Agenda and minutes

Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Alderman Smyth and Councillor Hanna.

The minutes of the meetings of 29th November and 13th December were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 7th January, subject to the omission of those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee.

No declarations were reported.

It was reported that no new requests had been received.

The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 13th December, 2012, it had agreed to receive a number of representatives from the Malone Road area to provide Members with an outline of their concerns in connection with the proposals in respect of the Lennoxvale, Malone Lower, planning applications.  It was reported that, due to the unavailability of a number of the residents, a request had been received to postpone the deputation until a future meeting.

            The Committee agreed to receive the representatives from the residents of the Malone Road at a future meeting, as requested.

The Committee was advised that the departmental estimates had been considered by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee at its meeting on 11th January and that a cash limit of £10,000 had been established for the Town Planning Committee in connection with its expenditure during the forthcoming year.  The Committee was advised further that this amount was similar to that which had been allocated the previous year.

            After discussion, it was

            Moved by Alderman Rodgers,

            Seconded by Councillor Hussey

      That the cash limit for the Town Planning Committee be set at £9,800, which represented a reduction of 2% from that which had been allocated the previous year.

                   On a vote by show of hands six Members voted for the proposal and ten against and it was declared lost.

            The Committee accordingly agreed that the cash limit for 2013/2014 be set at £10,000.

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

notification from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive of a Notice of Application for a Vesting Order at lands to the rear of numbers 10 and 12 Torrens Drive; and

notification from the Roads Service of:

·         the proposed Abandonment at Shore Road; and

·         the Eglantine Avenue (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 Statutory Notice.

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

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided.

The Committee noted the correspondence which had been received from the Area Planning Office in relation to an Application to Modify a Planning Agreement on lands to the rear of Saint Anne’s Cathedral Bounded by Exchange Street West, Talbot Street and Dunbar Link.  The existing legal agreement related to the control of the use of car parking spaces to deter long-term commuter parking and contract parking on the land.

The Committee was advised that correspondence had been received from the Divisional Roads Manager, Mr. R. Ellison, in relation to those questions which had been raised by individual Members at its meeting on 29th October, 2012.  A copy of the response was available on the Modern.gov website.

            A Member expressed concern at the delay in the receipt of the response from the Roads Service and requested that the Democratic Services Officer contact the Divisional Roads Manager to outline the Committee’s concern in relation to the delay and the importance of responding in a timely manner.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided.

The Committee noted a list of new planning applications which had been received by the Planning Service from 4th December, 2012 until 7th January, 2013.

The Committee noted the information which had been received regarding the dates for the holding of future appeals.

            The Committee noted the outcome of a planning appeal in respect of a telecommunications development at the footpath at the junction of Bawnmore Road and Lisburn Road.

The Committee noted a list of streamlined planning applications’ decisions which had been issued by the Planning Service between 5th December, 2012 and 9th January, 2013.

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

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

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: