Agendas, reports and minutes

Dear Member,

A meeting of the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Planning Applications Committee will take place in the Assembly Rooms, Sinclair Terrace, Wick on Tuesday 8 December 2009 at 10.30 am.

Members are reminded that in the determination of a planning application, to be entitled to participate, they must be present throughout all of the proceedings, including the site inspection, if any.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached. 

Yours faithfully,

Leslie M. S. Johnstone, Head of Legal & Democratic Services
(On behalf of Michelle Morris, Assistant Chief Executive)

Declarations of Interest – Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.   

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Minutes of Meeting of 3 November 2009

There is circulated for confirmation Minutes of Meeting held on 3 November 2009.

3.  New Appeals to Scottish Government Directorate for Planning and   Environmental Appeals

The Committee is asked to note that the following appeals have been received and to decide which procedure they wish be requested for determination of the appeals:-

(a) Erection of Waste to Energy Combined Heat and Power Plant at Land at Cromarty Firth Industrial Estate, Invergordon for Combined Power and Heat (Highlands) Ltd 08/00455/FULRC 

Notification has been received of receipt of an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the above development.  The Appellants have indicated a wish that the appeal be determined under written submissions procedure.  As the Committee decision was taken contrary to recommendation, it will be for Members to decide which procedure they wish be requested for determination of the appeal.  The options are written submissions, a Hearing or a Public Local Inquiry.

(b) Erection of 5 Wind Turbines, 60m High to Hub, Formation of Access Roads  and Associated Infrastructure, Construction  Compound and Electrical Control Building (In Detail) and Formation of Visitor Centre Comprising of Fishing Lochan with Enclosed Crannog Style Centre, Archaeological Trail and Woodland Walk (In Outline) at Land to the North of Broubster Cottage, West Shebster, Thurso 05/00594/FULCA

Notification has been received of receipt of an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the above development.  The Appellants have indicated a wish that the appeal be determined following the holding of a formal inquiry session .  As the Committee decision was taken contrary to recommendation, it will be for Members to decide which procedure they wish be requested for determination of the appeal.  The options are written submissions, a Hearing or a Public Local Inquiry.

4. Planning Applications to be Determined

There are circulated Reports Nos. PLC-51-09 to PLC-56-09 by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager as follows:-

4.1
Applicant: The Highland Council 09/00421/FULSU PLC-51-09

Location: Invergordon Academy, Academy Road, Invergordon
Nature of Development: Re-roofing Part of Building
Recommendation: Grant

4.2
Applicant: CLC (Highland) Ltd 09/00409/FULSU PLC-52-09

Location: Land West of Torvaig, Lamington
Nature of Development: Erection of a Single House and Detached Garage, with Private Foul Drainage and New Private Access
Recommendation: Grant

4.3
Applicant: City Centre Estates (Leisure) Ltd  09/00200/FULCA PLC-53-09
Location:  Land at Shore Park, Latheronwheel
Nature of Development: Erection of 2 No. Chicken Farm Buildings and Feed Silos, Formation of Vehicular Access
Recommendation: Refuse

4.4
Applicant: L.R.M. Services Ltd 09/00258/LBCCA PLC- 54-09

Location:  The Kiln, Shore Street, Thurso
Nature of Development: Demolition of Former Fish Smoking Kiln and Construction of 4 No. Residential Units (Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent)
Recommendation: Refuse

4.5
Applicant: Mr and Mrs Guest 09/00373/PIPCA PLC-55-09

Location: House Plot South of Pond at Achow Hill, Lybster
Nature of Development: Establish Principle of Building a House on the Site
Recommendation: Grant

4.6
Applicant:  Islay J W MacLeod 08/00528/FULCA PLC-56-09

Location: Land to West of Raggra Farm, Thrumster, Wick
Nature of Development: Formation of Wildlife Pond
Recommendation: Grant

5. Delegated Decisions and Performance

Members are asked to note the undernoted delegated decisions made during the period from 21 October 2009 to 27 November 2009:-

                Approved Refused     % of all applications        % of all applications
                                              determined in 2 months  determined in 2

                                              during period                  months since 01/01/09

Caithness          36          1             86.49%                  76.79%

Sutherland
& Easter Ross    47          0             68.09%                   71.19%

Highland                                        67.24%                   63.77%

Members will note that performance is being maintained.

6. Delegated Decisions

The Committee is asked to note that the list of delegated decisions of planning applications is available via The Highland Council Website.