Agenda and minutes

            Apologies were reported on behalf of the Chairman (Councillor Hanna) and Councillors Cunningham and Hendron.

            The minutes of the meetings of 7th and 21st November were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 2nd December, 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 Committee noted the contents of a report setting out the scheduled monthly meetings for the Committee for the period from January until May, 2014, details of which were available on the Modern.gov website.

            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 provision of a disabled parking bay at 270 Tennent Street;

·          the proposed amendment to the existing traffic calming scheme at Chichester Park North;

·          a Draft Order and Statutory Notice in relation to the Andersonstown Road (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014;

·          the operative date for the Statutory Rule in relation to the Galwally Avenue (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013; and

·          the proposed provision of an accessible, blue badge parking bay at 88 Rosebery Road.

            Notification from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive of the confirmation of the extinguishment orders in relation to the following:

·          Edith Street, Extinguishment of Public Right of Way Order Number 1, 2013;

·          McDonnell Street, Extinguishment of Public Right of Way Order Number 2, 2013;

·          Lenadoon Estate, Extinguishment of Public Right of Way Order Number 20, 2013; and

·          Agnes Street, Extinguishment of Public Right of Way Order Number 2, 2013.

            Copies of the letters, maps and orders 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.

            It was noted that no requests for deputations had been received.

            It was reported that correspondence had been received from the Area Planning Office in relation to the above-mentioned application which had indicated that, having considered all the relevant factors, the Planning Service remained of the opinion that the proposal, in respect of a new bay window and entrance door to the front elevation and a 2 storey extension to the rear, was acceptable and that a decision to approve would be issued in the near future.

Noted.

The Committee was advised that correspondence had been received from the Director of the Local Planning Division indicating that the referral in relation to the demolition of the existing 4 storey building and the erection of a new 7 storey building, and the demolition of the existing 4 storey commercial building at the above-mentioned location, had not met the criteria as set out within the 2007 Departmental Guidance for Councils on the Operation of the Management Board Referral Process. It was pointed out within the correspondence that the proposed development was not considered to be ‘significant’ and that, as the proposal failed to meet the referral guidance, it would be inappropriate for the Management Board to reconsider the applications.  The applications had, therefore, been returned to the Planning Service with a view that the decisions to approve be issued forthwith.

After discussion, the Committee noted the information which had been provided.

            The Committee was advised that correspondence had been received from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency indicating that, under Article 42(1) of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991, the Department of the Environment was required to consult the Council prior to the inclusion of any building on the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.  In addition, the correspondence had indicated that the Environment Agency would welcome the Council’s views in relation to its proposals to list the above-mentioned property.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to support the listing of the above-mentioned property as outlined and agreed further that a letter be issued to the Agency indicating the Committee’s support for the proposal.

            The Committee was reminded that, arising from its meeting on 28th October with the officials from the Roads Service, it had agreed to write to Translink with regard to the practice by bus drivers of using ordinary traffic lanes. It was reported that a response had been received from Translink which had indicated that buses were required to retain the flexibility of passing on either side of the bus gate thus positioning themselves correctly to access the departure points in Donegall Square West and the need to be in the off-side bus lane on Donegall Square South between its junctions with Linenhall Street and Donegall Square West.

            After discussion, the Committee noted the information which had been provided and agreed to invite representatives from Translink to attend a future meeting to explore the matter in greater detail.  Arising from the discussion, the Committee agreed to write also to the Department for Regional Development to request that the current yellow box junction on Donegall Square South be extended to include the area immediately outside the rear gate of the City Hall. 

            The Committee noted a list of decisions which had been issued by the Planning Service between 13th November and 4th December in respect of streamlined planning applications.

            A list of deferred items, which were still under consideration by the Planning Office, was noted by the Committee.  A Member expressed concern at the timescale associated with the processing of a number of the applications on the list, in that several had been in existence for a considerable period of time.  The Planning Service provided an assurance that the applications were being processed as expeditiously as possible. 

            The Committee noted a list of new planning applications which had been received by the Planning Service from 12th November until 2nd December.

Z/2013/0037/F: 444 Ormeau Road

            The Committee considered further a planning application in relation to a proposed change of use from a retail outlet to the preparation and sale of freshly baked Italian pizzas for consumption off the premises, in respect of which the Divisional Planning Manager had offered an opinion to refuse. 

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

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

Z/2013/0637/A: Arc Café, Orangefield

Presbyterian Church, 464 Castlereagh Road

            The Committee considered further a planning application in relation to the erection of a shop sign, in respect of which the Divisional Planning Manager had offered an opinion to refuse. 

            After discussion, the Committee agreed, with two Members voting against, to adopt the opinion of the Divisional Planning Manager to refuse 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:

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

            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: