12-12-23 PLAN MINS

 

MINUTES OF THE LOUTH TOWN COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE

HELD IN THE OLD COURT ROOM, THE SESSIONS HOUSE, LOUTH

ON TUESDAY 12^th DECEMBER 2023

 

Councillor Mrs. S. Crew (SC) (in the chair).

 

Present Councillors:  Mrs. E. Ballard (Mrs. EB), L.M. Cooney (LMC), J. Drake (JD), H. Filer (HF), D. Hobson (DH), M. Lamb (ML), Mrs. J. Makinson-Sanders (Mrs. JMS), Mrs. K. Parsons (KP), J. Simmons (JS), P. Starsmore (PS), Mrs. P.F. Watson (Mrs. PFW).

 

Councillors not present: M. Barnes (MB), J. Baskett (JB), L.M. Cooney (LMC), L. Frost (LF), G.E. Horton (GEH).

 

The Town Clerk Mrs. L.M. Phillips and the Town Clerk’s Assistant Miss. S. Chitauro were also in attendance.

 

• Apologies for Absence
  Apologies for absence were received from JB, LMC, LF and GEH.

• Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
  The following declarations of interest were made:
  1. Mrs. JMS – Items 4, 5, 6 and 7 as a member of East Lindsey District Council (ELDC).
  2. DH – Items 4, 5, 6 and 7 as a member of ELDC and Planning Application 10 as an acquaintance of the applicant.

• Minutes
  It was RESOLVED that the notes of the Planning Committee Meeting held on 21^st November 2023 be approved as the minutes.

 

• Applications received by the Local Planning Authority
  The Committee considered all planning applications received, including those listed in the schedule (PA/Schedule 12-12-23) and RESOLVED as follows:
  1. N/019/02336/23 – To strongly object to the application. The Council is of the opinion that the road affected by these conditions (the A16) is extremely dangerous and these measures are imperative to ensure the safety of road users and pedestrians alike.
  2. N/092/02375/23 – To object on the grounds of: 1) Traffic – the level of vehicle movements which will be generated by this development will exacerbate existing problems on existing infrastructure, especially Eastfield Road and may detrimentally impact Louth’s Emergency Services located here. As the site is over a mile from the Town Centre it is envisaged that most local trips required for school runs, medical visits, shopping, and leisure will be by car.  The consequent generation of traffic will then also add to traffic volumes in the Town Centre and on car parking availability.  2) Access and Highway Safety – there is concern that the additional traffic will cause road safety issues to be exacerbated.  3) Drainage – there are concerns regarding more hard landscaping in this area which will make it difficult to deal with the disposal of surface water.  The possible future levels of the Lud are also a consideration as it is known that it cannot cope with any more increased discharge.  Further, it is known that there are a number of aquifers in this area and hard landscaping may cause flooding problems or move current flooding problems to move to a new area.  4) The Council felt that this application had been made prematurely.  It was of the opinion that a review of ward boundaries is required to ensure that new residents contribute fairly to local services and amenities as this development, although currently technically outside of the Louth boundary, will form part of the development already build which is within the boundary and all residents of the new section will use Louth infrastructure and facilities, without contributing correctly to their upkeep, if the boundary is not redrawn.
  3. N/105/01450/23 – To object and to reiterate the objection made on 10^th October 2023 on the grounds that the proposed materials are not suitable in the Conservation Area. The Council wholly support and would reiterate the comments of Heritage Lincolnshire on this application.  If permission is granted the Council would like to see a condition that public green space, large enough for sports and games to be played on such as rounders and football, is included.
  4. N/105/02350/23 – To object on the grounds that the site lies within an area of open countryside and should not be considered to be within or immediately adjacent to the developed footprint of Louth. Development here would urbanise the existing rural character of the site which currently contributes positively to the character and appearance of the area and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  The site is located in the transitional space between rural countryside and the town of Louth where intervening greenspace between built form is a key characteristic.  The proposal would undermine the role the site plays as the setting for the entrance into the town and would cause harm to the character of the area in conflict with the requirements of Policy SP10 and SP23 of the East Lindsey Local Plan and paragraphs 130 c) and 176 of the National Planning Policy Framework.  Consequently, the site should not be considered an appropriate location for new housing development as defined by SP3 of the East Lindsey Local Plan.  The proposal would therefore be contrary to requirements and objects of SP3 and would not constitute sustainable development.
     NB: Cllr. Mrs. JMS abstained from voting on this application.
  5. To support all other applications.

     LMC left the meeting at 9.29pm.

• Planning Correspondence
  The Committee noted the following planning correspondence:
  1. ELDC Planning Decisions
     23. ELDC Approved – N/105/01898/23 – Planning Permission – 132 Eastgate, LN11 9AA – LTC Supported 31/10/23.
     24. ELDC Approved – N/105/01587/23 – Planning Permission – Plot 60, Bolingbroke Road, Fairfield Industrial Estate – LTC Supported 31/10/23.

• ELDC Approved – N/105/01866/23 – Planning Permission – The Brambles, Mount Pleasant, LN11 9DN – LTC Supported 31/10/23.

23. ELDC Approved – N/105/02044/23 – Planning Permission – 69 Crowtree Lane, LN11 0QW – LTC Supported 31/10/23.
24. ELDC Approved – N/105/02050/23 – Planning Permission – 50 Stewton Lane, LN11 8SB – LTC Supported 21/11/23.

1. Temporary Traffic Restrictions
   1. ORGANISATION RESPONSIBLE FOR RESTRICTION: Lincolnshire County Council.

REASON FOR RESTRICTION: Event – RAE 000018 – Festive Fabuloso.

NATURE AND LOCATION OF RESTRICTION: Road Closure Order – Cornmarket; Butcher Lane.

PERIOD OF RESTRICTION: 07/12/2023 – 07/12/2023, 07:00 to 21:00 (Restrictions to be implemented for 1 day as and when required during this period.  Signage will be displayed on site in advance).

1. ORGANISATION RESPONSIBLE FOR RESTRICTION: Sunbelt Rentals Ltd.

REASON FOR RESTRICTION: Emergency – Cabling to restore customer service.

NATURE AND LOCATION OF RESTRICTION: Emergency Road Closure Order – B1520 (Between A16 Louth Bypass Roundabout and a point 400m North).

PERIOD OF RESTRICTION: 23/11/2023 – 24/11/2023, 9:00 to 15:30 (Restrictions to be implemented for 2 days as and when required during this period.  Signage will be displayed on site in advance).

• Proposed Work to Trees
  It was RESOLVED to support the following proposed tree work:
  1. Location: 67 Crowtree Lane. Proposal: A6 – Several Ash, Beech, Chestnut, Oak and Sycamore Trees – Crown lift to 4m to the west.  Reasons: A6 – for driveway clearance.
• Street Naming
  The Committee considered endorsing the use of ‘Alexander Bishop Way’ on a new development in the town, consisting of 1no. road and 34no. dwellings on Land West of Playing Fields, Monks Dyke Road, and was told that the developer’s reasons for choosing the proposed name were that the Louth Park Abbey was founded by Alexander Bishop of Lincoln. The Committee deliberated and felt that the proposed name did not hold enough relevance to the location.  It also commented that Louth already had similar street names in ‘Alexander Drive’, ‘Alexander Road’ and ‘Bishop’s Close’.  It was RESOLVED to suggest the name ‘Academy Way’ as the land once belonged to Louth Academy.

• Proposed Waiting Restrictions
  The Council received a proposal from Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) to implement a ‘No Waiting at Any Time’ restriction on the junctions along Lincoln Way and the West side of Bolingbroke Road after investigations showed that vehicles were experiencing difficulties due to parking along the road, causing visibility issues. After discussion it was RESOLVED to support the proposal but also request that the restriction be extended to include the entire length of the west side of Lincoln Way.  It was further RESOLVED to send a copy of the request to LCC Councillor for Louth North, Cllr. Alex Hall.
• Proposed Speed Limits
  The Committee received details of speed limit proposals on the A631 (Market Rasen to Louth) and considered making comments. It was RESOLVED to support the proposals but also request a review on of the speed limit on the A16 (Grimsby to Louth).

• NHS Public Consultation – Your Health, Your Hospitals – Re. Grimsby and Scunthorpe
  The Committee received a draft corporate response to the above and RESOLVED that it should be submitted on behalf of the Council.

• Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Engagement Session 5^th December 2023
  The Committee received an update on the above from Cllr. JD who attended the session on behalf of the Council. He told the Council that £1million of funding would be invested across Lincolnshire over the next 3 years to tackle anti-social behaviour.  He divulged that the police had had success with big operations over the summer and dealing with hare coursing.  JD then relayed that there would be three new rapid response teams, one of which would be based in Louth.  He informed the Committee that the ELDC Neighbourhood Policing Team consisted of 1 Chief Inspector; 2 Inspectors; 2 Sergeants on the coast and 2 on the Wolds; 4 Community Beat Managers on the Coast and 4 on the Wolds and; 7 Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) on the Coast and 2 on the Wolds.  Cllr. JD finished by saying that crime figures were now slightly lower than they had been previously.  It was noted that slides from the session were available, as was a link to a video of the session.  It was agreed that these would be emailed around.

 

• Planning Considerations
  Following discussion on 10^th and 31^st October of the above, Councillors noted that the following ideas had been submitted for inclusion on a ‘local list’:
  1. The garden area of Lime Grove needed refurbishing.
  2. Dog/rubbish bins in new estates, St. James’ View, Tuxworth Way.
  3. The roadway between the Industrial Estate and Brackenborough Road (a condition on planning) never built.
  4. The parking slots opposite the Post Office on Brackenborough Road (a planning condition) never built.
  5. Town Centre.
  6. A member of the public had suggested that changing facilities for the disabled in the town centre should be a priority.
  7. Affordable housing in a development (where appropriate).
  8. Leisure facilities (e.g., play areas). Larger scale developments, perhaps a pitch or other leisure facilities.
  9. Community grants – e.g., contribution to a Community Centre development in a large development.
  10. Public art.
  11. Community transport subsidy to support extra bus routes to service a large development (the Louth Transport Board LCC officers had said that they do this for other areas in Lincolnshire if they receive 106 monies).
  12. Public green space.

It was RESOLVED that the Committee would revisit the list periodically.

• Next Meeting
  It was noted that the date of the next scheduled Planning Committee meeting was 9^th January 2024.

 

The Meeting Closed at 10:02pm.

 

 

Signed_______________________ (Chairman)                Dated_________________________