Agenda and minutes

Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Aldermen Rodgers and Smyth and Councillors Kingston and McNamee.

The minutes of the meetings of 2nd and 16th August were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 3rd September, subject to the omission of those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee, and to the amendment of the decision of the Committee of 2nd August under the heading ‘Z/2011/1077/F 311 Cavehill Road’ that the Council agreed to reject the opinion of the Divisional Planning Manager to approve the application.

It was reported that correspondence had been received from various statutory bodies, agencies and other organisations in respect of the undernoted:

Notification from the Roads Service of the proposed removal of a disabled parking bay at Delaware Street.

Notification from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that the Extinguishment of the Public Right of Way at Parkside was confirmed with modification on 31st July, 2012.

            Copies of the correspondence in relation to the above-mentioned matters were made available at the meeting for the information of the Members.

Noted.

            It was noted that no requests had been received.

Department of the Environment

Area Planning Office

The Committee was advised that correspondence had been received from the Area Planning Manager advising of a change in senior staff within the Planning Office, as a result of which Mrs. J. Bryson would be moving to the Planning Headquarters and would be replaced by Ms. S. Wilkin who would be responsible for the North, West and Central areas of the City.

Noted.

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

18th Annual Planning and Development Conference

            The Committee was advised that the 18th Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ Annual Planning and Development Conference would be held on Wednesday, 17th October in the City Hall.  It was pointed out that the Conference would bring together a variety of professionals and stakeholders to discuss new ideas on governance, planning and financial interventions that were working elsewhere in the United Kingdom and beyond to provide solutions to high vacancy levels and a declining rate base in a number of towns and city centres. Attendance at the event would be free of charge to Members of the Committee and it was recommended that any Member who so wished be authorised to attend the event.

            The Committee adopted the recommendation.

European Brownfield Regeneration Project

B-Team Events

            The Committee was reminded that the Council was a lead partner in the European Brownfield Regeneration Project known as B-Team.  The B-Team project was comprised of specialists on brownfield regeneration from various countries who would get together to exchange knowledge and focus on the resolution of practical challenges on case study sites in the partner countries.  The other partners within the project were Dublin, Sevilla in Spain, Oulu in Finland, Dresden in Germany, Ruda Slaska in Poland, Hajdu-Bihar in Hungary, Torino in Italy and Vilnius in Lithuania. 

            The Committee was advised that the Council was hosting the next Brownfield Days event in the City Hall from Monday 10th September until Thursday, 13th September and that Members had been invited to attend the opening session on 10th September and the feedback session on Thursday, 13th September.

Noted.

The Committee noted a list of new planning applications received by the Planning Service from 7th August until 27th August, 2012.

The Committee noted a list of deferred items which were still under consideration by the Belfast Planning Office.

            The Committee noted a list of Streamlined Planning Applications’ Decisions which had been issued by the Planning Service between 8th until 29th August.

            At the request of the Planning Service, the undernoted items were withdrawn from the schedule:

Z/2012/0594/F

Everything Everywhere and H3G Limited

Rooftop of Davidson and Hardy Limited

453-455 Antrim Road

            The Committee considered a planning application which had been submitted by Everything Everywhere and H3G Limited for the removal of existing antenna and the replacement with one tri-sector antenna within a replica flagpole and the installation of one equipment cabinet and ancillary equipment.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed, with one Member voting against, to adopt the opinion of the Divisional Planning Manager to approve the application.

(As the decision was not unanimous it was subject to ratification by the Council.)

            The Committee considered further the undernoted planning applications and adopted the recommendations of the Divisional Planning Manager thereon:

            The Committee considered the schedule of planning applications which had been submitted by the Divisional Planning Manager in respect of the Council area and agreed to adopt the recommendations contained therein with the exception of those referred to below:

Chairman