Minutes – Planning and Conservation Committee – 14 September 2023
The agenda and papers for this meeting are available here: Planning and Conservation Committee – 14 September 2023 – agenda and papers
The minutes of this meeting are presented below.
You can also download a PDF copy of the minutes here: Minutes – Planning and Conservation Committee – 14 September 2023
PLANNING AND CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
Minutes
Date: 14 September 2023
Time: 4.00pm – 4.55pm
Location: The Council Chamber – The Council House • North Street • CHICHESTER • West Sussex • PO19 1LQ
PRESENT: Councillors Butler (Chairman), Squire and Chant
EX-OFFICIO: The Mayor (Councillor Gershater), Chairman of the Community Affairs Committee (Councillor Apel) and Chairman of the Finance Committee (Councillor Scicluna)
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Town Clerk, Deputy Town Clerk, Planning Adviser
49. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
RESOLVED to receive and approve apologies and reasons for absence from the meeting from the Deputy Mayor Councillor Corfield and Councillors Vivian and Hitchman.
The Chair requested that holiday cover be sought to ensure that the agenda was still posted online when the Council Support and Services manager was on annual leave.
50. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE IN MATTERS ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING
None
51. MINUTES OF THE PLANNING AND CONSERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 17 AUGUST 2023
RESOLVED to approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Planning and Conservation Committee meeting held on 17 August 2023.
52. UPDATES ON ACTIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING NOT COVERED ELSEWHERE ON THE AGENDA
a) 14-08-23 – minute 43a
Noted that the Town Clerk had submitted a response to West Sussex County Council reiterating the City Council’s position that funding contributions to the pavements scheme would be available for works but not for any additional feasibility studies.
b) 14-08-23 – minute 43b
Noted that the Planning Adviser had circulated a copy to Members of her response to West Sussex County Council regarding the options for the Fishbourne to Westgate transport scheme.
c) 14-08-23 – minute 43c
Noted that the Planning Adviser had circulated a copy to Members of her response to West Sussex County Council regarding the Bognor Road Community Highways Scheme application.
53.APPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING PERMISSION
CC/23/01857/FUL
Case Officer: Freya Divey
Avenue House 8-10 Southgate Chichester West Sussex
Single storey front infill extension(s).
The City Council has no objection to this application.
CC/23/01214/FUL
Case Officer: Rebecca Perris
Priory Park Public Conveniences Priory Lane Chichester West Sussex
2 no. additional doors, installation of defibrillator and water fountain to south east elevation with associated alterations and repairs.
The City Council has no objection to this application, however, consideration should be given to the materials as UPVC is not appropriate in the Conservation Area.
54. TRAFFIC WORKING GROUP – UPDATE
Councillor Squire advised that the 20mph scheme application has been submitted. A list of projects has been submitted to the business plan working group for consideration.
55. AIR QUALITY IN CHICHESTER
CDC have confirmed that the new monitor will be installed on the A27 at Stockbridge roundabout. We are awaiting confirmation of when the data will be accessible online.
The committee discussed the importance of accurate air quality and particulate data being captured across the City and queried how they could access the data. The Chairman advised that data for Air Quality Monitoring stations could be accessed at https://sussex-air.net/.
56. CITY CENTRE PAVEMENTS UPDATE AND THE WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL TIMELINE FOR IMPROVEMENT WORKS
The Clerk advised that the following update had been received from officers at WSCC:
“Following the steering group session in July and feedback from stakeholders, we continue to work on a business case to be presented at the monthly WSCC Capital Asset Board (CAB) meeting. The report will present a case to request funding for a feasibility study on the city centre public realm. Since our last meeting we have also sent out letters to partners to request a funding contribution to the feasibility study.
If the funding is confirmed, we will be able to instruct our highways consultant, WSP, to carry out this piece of work. … We will provide an update following the CAB meeting/ at the next steering group session on 23rd October.”
The committee expressed their frustration that the project was still not moving ahead as a number of cost-effective solutions had been identified in the past.
Councillor Squire added that he had attended a disability forum recently and the main issue of concern for attendees was the safety of pavements and footways in the City.
The Chairman advised the Committee that WSCC had published a Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Policy, Plan and Strategy (HIAM) on 11/9/23 which contained specific policies regarding maintenance of safe footways and pavements.
57. TELEPHONE BOXES IN NORTH PALLANT
The Committee considered Councillor Scicluna’s report and RESOLVED to write to BT to request they remove the boxes providing that they are not the last boxes in the local area, their call volumes are sufficiently low, and they are not in a suicide hotspot.
The Planning Advisor added that if the boxes were retained, we could request that they be replaced with heritage boxes which would be harder to post advertising materials on.
58. ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT AGENDA
- Neighbourhood Plan Update
- City Centre Pavements
59. DATE OF NEXT ORDINARY MEETING
DATE OF THE NEXT ORDINARY MEETING: 12 OCTOBER 2023
The meeting closed at 4.55pm
ACTIONS ARISING FROM THIS MEETING
Minute ref. | Agreed action | Assigned for action to |
57 | Write to BT requesting removal of the telephone boxes at the top of North Pallant. | CLERK |