Agenda and draft minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2025 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a true record.

An update sheet was circulated to members of Planning Committee in relation to planning applications to be considered this evening, which included an additional response received for Members’ attention in relation to Application for Development: City Crematorium, Washingborough Road, Lincoln.

RESOLVED that the update sheet be received by Planning Committee.

Please note that, in accordance with the Members' Code of Conduct, when declaring interests members must disclose the existence and nature of the interest, and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) or personal and/or pecuniary.

No declarations of interest were received.

The Arboricultural Officer:

1. advised Planning Committee that the main purpose of the report provided reasons for proposed works to trees predominantly in the City Council's ownership, although it may include other trees at times where special circumstances applied and officers thought it was both helpful and were able to do so

2. sought consent to progress the works identified, as detailed at Appendix A of the report

3. highlighted that the list did not represent all the work undertaken to Council trees, it represented all the instances where a tree was in City Council ownership and identified for removal, or where a tree enjoyed some element of protection under planning legislation, and thus formal consent was required

4. explained that ward councillors had been notified of the proposed works.

Members asked:

·       : In respect of the coppicing of 3 x Hawthorn trees in Abbey Ward, how frequently was this work repeated?

·       : Coppicing was completed every 3-5 years dependent on the species. The trees were regularly monitored once work was completed.

·       : In relation to the proposal for extensive removal of trees in Birchwood Avenue, were these trees the subject of a Tree Preservation Order?

·       : These trees were identified for removal following survey work conducted on Birchwood Avenue. The majority were dead standing and could not remain due to safety implications covered by the Highways Act. Replacement trees would be replanted on Birchwood Avenue itself.

·       n: Had we maintained these dead-standing trees properly?

·       : The majority were diseased, which was unpreventable, mainly dead Alders and Silver Birch trees.

Members gave thanks to Tom Gissing, Arboricultural Officer as he prepared to leave the employment of the Authority. Gratitude was paid for his hard work and dedication to the City of Lincoln Council and its wonderful trees.

RESOLVED that the tree works set out in the schedule published within the report be approved.

The Assistant Director of Planning:

a.    described the location of Lincoln Crematorium on the south-east edge of the City of Lincoln, to the north side of Washingborough Road, occupying an area of approximately 4.7 hectares, set within extensive cemetery grounds largely surrounded by open space and community uses, with minimal residential development nearby

b.    advised that planning permission was sought for the continued use of the secondary eastern chapel that had been erected on site to provide for an increasing demand in service and to ensure continuity of an efficient and respectful service whilst future plans for a permanent chapel were developed

c.     reported that the building was located towards the eastern side of the crematorium grounds and had been designed to operate within the existing infrastructure and layout of the site

d.    added that this evening’s proposal included associated drainage provision but did not involve any changes to access, parking, or the surrounding landscape which were previously carried out as part of the original development

e.    reported that the application was brought before Planning Committee as the service was owned and run by the City of Lincoln Council

f.      detailed the history of the application site within the main body of the officer’s report

g.    provided details of the policy pertaining to the application, as follows:

·       National Planning Policy Framework

·       Policy S6: Design Principles for Efficient Buildings

·       Policy S13: Reducing Energy Consumption in Existing Buildings

·       Policy S50: Community Facilities

·       Policy S53: Design and Amenity

·       Policy S63: Green Wedges

8. provided details of the issues to be assessed in relation to the planning application, as follows:

·       Accordance with National and Local Planning Policy

·       Impact on Amenity of Neighbouring Uses

·       Impact on Visual Amenity

·       Highway Safety, Access, Parking and Surface Water Drainage

·       Impact on Trees and Landscaping

i.      outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

j.      referred to the update sheet which included an additional response received from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust after the original agenda documents were issued

11. concluded as follows:

Members discussed the content of the report in further detail.

The following questions were raised:

·       Clarification was requested on the consultation response received from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.

·       How long could the secondary eastern chapel remain in situ as a temporary structure?

·       Were there any plans in place to replace the trees removed to erect the temporary structure?

The Assistant Director of Planning offered the following points of clarification:

·       The representation from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust referred to biodiversity net gain. As the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

The Planning Team Leader:

a.    advised that planning permission was sought for an alteration to a ground floor rear window to 56 Boultham Park Road to incorporate a window vent in association with a new extraction system within the premises

b.    reported that the applicant had stated that the use of the premises would not change and would be operated under E (b) -Sale of food and drink for consumption (mostly) on the premises, therefore there was no change of use to be considered; solely installation of an external fume extraction equipment for use between the hours of 8am and 11pm

c.     advised that the building was previously used as a shoe shop, however was currently empty, with authorised use of Class E; a previous application was refused for a change of use to hot food take away (Sui Generis) (2021/0038/FUL)

d.    described the location of the application site:

·       No. 54 Boultham Park Road was situated to the north, a residential property with a single storey link at ground floor to the application property.

·       A detached shop (Use Class E) was located to the south at ground floor which appeared to have a flat at first floor.

·       Residential properties were located behind the application site and directly opposite the property

·       The area was predominantly residential properties with the exception of the application property, the shop to the south and the car sales garage further north on the opposite side of the road.

e.    detailed the history to the application site within the main body of the officer’s report

f.      provided details of the policy pertaining to the application, as follows:

·       Policy S53: Design and Amenity

7. provided details of the issues to be assessed in relation to the planning application, as follows:

·       Local and National Planning Policy

·       Impact on Residential Amenity

·       Impact on Visual Amenity

h.    outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise

9. concluded as follows:

·       The application had been accompanied by robust noise and odour assessments, showing appropriate mitigation.

·       The system proposed, subject to conditions would not have a detrimental impact on the amenity of neighbouring uses in accordance with policies S53 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Members discussed the content of the report in further detail.

The following member comments were received:

·       Planning Committee should have a say on the hours of operation of the fume extraction system in a residential area.

·       This site was no longer a suitable location for restaurant/café use in this predominantly residential area.

·       Local residents seemed to have strong feelings about the proposals, and were puzzled about the application, without any background information provided within the report to explain why.

·       The application before us did not require planning permission as it would operate under category E. The threshold for the use of the premises was key to the future running of the business.

The following questions were raised:

·       How long were properties permitted to stay in the same Class category in planning terms? In this case  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.