Agenda and minutes

Venue: remotely via Zoom. View directions

Contact: Lauren Gregory  Email: Lauren.Gregory@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

61.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs N Dixon, J Punchard and C Stockton with Cllrs V Holliday, A Fitch-Tillett and A Varley in attendance as a substitute respectively.

 

62.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS

Minutes:

Ms D Hyslop; Chairman of Brinton Parish Council (BPC) relayed parishioners significant concerns regarding the amendment of the designation of land parcel marked ‘E’ within the most recent Sharrington Appraisal. This area of land had, for the last 40 years, been listed within the Conservation Area and BPC considered it had positively contributed to the character of the settlement and to the surrounding Historic Buildings. BPC considered the land should remain open and undeveloped.

 

In response, CDTL acknowledged that the Public Speaker was correct in her assessment that the designation of Sharrington was a ‘dispersed settlement’ as it consisted of a series of pockets of buildings within a wider rural landscape. Officers made the balanced view that land parcel ‘E’ did not form an inherent part of the special architectural and historic interest, and concluded, with hindsight, land parcel ‘E’ should have been excluded from the Sharrington Conservation area in earlier iterations of the draft appraisal.

 

The CDTL stated under the current designation there was effectively a virtual boundary running though a field without any physical features to follow. However, guidance supplied from Historic England advised that a Conservation Area Boundary should be relevant and follow physical features.  Officers did not consider that the land was not important, and acknowledged it still offered a strong landscape character in providing a buffer to buildings, and that any development within this space would start to merge and create a ribbon form of development.  He advised that in reappraising the area, Officers considered that in granting land a designated Conservation Area status, it must be considered of special architectural and historic interest. Officers contended that that land contributed to the wider setting rather than forming an imbedded part of the landscape.

 

The Public speaker for BPC was provided a one minute rebuttal. She affirmed the view of BPC and objecting parishioners that the land was important and formed a needed gap between historic buildings.

 

63.

MINUTES

The Minutes of 25th April 2022 will be presented for approval for the next meeting, 20th June 2022.

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that the Minutes of the April 2022 meeting would be included for consideration for the next meeting of the Working Party.

 

64.

ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS

To determine any other items of business which the Chairman decides should be considered as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Minutes:

None.

65.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST pdf icon PDF 721 KB

Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests that they may have in any of the following items on the agenda.  The Code of Conduct for Members requires that declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.  Members are requested to refer to the attached guidance and flowchart.

Minutes:

The Chairman declared a non-pecuniary interest for Agenda Item 8, he is the Local Ward Member for all of the affected Conservation Area Appraisals, but did not consider himself to be pre-determined.

 

66.

UPDATE ON MATTERS FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING (IF ANY)

Minutes:

None.

67.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN AND AS PREVIOUSLY DETERMINED UNDER ITEM 4 ABOVE

Minutes:

None.

68.

GLAVEN VALLEY VILLAGES CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISALS
& MANAGEMENT PLANS 2022
pdf icon PDF 211 KB

Summary:

 

This report seeks approval to adopt the draft Brinton, Edgefield, Hunworth, Sharrington, Stody and Thornage Conservation Area Appraisals along with the associated Management Proposals contained therein.

Recommendations:

1.    That Working Party recommend to Cabinet to adopt the six Glaven Valley Village Appraisals for statutory planning purposes and for the Appraisal documents to become material considerations in the planning process.

  

2.    That Working Party recommend to Cabinet to agree the proposed boundary changes as recommended in the draft Appraisal documents and that they be published in accordance with the Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

 

 

3.    That Working Party recommend to Cabinet to agree the proposed Local Listings as identified within the draft Appraisal documents. 

 

 

 

Cabinet Members(s)

Ward(s) Affected

All Members

All Wards

Contact Officer(s), telephone number and email:

Alannah Hogarth, Conservation & Design Officer, 01263 516367

 

Minutes:

The SCDO introduced the Officers report and the recommendations contained therein and summarised the discussions arising from the last meeting. She advised that the revised report, circulated to Members incorporated Members comments and amendments.

 

Members Debate

 

  1. The Chairman acknowledged the representation from BPC, and asked Officers why the latest version of the draft appraisal had been amended, noting that prior iterations of the draft document retained Land Area ‘E’ within the existing Conservation Area. The Chairman affirmed that this land had been designated in 1979 when the Conservation Area for Sharington was first established, and formed the part of the village most challenged in planning terms with several applications submitted and declined. He considered that the lands prior status had not caused a problem for the Council in defending its position. Further, the Chairman contended that had no challenge been raised during the public consultation phase, this land would have likely remained within the Conservation Area and formed part of Officers recommendations. He stated that Sharrington was unique, being the only village excluded from the Glaven Valley Rural Appraisal area, and that there was an argument for greater protection in planning terms. Further, there was an opportunity to protect land area ‘E’ as part of the landscape setting, given its important role in maintaining gaps between existing heritage buildings, and whilst the boundary maybe virtual, it was no less determinable. The Chairman asked if this land could be protected under the future Rural Glaven Valley Appraisal, which would feature at a future meeting.

 

  1. The CDTL advised that each piece of land needed to justify its place within a Conservation Area, and ultimately the test was whether the land was of special architectural or historic interest. The inclusion or exclusion of a specific piece of land must be for the right reasons and not act as a development management tool to prevent or support development. He affirmed that the Conservation Area Appraisal was something which assisted with decision making in the form of guidance rather than serving as a policy. In response to the Chairman’s question regarding the inclusion of area ‘E’ within the Rural Glaven Valley Appraisal, the CDTL noted the differences between that Appraisal and the Sharrington Conservation Area, and advised this may be something Officers would be obliged to consider if the land was considered to be of architectural or historic interest to justify its place within the boundary. He commented that determining Conservation Area Boundaries was not an exact science and acknowledged that there may be a difference of opinion.

 

  1. The Chairman stated that he did not agree that without a defined boundary the land could not be designated an open land area, and questioned if an area could be determined by the boundaries of adjoining properties.

 

  1. The CDTL expressed potential doubts in the utilising of a virtual boundary as it implied the land was not of special architectural or historic interest. He commented that it would be challenging for the Council to defend at appeal, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

69.

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

             To pass the following resolution (if necessary):

 

“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”

 

Minutes:

None.

70.

TO CONSIDER ANY EXEMPT MATTERS ARISING FROM CONSIDERATION OF THE PUBLIC BUSINESS OF THE AGENDA

Minutes:

None.

71.

ANY OTHER URGENT EXEMPT BUSINESS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN AND AS PREVIOUSLY DETERMINED UNDER ITEM 4 ABOVE

Minutes:

None.