Agenda item
42-44 Aberfeldy Street, E14 0NU (PA/15/03434 and PA/15/03435)
- Meeting of Development Committee, Wednesday, 6th April, 2016 7.00 p.m. (Item 6.2)
- View the background to item 6.2
Proposal
PA/15/03434
Retrospective planning application for the retention of an ATM (Cash Machine).
PA/15/03435
Retrospective advertisement consent for integral illumination and screen to the ATM fascia and internally illuminated 'Free Cash Withdrawals' sign set above the cash (ATM) machine.
Recommendation
That the Committee resolve to GRANT both planning permission and advertisement consent subject to the conditions in the Committee report.
Minutes:
Paul Buckenham (Development Manager) introduced the Retrospective planning application/ advertisement consent for the retention of an ATM (Cash Machine) with illuminated features.
The Chair then invited registered speakers to address the Committee.
Abdul Salam Sheikh addressed the Committee in objection to the proposals. He stated that he was speaking on behalf of many residents. He stated that he lived in the street that was a quiet residential area. Since its installation, there had a noticeable increase in late night nuisance, arising from use of the machine adding to the disturbance from food outlets in the area. There were already cash machines in the local area so this was not necessary. The application should be refused. In response to Members questions, he commented that the existing commercial premises in the area closed at 10pm which meant it was usually quite at night. He also discussed in further detail his concerns about noise disturbance from the machine, (i.e. due to such things as people driving to and from the machine, groups lingering by the machine and light from the sign).
Chris Stacey-Kinchin (Planning Officer, Development and Renewal) presented the detailed report on the application submitted to the Committee due to the receipt of a petition. The Committee were showed images of the shopping parade comprising a mixture of commercial and residential units. They also noted the shop unit with the cash machine, the standard security features for the ATM and the standard design.
Whilst mindful of the petitioners’ concerns, it was considered that given the location of the cash machine in a shopping parade, that the Police had raised no objections and the negligible impact on the appearance of the shop, Officers did not consider that the plans would cause any demonstrative negative impacts or would harm residential amenity, therefore it was recommended that the planning and advertisement consent be granted.
Members asked questions about the enforcement activity to date given this was a retrospective application and the weight that should be given to the fact that it was a retrospective application. They also asked about the safety and security measures and whether this included CCTV. They also questioned the merits of the application given the concerns about noise and also the available of cash machines nearby.
In response Officers explained that no weight should be given to the fact that it was a retrospective application. If permission was refused, the next step would be to consider enforcement action. Whilst the Council’s Enforcement Team had contacted the applicant, it would not be expedient to commence such enforcement action until this planning application had been determined. It should also been noted that the application was originally submitted to the Committee in October 2015 but withdrawn from the agenda. The application included a number of security measures as set out in the Design and Access statement that were standard measures for cash machines. It was also pointed out that the cash machines in the nearby shop charged for withdrawals unlike this cash machine
In response to questions about the provision of fixed CCTV, it was reported that the applicant had considered this but did not think this was necessary. However it was believed that there would be CCTV within the machine. In response to further question about security, Officers discussed that if Members felt strongly about this, it would be requested that details of the security measures be provided to establish whether the machine was fitted with CCTV.
In response to further questions, Officers reported that there were no guidance in policy on the number of ATMs in an area.
On a vote of 2 in favour and 3 against the Officer recommendation, the Committee did not agree the Officer recommendation to grant planning permission and advertisement consent.
Accordingly, Councillor Rajib Ahmed proposed and Councillor Suluk Ahmed seconded a motion that the planning permission and advertisement consent be not accepted (for the reasons set out below) and on a vote of 3 in favour, 2 against it was RESOLVED:
That planning permission planning permission and advertisement consent be REFUSED at 42-44 Aberfeldy Street, E14 0NU for
PA/15/03434
· Retrospective planning application for the retention of an ATM (Cash Machine).
PA/15/03435
· Retrospective advertisement consent for integral illumination and screen to the ATM fascia and internally illuminated 'Free Cash Withdrawals' sign set above the cash (ATM) machine.
The Committee were minded to refuse the scheme due to concerns over the following issues:
· Impact on residential amenity in terms of noise and disturbance from use of the cash machine and the illuminated sign
· That the proposal would increase anti-social behaviour in the area.
· The safety and security of the cash machine users.
In accordance with Development Procedural Rules, the application was DEFERRED to enable Officers to prepare a supplementary report to a future meeting of the Committee setting out proposed detailed reasons for refusal and the implications of the decision.
Supporting documents: