Apologiesfor absencewere receivedfromCouncillorsDeanandQuilliam. Councillors Latif andButlerattendedas Substitutes.Apologieswerealsoreceived fromCouncillor McGrathandapologiesfor lateness were received fromCouncillor Henry.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED:  Thattheminutes of themeetingheldon10th ofFebruary are agreedas an accurate record.

The Chair will announce the order of Items at the beginning of the Meeting.

A Supplementary Agenda with any modifications will be published on the day of the meeting.

Note: there is no written report for this item

The Committeenoted theamendmentsand modifications to the officer’s report.  The Chairadvised thatitems wouldbetakenin thefollowingorder items7, 9,5,6,10and 8. For thepurposes oftheminutes theitemsare minutedin thepublishedagenda order.

Application: 21/P4198

Ward: Colliers Wood

Recommendation: Grant Planning Permission subject to conditions and completion of a S.106 legal agreement.  

The Planning Officer presentedthereport

The Committeereceivedverbalrepresentationsfrom twoobjectorswho madepoints including:

•   That  the  first  application  had  been  rejected  for  failing  to  meet  minimum standardsfor bedrooms;the present applicationonlyprovideda corridorfor access and therewouldnotbeanimprovementin thelivingarea

•   Therearenoapplicationsliketheoneproposedandseparatingtheexisting gardeninto3 separate areas would set an undesirable precedent andis out of characterwiththesurrounding area

•   Theflatceilingin thelivingareafellbelowtheminimumheightof2.3meters andthenational requirementsetoutfor space

•   TheObjectorfeltthattheproposedsite wouldbeusedeffectivelyfor2 flats, one 3 bedroomanda 2bedroom.This wouldal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Application No: 21/P2028

Ward: Abbey

Recommendation: Grant Permission subject to conditions and s.106 legal agreement.

The Planning Officerpresentedthereport.

The Committeereceiveda verbal representation from one objectorwho madepoints including:

•   Asimilar applicationhadbeen refusedtwo years agoandthis hadbeen broughtback with an additional 25 flatsandmore singleaspect dwellings

•   Therewasnoseparationbetweenresidentialandcommercial wasteand services

•  Theschemeofferednoaffordablehousing

•   Changes are limited totheground floorandthe previous grounds for rejection werestill relevanttothis applicationwhere similarities remained.

•  Theapplicationdidnotcomply withtheLondon plan

•   Theapplicationcouldnotprovidecomfortablelivingfor future residentswithits current plans

•   The Objector raisedconcernsontheapplicationnotprovidinglightventilation in all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Application No: 21/P1780

Ward: Wimbledon Park

Recommendation: Grant Planning Permission subject to conditions and completion of a S.106 legal agreement.

TheDevelopmentControl Leader (North)presentedthereport.

The Committeereceiveda verbal representation from one objectorwho madepoints including:

•   The  independentassessors/  financial  viability  report  had  onlybeen  made availableto thepublic 36 hours priortothe meeting

•   The  report  contained  estimated  costs  which  were  high  and  missing  vital informationwhich thecommunity objectedtosuch as the hight,bulkand no roadlink toWellingtonworks

•   Theapplicationshould  notbeapproved  withoutan  independentassessor verifying theabnormalcostandsharingthis informationwith thepublic

•   TheobjectorspokeontheillegaluseofasbestosonRufusasthiswas a separate  site  to  that  of  Hazelmere.  The  contamination  risk  was  low,  yet inflatedcostswere given

•  Thedeveloperhadnotconfir  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Application No: 21/P3808

Ward: Graveney

Recommendation: Refuse Planning Permission

The Planning Officerpresentedthereport

The Applicantspokeandmadepoints in support of theapplicationincluding:

•   Theapplicanthadcleanedupthesite andremovedasbestosand   ensured travellersvacated thesite

•   TheApplicantinformedTheCommitteethattheCouncilcloseddownthesite withoutprior notice

•  TheApplicantputPlanningpermission fora car wash

•   TheApplicantstatedthattheObjectorsopposingtheApplicantssitedidnot livein thevicinity andthis wasagainsttheLaw

A statementwas read out on behalf ofthe Ward Councillor Linda Kirbywho made points including:

•  Thesite hadtwo approvedhousingdevelopmentsfrom 2017and2019

•  TheApplicanthadleftthesite ina slum likestate

•  TheApplicanthadbuilta builta car washbusiness

•   TheEnforcementOffice  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Application No: 20/P3364

Ward: Colliers Wood

Recommendation:  Grant Permission subject to conditions and s.106 legal agreement.   

The Planning Officer presented the report

The Committee received a verbal representation from two objectors who made points including

The  Objector commented  that  the  Committee  take  into  consideration  the importance  of  the  comments  of  the  conservation  Officer  for  Merton.  The Officerhadadvised thatanadditionalfloorproposedwouldnotbean enhancement tothe existing building, the objectorsaidthe commentswere critical.The objectorreadfromtheofficers’ commentscitingthecouncils’ policiesrelatingto the development.PoliciesNPPF,CS4 andCS14,DND 2 and 4which advises on weight, enhancement,conservation and designin the WandleValley area

•   The objector mentionedthatthescheme proposed 15 flatsnoneofwhich were affordabledwellings

•   TheObjectordidnotagreewiththePlanningOfficersreportto conserveand believedthatthepolicyrequirementis forenhancement

•   TheObject  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Officer Recommendation:

That Members note the contents of the report.

The Committee noted the report

Application No: 21/P4135

Ward: Hillside

Recommendation: GRANT Planning Permission subject to conditions and s106 agreement

The DevelopmentControl TeamLeader (North) presentedthereport

The Committeereceiveda verbalrepresentationfrom oneobjectorwho madepoints including:

•   Inregardsto thelocationoftheentrance,therewas  noCCTVandthiswould pose a safetyissuefor returning femaleguests

•  Due tolack of securitythePolicehadrecommendedanonsiteconcierge

•   The  Objector raised  concerns  on  the  access  which  would  disturb  local residentsif guestsarrive anddepart  24hoursa day

•   TheObjectorwouldlikethedevelopmentto haveonsitesecurityasthiswould preventanyillegal activities beingcarried out

The Applicantspokein responseandmade points including

•   Thatthecurrentapplicationfollowsa previousapplicationsmallerthanthe previousschemein 2019,which hasbeenchangedduetothecurrentclima  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Officer Recommendation:

That Members note the contents of the report.

The Committee noted the report