Agenda and minutes
OPDC Planning Committee - Wednesday 10 July 2019 6.00 pm

1.1  Gordon Adams sent his apologies. The Chair had received Gordon’s comments on both planning applications (Appendix A) and had circulated these to the Committee.

1.2  Apologies had also been received from Councillor Peter Mason, London Borough of Ealing. Councillor Stephen Donnelly (substitute) attended in his place.

2.1  The Chair asked that his declarations of interests be updated to reflect that he was no longer Director of Newcourt Residential Ltd.

2.2  Councillor Harcourt advised that he was Chair of Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust and would not take part in the discussion or decision of Item 5.

2.3  Councillors Harcourt, Perez and Sheth had all received correspondence from a representative of the applicant for Item 6. Councillors Perez and Sheth had not responded, and Councillor Harcourt had responded only to acknowledge receipt.

3.1  The Committee received the draft minutes of the previous meeting held on 24 June 2019.

3.2  RESOLVED:

3.2.1  That the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 24 June 2019 be signed by the Chair as an accurate record.

4.1  There were no matters arising.

[Councillor Wesley Harcourt left the table]

5.1  The Interim Director of Planning introduced the report. A presentation was also provided by the Senior Planning Officer.

5.2  The application related to a vacant site, previously occupied by Kensington Aldridge Academy (KAA) after the Grenfell Fire had impacted its permanent premises. The school had since returned to its permanent site. Since October 2017, the school had benefitted from two consecutive one-year temporary planning consents and the current consent would expire on 31 July 2019. The application was for the retention of the temporary site for a further three years in case future plans for Grenfell Tower impacted its permanent site, forcing the school to relocate. If approved, the temporary school would be retained until July 2022, irrespective of occupational arrangements, and no alterations would need to be made. The applicant considered that three years was a realistic timeframe.

5.3  The application was considered significant and potentially contentious because the temporary site was designated Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) and therefore should be determined by the Planning Committee. A public consultation had been undertaken, which included 1,065 letters sent to local residents; a press notice in the Ealing Gazette and six site notices. Three responses had been received, including one  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.1  The Interim Director of Planning introduced the report. A presentation was also provided by the Acting Head of Development Management.

6.2  The application related to a 0.63ha site and the demolition of a temporary warehouse and redevelopment to provide a 10-storey building and two levels of basement to provide flexible industrial uses, offices and a hotel. The application had been referred to the Planning Committee because of its scale and the scheme was of a significant or potentially contentious nature. Officers’ recommendation was for refusal. Reasons for the recommendation to refuse included:

6.2.1  the proposal for industrial use mixed with office and hotel uses within a Strategic Industrial Location (SIL) was not compliant with adopted policy; and

6.2.2  the height and massing of the scheme and its impact on townscape and heritage, particularly the Grade II listed Park Royal London Underground Station.

6.3  A public consultation had been undertaken, which comprised of 577 letters to local residents and businesses; six site notices and an advert in the Ealing Gazette newspaper. One objection was received.

6.4  Hannah Willcock of DP9 Ltd addressed the Committee on behalf of the applicant. She stated that the scheme was of high-quality and would provide  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.1  The Interim Director of Planning introduced the report. A presentation was also provided by the Senior Planning Officer.

7.2  OPDC and Brent Council previously approved the progression of the Neighbourhood Plan to a local referendum. A local referendum was held on 30 May 2019 and the majority of votes (89.61%) were in favour of the Plan. In accordance with Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, and relevant regulations, a local planning authority must ‘make’ (or adopt) the Plan within eight weeks of the referendum. The adoption would be subject to a six-week legal challenge period.

7.3  Officers advised that minor modifications had been made to the Plan, since it was presented to the Committee and these could be found in Appendix A of the agenda.

7.4  The Committee noted the outcome of the referendum and asked for details of the potential numbers of votes in comparison to the actual turn out. Officers advised that this information would be confirmed in writing to members.

7.5  RESOLVED:

7.6  The Planning Committee:

7.6.1  NOTED the results of the Draft Harlesden Neighbourhood Plan local referendum; and

7.6.2  RECOMMENDED that OPDC Board agree to make the draft Harlesden Neighbourhood Plan (Appendix A).

8.1  The Interim Director of Planning introduced the report. A presentation was also provided.

8.2  On 30 May 2019, the OPDC Board agreed the Local Planning Authority and Delivery Agent Protocol for Staff. The protocol provides staff with general guidance on how best to maintain appropriate separation between OPDC’s statutory planning and delivery functions. The guidance would help to manage any potential conflicts of interest; avoiding perceptions of bias; and any associated risk of challenge.

8.3  The Committee noted that the protocol had been published on the website and briefing sessions with staff are being held.

8.4  RESOLVED:

8.4.1  The Planning Committee NOTED the report and Appendix A.

9.1  The Committee noted that a photograph had been taken by a member of the public during the meeting and the guidance on photography was noted. The Committee asked that, if members of the public did wish to take photos, the Chair was advised beforehand. A note to this effect would be placed in the public gallery.

The next meeting of the OPDC Planning Committee will be held on 10 September 2019 at 6.00 pm.

10.1  The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday 10 September 2019 at 6.00 pm in Committee Room 3 at City Hall.

11.1  The meeting closed at 7.20 pm.