Agenda and minutes

Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Aldermen R. Patterson and Smyth and Councillors Hussey, Lavery and McCarthy.

The minutes of the meetings of 4th and 18th October were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 1st November, subject to the omission of those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee.

No declarations were reported.

The Chairman (Councillor L. Patterson) welcomed Mr. C. McIlwaine, the new Area Planning Manager for Belfast, to the meeting.  Mr. McIlwaine informed the Committee that he had recently been appointed to the position and he acknowledged the good working relationship which existed between the Council and the Planning Service currently and that he looked forward to continuing that relationship in the future.

            Arising from the discussion, Mr. N. Dunlop informed the Committee that he had recently been appointed as a Strategic Advisor to the Council and would be available to the Members for consultation on planning matters.

            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 Abandonment of the Bus Turning Circle at the Lisburn Road;

·            the provision of a disabled parking bay at 2 Oceanic Avenue;

·            the proposed Stopping Up of Brucevale Park; and

·            the proposed Abandonment of the entry to the rear of 54 to 66 Eglantine Avenue.

Notification from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive of an application for a Vesting Order at 12 Loughview Terrace.

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

Noted.

The Committee was advised that correspondence had been received from the Planning Service Headquarters advising that the Department of the Environment had made a Statutory Rule entitled the Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S. R. 2012 No. 293).  Those Regulations would come into operation on 22nd October and would increase planning fees by 2%.  Copies of the Statutory Rule were available from the Stationery Office and could be viewed online at the website: www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided.

It was noted that no requests had been received.

The Committee noted a list of streamlined planning applications’ decisions which had been issued by the Planning Service between 9th October and 1st November.

The Committee noted the outcome of a planning appeal in respect of the conversion of a garage to a residential unit on a site to the rear of 152 Upper Newtownards Road.

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

The Committee noted a list of new planning applications received by the Planning Service from 9th October until 29th October 2012.

At the request of the Planning Service, the undernoted item was withdrawn from the schedule:

Z/2012/0265/F

22 Easton Crescent

            The Committee considered further a planning application in relation to the proposed change of use from a dwelling to a seven bedroom house of multiple occupation, in respect of which the Divisional Planning Manager had offered an opinion to approve. 

            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:

The Committee was reminded that it had authorised previously the attendance of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, the Democratic Services Manager, or their nominees, to the above-mentioned event.  Mr. M. McKenna informed the Committee that he had been in attendance at the event which had focussed on the changing roles and responsibilities of Elected Members when the transfer of the planning functions took place in 2015.  Currently, legislation was being developed to support the change in responsibilities and it was anticipated that it would be in place for 2015.  It was reported also that further seminars would be held in the coming months which would cater specifically for local Elected Members and which would focus on the proposed transfer of powers from central to local government. 

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided.