Oakham Town Council Planning and Parks Committee will be meeting on Wednesday 28th March 2012 report

The Planning and Parks Committee will be meeting on Wednesday 28th March 2012 at the Council Offices in the Victoria Hall 7.00pm. 


Oakham Town Council
Victoria Hall, 39 High Street, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6AH
Telephone: 01572 723627 Fax: 01572 759395
e-mail: enquiries@oakhamtowncouncil.gov.uk


A MEETING OF
OAKHAM TOWN COUNCIL’S
PLANNING AND PARKS COMMITTEE
7.00PM WEDNESDAY MARCH 28TH 2012
VICTORIA HALL, 39, HIGH STREET, OAKHAM
Report


Its been some time since there has been a really difficult meeting like this one turned out to be.
I turned up to find the council sitting in a private presentation which has become the norm.


I had a polite chat with the clerk and it was mentioned one item that was likely to be an exempt item would go on for a long time, I made a request for this item to be moved to last.


When this was completed I was asked by the clerk to give them a few minutes I did so and attempted to entered the chamber at 6.53 and was rudely told no not yet.


A few minutes later some councillors left the chamber with the assistant clerk at this point I asked permission to enter it was granted.


Another member of the public arrived but only stayed to the end of deputations.


The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.00pm


He mentioned moving the item relating to the fitness centre. He also declared interest on behalf of all the Councillors this related to the councils own planning applications. It is upto each individual member to declare an interest if they wish.


Councillor Adam Lowe had to be prompted by the clerk to declare an additional interest.



APOLOGIES - there were no apologies and no absence


DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST there were many as mentioned above


MINUTES

The minutes were confirmed of the meeting of the Planning and Parks Committee held on
Wednesday February 22nd 2012


COUNCILLOR’S QUESTIONS
There were none


MEMBER’S REPORTS
To receive reports from members relating to the work of the Committee there were none

CLERK’S REPORT –
A short report was received from the Clerk


DEPUTATIONS BY THE PUBLIC
Members of the Public are invited to address the meeting in accordance with procedures laid
down in Standing Order 1(d) – 1(i)


The Chairman Cllr John Nowell rather sarcastically address me as Sir.
I attempted to give two short deputations and was constantly interrupted by Cllr Nowell despite my requests to be able to speak with out interruption.  


EXEMPT ITEM
To decide whether to exclude the public and press during consideration of Item 9 on the agenda
under Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972 due to the confidential nature and
commercial sensitivity of the matters to be discussed.

at this point Cllr Nowell as chair decided to move the the above item and next with out a vote by all Councillors and had to be told by the clerk a vote was required.

This went ahead and the items were deferred to the end of the meeting.

At which point I felt it was appropriate to address the Clerk before leaving to ask him to remind the Mayor and Cllr Nowell of the rule of public deputations and our right to speak about any item without interruption. At that point Cllr Nowell asked it be minuted in a very angry manner "Mr Brookes is interfering with the process of democracy and I adjourn this meeting to call the call police to remove him".

He went to the office and Cllr Dewis left the chamber.

I made my point to the remaining councillors. A few minutes later the clerk returned and agreed with what I had said and asked me to leave for the exempt item and said the police had not been called.

I left went home and wrote a letter returned and found the meeting had just ended it appears the exempt item did go on for a rather long time, it doesn't surprise me that the council were original happy to deal with this item first and expect the public to stand in the street for an unknown length of time in this case over an hour.

I asked the outcome of the discussion this was refused I was told to visit in the morning.

It is known the fitness centre is expected to close this Friday or the council will need to take legal action to remove the sub tenant.

It is also known it is going to cost the tax payer a fortune to put the property back into a good condition.

Cllrs were discussing the future tenants even though the public property has not been put on the open market.

FITNESS CENTRE, PRINCESS AVENUE (Appendix B – Various items to follow)
To discuss the future of the Fitness Centre and to make any appropriate decisions


PLANNING APPLICATIONS
To consider the following applications received to date and to make recommendations
or observations thereon to Rutland County Council:

The computer was not ready its old and takes a long tome to settle when started so half the plan were viewed in the old fashioned way and not shown to the public.


whilst the clerk tried hard to get the computer ready the Mayor Cllr Lucas waffled about the first three items and repeatedly stated how wonderful Simon Court from Rutland County Council is and anything he suggests should be agreed with and of course all councillor agreed and passed all three applications without comments
(i) APP/2012/0079/APB (PTA) Simon Court (RCC Highways)
Re-coppice 1 No. Crack Willow. Fell 1 No. Horse Chestnut.
Reduce limb of 1 No. Horse Chestnut by 2-3m
Amenity Land to the rear of Summerfield
Aprroved

(ii) APP/2012/0080/APB (PTA) Simon Court (RCC Highways)
Coppice 1 No. Crack Willow. Fell 2 No. Beech trees
Amenity land adjacent to 56 Springfield Way
Approved
(iii) APP/2012/0081/APB (PTA) Simon Court (RCC Highways)
Shorten limb of 1 No. Ash tree to 3m, and 2 No. limbs of second Ash tree by 2m
Amenity land to the rear of 7 Ashfield
Approved



(iv) APP/2012/0049/EZE (HSE) Kevan Wackett
Construction of single storey extension and insertion of 2 No. windows to side
(northwest) elevation of dwelling house, to facilitate conversion of garage to living
accommodation
13 Irwell Close
Approved


(v) APP/2012/0102/APB (HSE) Michael Tiffany
Retrospective application for the erection of 900mm timber picket fence to front of
dwellinghouse
13 Hardwick Close
Due to computer issues members were first shown a photograph Cllr Nowell commented is that the fence!
looking at a fence. Cllr Jane Woodcock commented its hardly worth our effort. Cllr lucas commented once again I object to retrospective applications.


(vi) APP/2012/0114/APB Oakham Town Council
Various thinning and branch reduction works to 1 No. Ash tree and 2 No. Lime trees.
Fell 1 No. Lime tree and replace with 1 No. Lime sapling in adjacent location
Cutts Close Recreation Ground, Burley Road
this item was noted because of Councillors interests, the clerk reported Rutland County Council had already granted approval.


(vii) APP/2012/0123/NH (FUL) Julie Dawson (Rutland House Community Trust Ltd)
Change of use of existing office and family room building to 2 bedroom supported
living dwellinghouse
Willowbrook Willow Crescent
Cllr Adam Lowe left the room he had been asked previously by the chairman Cllr Nowell had he entered his interest in the register to which he lied. When he returned to the meeting he approached the table near me to take the register and enter his interest at this point he and Cllr Nowell both exchanged smiles.

The Clerk said the Trust had built this extension for office use and now wished to make the change as they were moving the office to VAR. Councillor had no problem with this request.


(viii) APP/2012/0122/NT (HSE) John O’Sullivan
Retrospective application for erection of a shed in garden to front of property
37 Sculthorpe Road
Councillors made a lot of fuss about this and then said there was not a problem.


(ix) APP/2012/0118/APB (HSE) Mr and Mrs B Hoy
Construction of new porch to front (north-west) elevation of dwellinghouse
150 Braunston Road
The Clerk said we all know this property it sounded as if councillors should have declared an interest, I am not sure why such an emphasis was placed on that point. Cllr Lucas and Cllr Locket did raise a slight concern regarding the loss of a hedge row. then it was approved.
(x) APP/2012/0136/APB (PTA) Vaughan Gilbert
Fell 1 No. Holly Tree
The Coppice 17 Stamford Road
Cllr Lucas felt the tree was self seeded and was just in the way and there was nothing wrong with the tree and was very reluctant to see it go and then promptly issued it a death sentence approved by all.


(xi) APP/2012/0139/EZE (HSE) Mr Craig and Mr Chapman
Erection of double garage block for use by 49 and 51 Kilburn End to east side
of 49 Kilburn End
49 and 51 Kilburn End
There was a lot of confusion amongst councillors. Mainly councillors need to know peoples personal business, such as who owns what. Cllr John Nowell commented some one must be gaining a large financial benefit. Cllr Lucas said she was very uncomfortable with the application but failed to explain, The plan was approved.


(xii) APP/2012/0173/APB Mr and Mrs Clark
Crown raise 1 No. Lime and 1 No. Cedar to 3.5m
Linden House 12 Stamford Road
Approved


(xiii) APP/2012/0130/NT (ADV) Oakham Town Council
Installation of 4 No. freestanding signs, 1 No. flagpole and 1 No. flag advertisement
Cutts Close Recreation Ground, Burley Road
Item was noted.
(xiv) APP/2012/0163/APB (HSE) Sandie Shepherd
Creation of new vehicular access to property
99 Brooke Road
Approved

(xv) APP/2012/0165/EZE (HSE) Kevin Martin
Construction of single storey extension to rear (east) elevation of dwellinghouse,
following demolition of existing conservatory
31 Schofield Road
Approved
(xvi) APP/2012/0155/APB (HSE) Alison Clarke
Replacement of existing fence along northern boundary with a brick wall
19 Hambleton Close
Cllr Dewis and Cllr Lowe held a private conversation  about the cost of bricks
The item was approved


(xvii) APP/2012/0137/ (HSE) Ash Dennis
Construction of single storey extension to rear (east) elevation of dwellinghouse
14 West Road
Approved