To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Jane Horne, (substituted by Councillor Brian Jones), and Councillor David Thomson, (substituted by Councillor Di Martin). 

The chairman to identify any items of urgent business.

There were no items of urgent business for consideration at this meeting.

To receive any declarations of interest in any matter to be discussed at the meeting.  Members and officers are requested to identify the nature of the interest and indicate whether it is personal or prejudicial.

The following declarations of interest were made at the meeting: -

Councillor Val Hobman declared a personal interest in both of the applications, due to links with a local charity whose premises are located in Cinderford Town Centre.

Councillor Graham Morgan declared a personal interest in both of the applications due to his role as Chairman of Cinderford Regeneration Board. Councillor Morgan confirmed that he had taken no part in the board meeting where the two applications had been discussed and had not been involved in any decisions relating to the discussions.

Councillor Di Martin also declared a personal interest in the applications and said that, although not a member of the Cinderford Regeneration Board, she had attended the board meeting where the applications had been considered.

Solicitor to the Council, Marie Rosenthal, advised members that it would not be necessary to declare an interest for shopping at the stores associated with either of the two applications or if the member held a store loyalty card.

To consider the attached schedule of applications as prepared by the Group Manager for Planning and Housing.

Chairman, Councillor Terry Glastonbury, referred to the schedule of planning applications, as prepared by the Group Manager for Planning and Housing, Peter Williams under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and to the late material that had been circulated before the start of the meeting. (Late material refers to information that has been submitted to the council following publication of the agenda).

The Chairman announced that there would be five public speakers speaking at the meeting and that the applications would be recorded in the order of the agenda. The Chairman also welcomed Neil Troughton and Jamie Mattock from Gloucestershire County Council (Highways) to the meeting, (to answer questions on both applications), and announced that an audio tape recording of the meeting would be published on the council’s website.

Before reminding the committee to keep their comments relevant to the debate and to avoid repeating any previous observations, the Chairman invited the Group Manager for Planning and Housing to give an overview on the background to the two applications.

The Group Manager informed members that they were in a unique position in having to consider two almost identical applications for retail development in Cinderford. He said that, before considering the two applications, members should note the proximity of the two sites to the town centre, which he said were both in ‘out of town’ locations in terms of planning policy. The Group Manager advised members to consider land use matters only and said that that the identity of potential operators for either site was not a material planning consideration. He also said that the retail floor-space of the two sites was almost identical and that, following independent specialist advice, the retail need in Cinderford only justified one store of the size proposed. As a final comment, the Group Manager suggested that, should the committee approve either of the two schemes, there would be an additional reason for refusal to consider, based on the retail need for Cinderford justifying only one store of the size proposed.

Item 4.1 P1132/11/OUT Land at Steam Mills Road, Cinderford

Outline application for a class A1 retail store of up to 4,645 sq.m including ancillary uses, recycling centre, associated accesses off Steam Mills Road and Estate Roads, car parking and landscaping. (Demolition of existing buildings)

Please refer to the late material circulated at the meeting

Principal Planning Officer, Tony Pope, referred to the outline status of the application and said that access arrangements at the site, including the formation of a new roundabout, would be considered at this meeting, with all other reserved matters to be considered at a later date. He confirmed that there were no proposals for a petrol filling station included in this application. Referring members to the late material that had been circulated before the start of the meeting, the planning officer drew attention to the revised recommendation and the need to delay formal issue of the planning permission pending referral to the Secretary of State to confirm that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

14 February 2012

14 February 2012