Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Ruthin
Contact: Committee Administrator 01824 706715 Email: dcc_admin@denbighshire.gov.uk
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POINT OF NOTICE The committee was advised that, due to technical issues, it would not be possible to webcast the meeting. The electronic voting system and display screens inside the chamber remained operational. |
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Additional documents: Minutes: Councillors Ian Armstrong, Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones,
Meirick Davies, Peter Evans, Rhys Hughes, Alice Jones, Dewi Owens and Merfyn
Parry. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PDF 58 KB Members to declare any personal or prejudicial interests in any business identified to be considered at this meeting. Minutes: No declarations of personal or prejudicial interest had been
raised. |
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URGENT MATTERS AS AGREED BY THE CHAIR Notice of items which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972. Minutes: No urgent matters had been raised. |
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To confirm the accuracy of the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on the 16 September 2015 (copy attached). Minutes: The
minutes of the Planning Committee’s meeting held on 16 September 2015 were
submitted. RESOLVED that the minutes
of the meeting held on 16 September 2015 be approved as a correct record. |
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APPLICATIONS FOR PERMISSION FOR DEVELOPMENT (ITEMS 5 & 6) - Applications received requiring determination by the
committee were submitted together with associated documentation. Reference was also made to late supplementary
information (blue sheets) received since publication of the agenda which
related to particular applications. |
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APPLICATION NO. 23/2015/0463/PFT - LAND AT CEFN YFED, CYFFYLLIOG, RUTHIN PDF 5 KB To consider an application for installation of one 500 kw wind turbine with hub height
of 48m and a rotor diameter of 45m and associated works at Land at Cefn Yfed,
Cyffylliog, Ruthin (copy attached). Additional documents: Minutes: An application was submitted for installation
of one 500 kw wind turbine with hub height of 48m and
a rotor diameter of 45m and associated works at Land at Cefn
Yfed, Cyffylliog, Ruthin. Public Speakers – Mrs. J. Williamson (Against) – objected to the application on the grounds of visual
amenity and noise impact and spoke on behalf of a number of local residents in
the vicinity who would be directly affected by the development, outlining their
concerns. Mr. M. Jones (For) – detailed his family’s links to the farm and emphasised the
importance of the development for the future sustainability of the farm
business which also provided local employment.
He argued that the turbine would not breach the skyline; was
significantly quieter than other turbines, and in terms of cumulative impact
questioned whether other consented schemes would be built. General Debate – The Principal Planning Officer advised that
the application was one of seven currently undetermined applications involving
single turbine developments and it was important to consider each one on its
own merits. The reasons behind the
officers’ recommendation to refuse the application in this case had been
detailed within the report based on landscape/visual and noise impacts. Councillor Joe Welch (Local Member) had
considered both the benefits of the farm diversification project and the
adverse landscape and noise impact.
Having considered the size and location of the development, the views of
the Council’s Landscape Consultant, and given the Pollution Control Officer’s
concerns that noise levels were too loud and could not be appropriately
controlled, Councillor Welch proposed that the application be refused in
accordance with officers’ recommendation on the grounds of landscape/visual
amenity and noise impact. During debate there was some sympathy with the
application and members considered whether the farm diversification benefits
outweighed the visual and noise concerns.
Members were particularly concerned regarding the potential noise impact
and sought further clarification and evidence to support officers’ reasoning
that noise levels would be too loud and could not be adequately
controlled. Reference was also made to
the late representations submitted by the Clwydian
Range and Dee Valley AONB Joint Committee (as detailed in the blue sheets) and
members questioned their role within the process and reiterated previous
concerns that they were acting outside their remit. The Chair confirmed that officers were taking
up that issue and the Principal Planning Officer explained that the
recommendation in this case had been made prior to receiving the AONB Joint
Committee’s representations. The Pollution Control Officer responded to
questions regarding noise impact and advised that, based on the evidence
provided, he could not support the application.
He explained the processes used in assessing noise levels advising that
noise levels had been underestimated in this case, with no allowance for
uncertainty, and therefore were likely to breach the 35dB limit for single
turbines. That underestimation had also
been carried forward as part of the cumulative noise assessment which had not
taken into account consented levels, thereby increasing the
underestimation. Noise complaints arising
from turbines were generally rare because it was usual for officers to be
satisfied as to noise levels during the initial screening process for
applications. However this application
had failed to demonstrate that acceptable noise levels could be achieved or
controlled. Officers considered it
inappropriate to grant permission without being able to set a reasonable and
enforceable noise level condition that had a demonstrable chance of being
achieved. Proposal – Councillor Joe Welch proposed, seconded by
Councillor Win Mullen-James, that the application be
refused in accordance with officer recommendation. VOTE: GRANT – 5 REFUSE – 15 ABSTAIN – ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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APPLICATION NO. 47/2015/0741/PS - WHITE HOUSE HOTEL, HOLYWELL ROAD, RHUALLT, ST. ASAPH PDF 5 KB To consider an application for removal of condition no. 3 of planning permission code no. 47/2011/0527
relating to seasonal use condition restricting the use of the site for touring
caravans between 31st October and 1st March at White House Hotel, Holywell
Road, Rhuallt, St. Asaph (copy attached). Additional documents: Minutes: An application was submitted for removal of
condition no. 3 of planning permission code no. 47/2011/0527 relating to
seasonal use condition restricting the use of the site for touring caravans
between 31 October and 1 March at White House Hotel, Holywell Road, Rhuallt, St. Asaph. Public Speakers – Mr. P. Jones-Hughes (For) – reported upon the success of the business and reasoning
behind the application in order to cater for visitors all year round and meet
the current unmet demand for touring caravans.
He also responded to comments raised during the application process as
detailed in the late supplementary papers (blue sheets). General Debate – In the absence of Councillor Barbara Smith
(Local Member), the Chair spoke on her behalf advising that she was supportive
of Tremeirchion, Cwm and Waen
Communty Council’s position but found there to be
insufficient planning reasons for refusal.
She had noted the additional condition proposed with regard to further
landscaping and supported its imposition if the application was granted. Some concern was expressed that a precedent may
be set for year round occupancy of caravan sites leading to unauthorised
residential use which would prove a burden on council services. Officers explained the distinction between
the use of static caravan sites and touring caravan sites and confirmed that
Communities Scrutiny Committee were keeping the regulation of caravan sites
under close review. The application in
this case related to the specific use of the site for touring caravans which
officers considered to be entirely reasonable and appropriate. In view of the existing condition regarding
control over holiday use, officers were satisfied that the necessary controls
were in place to restrict the use for holiday purposes only and not as a sole
or main place of residence. Proposal – Councillor Bill Cowie proposed, seconded by
Julian Thompson-Hill, that the application be granted
in accordance with officer recommendations. VOTE: GRANT – 19 REFUSE – 2 ABSTAIN – 0 RESOLVED that permission be GRANTED in accordance with officer recommendations as detailed
within the report and supplementary papers. The meeting concluded at 10.20 a.m. |