Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Alderman Smyth and Councillors Austin and Spence.

            No declarations of interest were reported.

It was reported that correspondence had been received in respect of the following:

·        Notification from the Roads Service of its intention to provide a disabled parking pay at 24 Ponsonby Avenue

·        Notification from the Department of Environment advising that the Department has made a Statutory Rule entitled “The Planning (General Development) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012” which came into operation on 19th September

            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 for deputations had been received.

            The Democratic Services Officer advised the Members that correspondence had been received from the Director of Strategic Planning Division, Department of the Environment, in relation to the Committee’s decision of 2nd August, to refer to the Planning Management Board an application to amend a scheme with reduced floor area for replacement of existing dwelling with a new building, providing supported housing by way of apartments and staff accommodation (15 units in total) at 29a Annadale Avenue in respect of which the Belfast Planning Manager had offered a recommendation to approve. 

            The correspondence had indicated that the Planning Management Board had considered the referral and decided that it failed to meet the criteria outlined in the ‘Guidance for Councils on the Operation of the Management Board Referral Procedure’ which had been issued to all Council’s during May, 2007.  The Director of Strategic Planning Division had indicated that applications referred to the Department must, in the first instance, relate to significant developments and meet one or more of the criteria set out in Departmental Guidance.

            In this specific case the application was for the erection of fifteen supported housing units on a site which had previously been granted planning permission for seven units in a building of similar scale, height, massing and siting.  Accordingly, the proposals were not considered to be for a significant development and reassessment of the proposal was not considered either appropriate or necessary.  In addition, the correspondence had indicated that the application would be returned to the Area Planning Office for a decision to issue in line with the opinion presented to the Committee.

Noted.

            The Committee noted a list of new planning applications received by the Belfast Planning Service from 28th August until 3rd September, 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 29th August until 12th September.

The Committee reconsidered a planning application which had been submitted by Vodafone UK Limited in relation to the erection of a telecommunications development comprising of one 14.8 metre high CU phosco, mk3 streetworks pole and six Vodafone and Telfonica antennas with shroud, one vulcan equipment and one alifabs meter pillar.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed, with one Member voting against, to adopt the opinion of the Belfast 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 Belfast Planning Manager thereon:

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