Issue - meetings

            (Prior to consideration of this application, Councillor Coster had declared a prejudicial interest and left the meeting during its consideration and took no part in the debate and vote.

            Councillor Lury had declared a personal interest and remained in the meeting and took part in the debate and vote.)

AW/134/19/HH – Single storey side and rear extension with habitable roofspace and conversion of existing roofspace to habitable use, together with porch removal and replacement windows, 33 Balliol Close, Aldwick

            This application had been deferred from the meeting held on 7 August 2019 to enable the Site Inspection Panel to visit the site to assess the impact of the proposal on the neighbouring property.  The report from the Site Inspection Panel and the original report were included in the agenda for Members consideration, together with the officer’s written report update circulated at the meeting which detailed an additional objection received from Councillor Dixon as Ward Member and a nearby occupier.

            Those Members present at the site inspection were of the view that, due to the overbearing and unneighbourly rear projecting element of the proposed

extension and the fact that they considered it to not be in keeping with the locality, the application should be refused.  However, the Planning Team Leader advised that the applicant had now submitted revised plans which had reduced the size of the scheme and had moved it further away from the boundary; the officer recommendation therefore remained as one of approval with conditions.

            In discussing the matter, comments were made that, as the application had been amended, it should be readvertised to enable objectors to view the changes made.

            In turning to the vote, the Committee did not accept the officer recommendation to approve.  The Group Head of Planning advised that it was not usual practice to readvertise a scheme that had been reduced in scale and that only two letters of objection in addition to the Parish Council objection had been received, which did not alter the officers professional opinion that the application should be approved.  He added that he could not see what a deferral would gain as sufficient information was before the Committee to enable it to make a decision.

            However, Members reiterated that the amended plans should be readvertised to enable relevant parties to view the proposal and the Committee

RESOLVED

That the application be deferred to enable it to be readvertised.