Agenda and minutes

To be informed of the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

There were no substitute members appointed.

You are invited to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests in matters appearing on the agenda, and the nature of that interest.

You are also requested to complete the Declarations of Interests card available at the meeting and return it to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

You are also invited to disclose any dispensation from the requirement to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests that have been granted to you in respect of any matters appearing on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 October 2021.

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 26 October 2021 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

To receive the attached guidance to members in determining planning applications and to give consideration to the planning applications listed in the following agenda items.

The Committee received guidance in relation to the principles of decision making when determining planning applications and then gave consideration to the planning applications listed in the following minutes.

To determine a full planning application from Northumberland Estates for development of 318 residential dwellings (including affordable housing) and associated infrastructure and engineering works, creation of new access from A191 Rake Lane, creation of SuDS and open space.

The Committee considered a report from the planning officers, together with two addendums, one circulated prior to the meeting and another circulated at the meeting, in relation to a full planning application from Northumberland Estates for development of 310 residential dwellings (including affordable housing and associated infrastructure and engineering works, creation of new access from A191 Rake Lane, creation of SuDS and open space.

A planning officer presented details of the application with the aid of various maps, plans and photographs. In presenting the report the planning officer proposed the following amendments to the recommended conditions:

a) conditions 5 and 6 be removed as Phase 1 and Phase 2 site investigation reports formed part of the supporting documents accompanying the application;

b) condition 12 be amended so that a noise scheme takes account of an assessment of the noise from the supermarket adjacent to Rake Lane;

c) condition 51 be amended to read bats rather than birds; and

d) condition 58 be removed because it repeated condition 48.

In accordance with the Committee’s Speaking Rights Scheme Robin Smith of Grosvenor Drive, Whitley Bay, Samuel Fisher of Athol Gardens, West Monkseaton and Nathan Berry of Gerrard Close, Whitley Bay had been granted permission to speak to the Committee.

Robin Smith and Samuel Fisher had both indicated that they were unable to attend the meeting. In Samuel Fisher’s absence, the Committee considered a written statement prepared by him in which he set out his objection to the application in terms of its impact on biodiversity and the nearby Coastal Special Protection Area and Ramsar sites. Mr Fisher stated that the proposal would have a significant impact on these sites and that a contribution of £104,000 towards the coastal mitigation strategy would not be adequate to mitigate the negative impacts. Mr Fisher also challenged the conclusion that the impact of the development on farmland birds could be adequately mitigated through offsite compensation at Backworth and urged the Committee to disregard the biodiversity net gain report as there was no evidence demonstrating net gains in any previous UK development.

Nathan Berry was present at the meeting and addressed the Committee. Mr Berry expressed his concerns regarding the potential increase in traffic congestion on Foxhunters roundabout, Seatonville Road, Cauldwell Lane and Shields Road. He stated that following the recent climate summit, the Council should be seeking to protect green spaces which provided a home to wildlife and an outdoor sanctuary to many people. Many people moved to the area attracted by the lack of air pollution and tranquil spaces but the borough’s unique features were now threatened with destruction. Mr Berry was also concerned that no consideration had been given to the provision of additional schools or general practices to serve the development.

Councillor Sean Brockbank, ward councillor for the Monkseaton South Ward, had also been granted permission to address the Committee. Councillor Brockbank stated that he had consistently opposed this application and the broader development policies relating to the site set out in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item PQ49/21