was necessary and reminded Members that the British Toilet Association recommended that females should have twice the provision for males.

Mr Philip Ardley, Regeneration Consultant for Gloucester City Council, addressed the Committee in support of the application.

Mr Ardley stated that he was passionate about delivering a modern bus station for the City by August 2018. He believed that the existing facility was a dis-incentive  to use public transport at time when visitor numbers were increasing. He advised that there was no reduction in bus facilities  with 12 bus bays and over 100 seats in a modern concourse. The passenger information facility would also sell tickets.

He advised that the reduction in the footprint of the hub was due to technical reasons as an unexpected 3.5 deep large metre diameter sewer had been discovered and whilst Severn Trent would divert but it could only be a short distance due to constraints imposed by other utilities. He noted that the number of toilets had been compromised but those proposed would be robust and of high quality. An additional toilet accessible to wheelchairs and families would be provided in the baby changing room.

He noted that the other changes were minor and should be considered in the context of a major transport facility. The anticipated planning application for King’s Quarter would provide additional toilet facilities.

He advised Members that any delay could compromise the development.

The Chair  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

To consider the report of the Head of Planning which presents an overview of the Council’s performance in relation to appeals against the refusal of planning permissions as recorded by Government as part of its monitoring of the planning process.

The Development Control Manager presented the report which provided an overview of the Council’s performance in relation to appeals against the refusal of planning permission as recorded to the Government as part of its monitoring of the planning process.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To consider a schedule of applications determined under delegated powers during the month of July 2017.

Consideration was given to a schedule of applications determined under delegated powers during the month of July 2017.

RESOLVED that the schedule be noted.

Tuesday, 3^rd October 2017 at 6.00 pm.

Tuesday, 3^rd October 2017 at 6.00pm.