Agenda and minutes

Any substitute members should declare their substitution.

There were no substitute members.

Members and Officers must declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in relation to any business on the agenda.  Declarations should also be made at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting.

If in doubt contact the Legal or Democratic Services representative for this meeting.

Members and Officers may seek advice upon any relevant interest from the Monitoring Officer prior to the meeting.

Councillor Vee Barton declared that the second planning application in item 6 on the agenda was made by her neighbour. She declared she has never spoken to the neighbour about the application.

So as to provide the best opportunity for the Committee to provide the public with the fullest answer, questions from the public should be submitted by midday on Thursday 29^th September 2022.

Where relevant notice of a question has not been given, the person presiding may either choose to give a response at the meeting or respond by undertaking to provide a written response within three working days.

Questions should be submitted to Democratic Services –

democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

(Note:  Public Question Time will last for a maximum of 30 minutes)

James Breckell asked (read out by Gary Peck, Planning Services Manager) -

I would like to address the Planning Committee with regard to the unreasonable application of planning conditions in regard to rainwater design. 

The Council's Engineers often use ‘holding objections’ and ask applicants to consider rainwater drainage as part of the planning application process.  This is unreasonable and has the effect of stifling the supply of housing.

Gary Peck, Planning Services Manager, responded -

Drainage is an issue for a number of planning applications. Often those brought to Committee have drainage conditions attached. A number of applications haven’t reached Committee yet because there are objections on drainage grounds. It is correct that these are looked at carefully as there is a drainage issue across the district. If there isn’t sufficient drainage information with an application at the outset it is usual that the Council’s Technical Services Section will raise a holding objection to those applications. If that happens we try to work out a resolution but, generally, those applications don’t come to committee. The applications that do come before Committee are the ones where such information has been provided and potentially negotiated with applicants. Members have said in the past that, even then, they don’t feel there is enough information in those reports so a conclusion could be drawn from this that it is an important issue for, not only  applicants but members, officers and residents alike. I appreciate that we should never stifle the supply of housing but at this stage we seek as much information as we can to allow the Committee to make their decisions and only when we’ve got to a point where we can feel confident that there will be no issues do we bring them to the Committee for consideration.

Chrissie Gunter (AREA) asked -

My question relates to the Brief for Review of Western Harbour Arm.

Pt. 3.3 proposes that a Design Code could be delivered and suggests more public participation.

I believe the Council has consulted the Coastal West Sussex Design Review Panel for past developments and this appears to have resulted in uniformly, ugly, brown buildings.

Will there be more imagination in future. Does the Council look at other attractive coastal developments and how will local residents be involved in decision making?

Moira Hayes, Adur Planning Policy Manager, responded -

The paper you’re referring to is talking about the National Design Code and that is a process for assessing districts, areas or sites and looking at the details and providing a vision and guidelines as to how development might come forward in those particular areas. As part of its process the National Design Code involves public participation, its part of its methodology. The Coastal West Sussex Design Review Panel looks at planning applications and my colleague Gary Peck will enlarge on that.

Gary Peck, Planning Services Manager, responded -

When a major application is submitted, as part of the determination of the application, before it comes to Committee, the Design  ...  view the full minutes text for item ADC-PC/37/22-23

To approve the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 5 September 2022, which have been emailed to Members.

RESOLVED, that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 08 August 2022 be confirmed as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

To consider any items the Chair of the meeting considers urgent.

There were no items raised under urgency provisions.

To consider the reports by the Director for the Economy, attached as Item 6.

The planning applications were considered, see attached appendix.

To consider a report by the Director for the Economy, attached as Item 7.

The Adur Planning Policy Manager delivered the report explaining why the review had been launched and covering its objectives, outcomes and timescales.

Members had questions for the Officer and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Strategic Planning covering subjects as follows -

·         how the review may alter the Local Plan and influence any infrastructure plans

·         modelling of open spaces

·         how members can influence the types of applications coming forward

·         changing mind-sets surrounding car usage & improving public transport to allow this

·         possible public involvement

·         sustainability matters

Resolved: Members agreed to note the report.

None to report.

There were none to report.