Agenda and minutes

Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires a record be kept of the Members present and that this record form part of the minutes of the meeting. Members who cannot attend a meeting should tender apologies to the Town Clerk.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors D Scott, F Kharawala and D Bowater (substituted by C Palmer).

(i)    Under the Localism Act 2011 (sections 26-37 and Schedule 4) and in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, Members are required to declare any interests which are not currently entered in the Member’s Register of Interests or if he/she has not notified the Monitoring Officer of it.

(ii) Should any Member have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in an item on the agenda, the Member may not participate in consideration of that item unless a Dispensation has first been requested (in writing) and granted by the Council (see Dispensation Procedure).

Members were asked to declare any interests, including the nature of those interests, which they had in any of the items under consideration at this meeting. No declarations were made.

To receive questions and statements from members of the public in respect of any item of business included in the agenda, as provided for in Standing Order Nos 3(f) and 3(g).

There were no questions from members of the public.

(a)          To receive and approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning & Transport Committee meeting held on 21 October 2020 (attached) in accordance with Standing Order 12.

(b)          To receive information updates on matters arising from the previous meeting (if appropriate).

The Committee received the minutes of the Planning and Transport Committee meeting held on 21 October  2020.

A query was raised regarding taxis; it was noted that this was a standing item on the agenda of the Partnership Committee.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning and Transport Committee meeting held 21 October 2020 be approved as a correct record and would be signed at a later date, when safe to do so.

To consider Planning Applications received (attached).  An updated list will be issued on Friday 6 November 2020 (if applicable).

The Committee reviewed applications received up until 5 November 2020.

RESOLVED to recommend to Central Bedfordshire Council that no objection be made to application reference CB/20/03621 (373 Bideford Green), subject to the additional car parking space being delivered as set out in the plans.

RESOLVED to recommend to Central Bedfordshire Council that no objection be made to application reference CB/20/03732 (123 Drakes Avenue), subject to car parking standards being met.

RESOLVED to recommend to Central Bedfordshire Council that no objection be made to application reference CB/20/03897/PAAD (Old Linslade Manor) subject to Highways having no concerns about the narrow vehicular access, but the Town Council would request a condition such that no new agricultural barn be built later to replace the one being converted.

RESOLVED that this Council strongly objects and recommends to Central Bedfordshire Council objection to application reference CB/20/03746 (71 Hockliffe Street) on the grounds of overdevelopment of the site, concerns for fire safety, increase in the number of units proposed  and parking concerns given the lack of on-street car parking.

RESOLVED to recommend to Central Bedfordshire Council that no objection be made to the following planning applications:

1.         CB/20/03709/LDCP            12 ORCHARD DRIVE

2.         CB/20/03728/DOC              LAND REAR OF 11B-29 WING ROAD

3.         CB/20/03658/DOC              APEX PARK

4.         CB/20/03772                        8 HORNBEAM  CLOSE

5.         CB/20/03733                        16 DUKES RIDE

6.         CB/20/03762                        8B ST ANDREWS STREET

7.         CB/20/03705                        27 TAYLORS RIDE

8.         CB/20/03844                        22 DUKES RIDE

9.         CB/20/03846                        61 REDWOOD GLADE

10.       CB/20/03863                        46 ROTHSCHILD ROAD, LINSLADE

11.       CB/20/03836                        28 RIDGELEY DRIVE

12.       CB/20/03833/GPDE                       59 STOKE ROAD, LINSLADE

13.       CB/20/03970                        2 HARCOURT CLOSE

14.       CB/20/03928                        73 CONISTON ROAD

15.       CB/20/03929                        30 ST LEONARDS STREET

16.       CB/20/03386                        24 RICHMOND ROAD

RESOLVED to note application reference CB/20/03905/DOC (Chamberlains Barn).

(a)          To receive and consider a response to a Central Bedfordshire Experimental Order regarding Hockliffe Street (attached).

(b)          To consider any matters relating to highways/transport (if appropriate).

(a)       The Committee received a Public Notice issued by Central Bedfordshire Council on 20 October 2020 regarding introduction of a loading bay on Hockliffe Street. Questions were asked about how Central Bedfordshire Council consulted on this and whether businesses had been contacted in advance of publishing the Notice. It was unclear whether Central Bedfordshire Council had issued the Notice without consultation in accordance with emergency powers or whether any consultation had taken place beforehand. No additional information had been provided; only the Public Notice.

The Committee questioned whether 30 minutes was sufficient for loading/unloading.

RESOLVED to respond to Central Bedfordshire Council asking whether businesses had been consulted and whether businesses felt that 30 minutes loading time was sufficient.  

(b)       The Committee received comments from the Bassett Road Patient Participation Group in respect of transport matters arising from the temporary, trial pedestrianisation of the High Street, including lack of disabled car parking near chemists and the priority/routing given to taxis and buses.

RESOLVED to write to Central Bedfordshire Council to seek clarification on disabled car parking and to forward the point regarding taxis for discussion at Partnership Committee.

(a)  To receive correspondence in respect of the central Bedfordshire draft Local Plan (attached).

(b)  To receive and consider any other items of information received (if applicable)

a)         The Committee received correspondence from P O Services relating to the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan Examination. For the benefit of newer committee members some background was given in terms of the Town Council’s review of and responses to the draft Local Plan, in particular in respect of objecting to the inclusion of the parcel of land referred to as HAS33 (land north of Soulbury Road).

Although the Examination hearing sessions were to address specific issues it was agreed to submit a response reiterating the Council’s previously submitted concerns and to seek an opportunity to participate in the hearings.

RESOLVED to delegate authority to the Town Clerk to respond to P O Services in respect of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan Examination to reiterate Town Council concerns and seek an opportunity to participate in the hearing sessions.

b)         The Committee received correspondence from Central Bedfordshire Council regarding the naming of part of the Apex Park industrial estate, part of the eastern development which lay outside the parish boundary.

RESOLVED to note the correspondence.

c)         The Committee received correspondence from London Luton Airport regarding its consultation on changes to the airspace of arriving flights.

RESOLVED to delegate authority to the Town Clerk to attend a consultation event and report back to the committee.