Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllrs Beacham and Sahota.

The Committee considered a briefing providing an overview of decisions taken in 2014 in respect of licence applications submitted under the Licensing Act and Gambling Act. A detailed breakdown was provided of the number of new premises licences, premises licence variations and transfer applications processed and licence reviews undertaken. Information was also provided on Temporary Event Notices applications received and the outcomes as well as permits and other licences issued by the service such as those covering street trading.

The following points were raised during the discussion of the report:

·         An appeal decision was awaited from the District Judge on the Paddy Power, Lordship Lane Gambling Act application which had been refused at Committee.

·         An appeal had now been lodged against the Committee decision made in respect of the premises licence variation sought for Wetherspoons, 258 Muswell Hill Broadway and was expected to be heard in May.

·         The last year had seen an increase in demand for market trading licences.

·         A review would be undertaken of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy (SOLP) with a view to implementation by January 2016. A draft revised Policy would be submitted for Committee consideration prior to its release for public consultation. An alcohol cumulative impact policy would be included within the Policy at the lead of the Public Health team to provide a policy steer to deter the proliferation of new businesses selling alcohol in the borough.

·         The Committee sought clarification on the Council’s powers to deal with the sale of illicit cigarettes and over strength lagers and cider within the borough. It was advised that an operation had been undertaken in conjunction with the Police to encourage retailers to not sell alcohol over 6.5% ABV but had proved to be unsuccessful with no retailers signing up. The potential would be explored as part of the refresh of the SOLP of placing restrictions on the sale of these products as a licence condition in areas with an evidenced proliferation of street drinkers. Operations had also been undertaken with HMRC in November and December covering the sale of counterfeit alcohol and cigarettes and which had resulted in significant confiscations. The resourcing of such work however remained an ongoing issue.

·         Confirmation was provided that Chinese herbalists shops were not covered under the licensing regime.

·         In response to a question regarding any discernible licensing trends, officers advised that an increase had been seen in illegal raves in Finsbury Park and other venues in the last year.

·         Confirmation was provided that a service level agreement was in place with the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association covering the operation of charity ‘chuggers’ in the borough.

·         It was noted that further training was required for Committee members on the Gambling Act and for Regulatory Committee members who had yet to undergo licensing training.  

RESOLVED

·         That the report be noted. 

To follow.

Officers advised that this item would be deferred to the next Committee meeting on 3 March.

The Committee considered a report seeking comments on planned amendments to four development plan documents (DPDs): Haringey’s Local Plan and preferred option drafts of the Development Management, Site Allocations and Tottenham Area Action Plan DPDs and the revised Local Development Scheme 2015-18. The documents were due for submission to Cabinet next week seeking approval to release the DPD documents for consultation under the statutory process and adopt the revised Local Development Scheme. 

The Committee expressed concern over the challenging new housing target proposed for the borough and its deliverability. Officers acknowledged that this increased figure would place a burden on communities, planning services and the Planning Committee. Should this quantum not be met however, central government via the Secretary of State had the power to take a greater role in the planning process through the appeals route, with decisions taken within the context of the overriding imperative of achieving national housing targets.

The Committee questioned the planned focus of future development to the east of the borough compared to the west. Officers advised that the proposed primary focus would be on Tottenham and Wood Green areas based on detailed assessments across the borough of development capacity, transport accessibility and the need to drive and support regeneration and investment.

Members expressed concern over the level of charging of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and that this would be insufficient going forward to mitigate the additional pressures on Council services arising from new development. Officers confirmed that the borough’s CIL charging regime would be reviewed before the end of the year.

It was requested that the wording of the Haringey Civic Centre site allocation plan be reviewed to avoid any presumption being implied regarding the future of the travellers site. Officers advised that a separate traveller’s needs assessment was being undertaken by the Council to look at housing needs within the community and which would feed into the final decision on the future of the site.

Clarification was sought as to whether the Council had withdrawn guidelines covering basement developments. Confirmation was provided that the guidelines were not currently policy adopted and were therefore subject to the review of supplementary planning documents. Incorporation within the Development Management Policy aimed to formalise arrangements and impose greater statutory weight.

An update was requested on the Hornsey depot development following the granting of planning permission. Officers confirmed they were working on the presumption that the site was deliverable and as far as they had been advised, was progressing, with marketing starting for the first phase of open sale residential units.

The Committee sought clarification on the rationale behind the allocation of only two sites within the borough suitable for the siting of tall buildings. Officers advised that these sites had been identified following completion of an urban characterisation study throughout the borough and assessment of the capacity of areas to change, existing sensitivities, transport accessibility and capacity and opportunities to complement existing regeneration approaches. Members raised concern over potential overshadowing from tall buildings as part  ...  view the full minutes text for item 151.

The Committee considered a report setting out details of a review of and changes to the Council’s pre-application planning advice services to align with priorities set out in the Corporate Plan and Development Management Improvement Plan and new proposed charges for Building Control services.

Officers advised of an amendment to recommendation 2.2 within the report to reflect the need to revisit the proposed charges levied by Building Control for exhibition licences. The recommendation would now read ‘to recommend to Cabinet that it adopts the Building Control charges set out in paragraph 5.10 and table 7 of this report……’

The scope, quality and value of the pre-application advice service had been reviewed in conjunction with application of the new Government Planning Practice Guidance. It was intended to introduce a more tailored, customer focussed service approach including the provision of advice at earlier feasibility stage and improvements in the information and signposting provided on the Council website. The new service offer aimed to reduce the costs associated with ‘failure demand’, improve the quality of planning applications coming forward and their likelihood of success for both householders and commercial businesses. Proposals had been developed for a new charging regime for the redesigned pre-application service following a benchmarking exercise with other authorities. New charges aimed to achieve full cost recovery across the service, with an exemption for micro businesses and a discount to small to medium businesses. Subject to Cabinet approval, the new charges would come into effect on 1 April.

Reconfiguration was proposed of the current Design Review Panel to introduce a Quality Review Panel, with a new independent chair and panel of development experts offering a range of review options with refreshed charges set. Arrangements were currently being finalised with a view to the new Panel becoming operational in the near future.

The Committee questioned whether advice under the new service offer would be available to community groups or residents wishing to respond to applications. Officers confirmed that this could be considered but would be dependent on a review of service capacity.

Members expressed concern that the exemption for micro businesses could potentially result in additional bureaucracy and confusion and that if applied, a clear definition of micro business would be needed from the outset. Officers outlined that the intention behind the exemption was to contribute to the delivery of the Corporate Plan commitment of supporting enterprise and new employment in the borough and that it was not anticipated that demand in this area would be onerous.

The Committee requested that consideration be given to including a link on the pre-application planning pages on the website providing guidance to customers on choosing an architect.

RESOLVED

·         To recommend to Cabinet that it adopts the “Supporting high quality development in Haringey – our pre-application advice services” set out at Appendix 1 for use by the Planning Service with effect from 1 April 2015;

·         To recommend to Cabinet that it adopts the Building Control charges set out in Table 7 of the report for use  ...  view the full minutes text for item 152.

The next scheduled Regulatory Committee will be on 3 March.

3 March