PAPER A
MINUTES OF RYDE TOWN COUNCIL’S PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND
REGENERATION COMMITTEE HELD ON TUESDAY 6 OCTOBER 2020 AT 4.00PM VIA
THE ZOOM VIDEO MEETING FACILITY AND STREAMED LIVE VIA YOUTUBE
Members Present: Cllr Diana Conyers (Chair), Cllr Adrian Axford, Cllr Charles Chapman,
pCllr Phil Jordan, Cllr Michael Lilley and Cllr Malcolm Ross
Also in Attendance: Jon Baker (Committees Coordinator), Chris Turvey (Planning Clerk)
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
Prior to the main agenda items, the committee was advised that a number of questions had been
received from a Mr Brian Jackson of Ryde with regard to the report from the Island’s MP on
Island housing and land use and specifically the definition of how someone would be considered
an Islander in order to have access to housing.
The Chair thanked Mr Jackson for his questions, and advised that the report itself would be
discussed later in the meeting. She advised that the Committee was not in a position to answer
the qustions as they related to an external report, not one written by the Town Council. Mr
Jackson should be advised to address them to the MP directly. However, she pointed out that
Ryde Town Council’s policy towards housing matters were outlined in the Ryde Place Plan and
the Position Statement. It was also noted that the Island Homefinder Allocations Policy which
was a joint policy involving the Isle of Wight Council and Sovereign, Southern and Vectis
Housing Groups also outlined the official position on how an Islander was defined when
allocating social housing. A response along with all documents would be emailed to Mr Jackson
in order to help address his questions.
123/20 APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Cllr Henry Adams and Cllr Ian Stephens.
Cllr Lilley advised that owing to his prior commitment to an Isle of Wight Council
Corporate Scrutiny Committee meeting, he would be leaving the meeting at around
4.45pm.
124/20 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Charles Chapman declared an interest in minute 130/20 as he was the Chair of
the Isle of Wight Council’s Licencing Sub Committee and would leave the meeting
during the discussion of that item.
125/20 REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS
None requested.
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126/20
MINUTES
The minutes to the previous meeting held on 15 September 2020 were reviewed.
RESOLVED:
THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2020 were approved as
a true and accurate record and would be signed off by the Chair following the
meeting
127/20
MEMBER QUESTIONS
Cllr Ross enquired as to the status of Ryde Town Hall / Theatre.
It was noted that the Isle of Wight Council’s Conservation Projects Officer had advised
that following a recent visit from him, he had expressed serious concerns on the
condition of the building. He advised that an urgent works notice (Section 215) had
been issued to the owners immediately and that it was hoped the matter would be
addressed as a matter of high importance.
Members also noted that the security of the building had been compromised by a
number of break ins from local youths and that the owner was addressing the buildings
security by reconnecting electricity supplies I order to power newly fitted closed-circuit
television (CCTV).
Members were also informed that, with regard to St Thomas’s Church, the Town
Council had made an application for grant funding to assist with building works to the
Architectural Heritage Fund and a response was expected within the next eight weeks.
Cllr Lilley enquired whether an application had been received from a local farm with
regard to building a property. He was advised that no application had yet been
forthcoming, but when it will be received it will be given the same due consideration as
any other application.
Cllr Lilley also asked if the Ryde Town Council could make enquiries with regard to
traffic issues causing safety concerns for children walking to and from Oakfield Primary
School on Appley Road. He was advised that officers would try to gather some
information in order to discuss in more detail at the next Planning Committee meeting.
Cllr Lilley asked if the Town Council could enquire as to the current situation at Harcourt
Sands. It appears that the security fence had been taken down and that people were
entering the site, with a risk to their own safety. It was noted that the Health and Safety
Executive would be contacted and advised of the situation.
Cllr Lilley asked why the Town Council had not commented on the recent Harbour
House licencing application that had been given conditional approval by the Isle of
Wight Councils Licencing Sub Committee. The committee was advised that officers
could not locate any prior notification of the application in order to make members
aware.
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128/20
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The applications below were considered under delegated powers by the Chair and
Planning Clerk and they proposed the following:
i.
Application No: 20/01422/HOU
Parish(es): Ryde Ward(s): Ryde North East
Location: 17 Melville Street, Ryde, PO33 2AF
Proposal: Installation of railings, gate and walls
RESOLVED:
THAT Ryde Town Council raised no objection to the application.
ii.
Application No: 20/01423/LBC
Parish(es): Ryde Ward(s):Ryde North East
Location: 17 Melville Street, Ryde, PO33 2AF
Proposal: Listed Building Consent for installation of railings, gate and walls
RESOLVED:
THAT Ryde Town Council raised no objection to the application.
iii.
Application No: 20/01431/HOU
Parish(es): Ryde Ward(s): Ryde East
Location: 1 Grasmere Avenue, Ryde, PO33 1NU
Proposal: Proposed two storey extension and porch (revised scheme)
RESOLVED:
THAT Ryde Town Council raised no objection to the application.
iv.
Application No: 20/01451/3OPA
Parish(es): Ryde Ward(s): Ryde South
Location: 86-87A High Street, Ryde, PO33 2SZ
Proposal: Prior approval for change of use of ground/first floor to form 5 residential
units
It was noted that the Town Council was pleased that the upper storey of the
premises was being developed to encourage residential use within the High Street
as per Ryde Town Council policy. However, the Chair and the Planning Clerk
needed to be assured that there would be payments made as required to the Solent
Special Protection Area (SPA). They also wanted assurance that a sufficient
dedicated waste bin storage area would made available to each of the residential
properties.
RESOLVED
THAT Ryde Town Council raised no objection to the application, subject to
payments being made as required for the Solent Special Protection Area
(SPA) and that a sufficient dedicated waste bin storage area is provided for
each of the residential properties.
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v. Application No: 20/01457/HOU
Parish(es): Ryde Ward(s): Havenstreet, Ashey And Haylands
Location: 2 Ashey Place, Ryde, PO33 2WA
Proposal: Proposed single storey rear flat roofed extension; replacement garden
outbuilding
RESOLVED:
THAT Ryde Town Council raised no objection to the application.
vi.
Application No: 20/01475/HOU
Parish(es): Ryde Ward(s): Havenstreet, Ashey And Haylands
Location: Sumara, Grove Road, Ryde, PO33 3LH
Proposal: Proposed single storey rear extension
RESOLVED:
THAT Ryde Town Council raised no objection to the application.
129/20
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL
Members noted the following appeal decisions.
1. PLANNING DECISIONS
APPLICATIONS APPROVED
i.
Application No: 20/01090/HOU
Location: Malabar West Street Ryde, PO33 2NX
Proposal: Proposed detached double garage/ associated turning area (amended)
Parish: Ryde Ward: Ryde North West
Decision Date: 07/09/2020
Ryde Town Council raised no objection to the application
ii.
Application No: 20/01159/RVC
Location: Copsefield Lodge Copsefield Drive, Ryde, PO33 3AR
Proposal: Variation of condition
1 on 19/01103/HOU to amend wording of
planning approval which refers to wrong edge of deck
Parish: Ryde Ward: Ryde North West
Decision Date: 08/09/2020
Ryde Town Council agree that the wording in condition 1 on 19/01103/HOU be
changed to substitute Northwest with Northeast and additionally include the
provision of screening to the Southeast side of the decking.
iii.
Application No: 20/01084/LBC
Location: 7 Anglesea Street, Ryde, PO33 2JJ
Proposal: LBC for replacement of one window on front elevation
Parish: Ryde Ward: Ryde North East
Decision Date: 11/09/2020
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Ryde Town Council raised no objection to the application
iv. Application No: 20/01018/TW
Location: Adjacent to Bowling Green, Esplanade, Ryde, PO33 1JA
Proposal: T1 Holm oak situated as detailed in the application is to be felled to
near ground level.T2 Holm Oak situated as detailed in the application is to have
the 2 lowest limbs overhanging the road removed and the remaining crown
pollarded to previous pollard points.
Parish: Ryde Ward: Ryde North East
Decision Date: 14/09/2020
Ryde Town Council raised no objection to the application
v. Application No: 20/00956/TW
Location: 1 Redbridge, Rosemary Lane, Ryde, PO33 2UX
Proposal: Macrocarpa tree situated as detailed in the application is to have the
crown reduced by 2/3 metres to strong growth point that are at least one third the
diameter of the adjacent point.
Parish: Ryde Ward: Havenstreet, Ashey And Haylands
Decision Date: 14/09/2020
Ryde Town Council raised no objection to the application
RESOLVED:
THAT the decisions taken by the Isle of Wight Council since the last Ryde Town
Council Planning Committee meeting be noted.
130/20
LICENCING APPLICATIONS
The Committee considered the following Licencing Application:
Application for a Premises Licence - Pickle & Dill, Union Street, Ryde, Ref 20/00759
The committee was encouraged to see a business opening that offered further options
and alternatives of food and drink for residents and visitors alike, particularly in such
difficult times, and was happy to support the application as presented.
RESOLVED:
THAT Ryde Town Council raised no objection to the application.
131/20
RYDE TOWN COUNCIL POSITION STATEMENT REVIEW
The Chair reminded members that at the Planning Committee meeting on 28 January
2020 members agreed to put together a Working Group in order to review the Town
Council’s Position Statement. Members of the working Group were identified as being
Cllrs Conyers, Ross, Stephens and Lucioni.
Since that meeting, Cllr Lucioni has come off the Planning Committee, although there
was nothing in the Town Council’s Standing Orders to dictate that she could not still
serve on a Working Group agreed by the Planning Committee. It was agreed to ask
both her and Cllr Stephens whether they would still like to sit on the Working Group.
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Should one or both decide they no longer wished to do so, then replacements would
need to be identified. Cllr Jordan agreed to join the Group should he be required to do
so.
In light of a number of events that had occurred over the past year, such a review was
necessary and a date for the first meeting would need to be identified as soon as
possible.
It was noted that the Position Statement was an important document that had helped
to inform the IWC’s Core Planning Strategy, which had since been delayed and
therefore giving more impetus to reviewing the Position Statement.
132/20 FEEDBACK TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCILS COVID 19 SOCIAL DISTANCING
MEASURES FOR RYDE
The Committee Coordinator advised that he had received an email from the Isle of
Wight Council, which had been sent to all relevant Island Town and Parish Councils,
requesting feedback on the Covid 19 Social Distancing Measures that had been put in
place around the Islands Towns in June 2020.
The Mayor wished to express some serious concerns with regard to the dedicated
Covid 19 Ambassadors that had been transferred from other Isle of Wight Council
departments and services and deployed around the Island’s towns and resorts to
ensure that guidelines and regulations were being correctly observed.
One area of concern was with regard to there being no contact made with Ryde Town
Council’s Clerk, Facilities Staff, the Mayor or local councillors from the Ambassadors
in order to be introduced and made aware of what they would be doing around the
town. There had also been no prior consultation from the Isle of Wight Council to advise
on the Ambassadors being deployed.
There had been a number of complaints made from the Beach Soccer organisers
where the Ambassadors had made a report stating that the Beach Soccer Festival had
not observed social distancing rules and as a result a strongly worded letter had been
sent by the Isle of Wight Council to Ryde Town Council to inform of the matter. Beach
Soccer organisers and competitors had also complained that the attitude of the
Ambassadors had been discourteous causing offence.
There had also been a similar incident during the Ticket to Ryde event in August 2020
where a local body artist, who had been approved to trade, had been treated in a
similar way to the Beach Soccer players and organisers. There was also reports of the
Ambassadors taking photographs of people including minors which caused
safeguarding concerns.
The mayor had since written a letter of complaint to the Isle of Wight Council, but a
response had not been forthcoming.
There was some positive feedback with regard to the measures in place in the high
Street, such as the pavement dots, path and pedestrian signs and it was noted that the
pedestrianisation of the Lower High Street had helped address social distancing in a
far easier way. The Committee was also pleased that the proposed measures to limit
parking in Union Street by installing intermittent barriers had been abandoned following
local opposition amid concerns it would discourage customers to their businesses if
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they were unable to park. It was also noted that most businesses had now reopened
in Ryde since June’s easing of restrictions.
A response would be prepared and sent to the Isle of Wight Council in due course.
133/20 SOLENT ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN - SHAPING THE RESPSONSE TO COVID
19 PANDEMIC
The committee reviewed the report from the Solent Local Economic Partnership
(SLEP).
Members noted that, despite the importance of tourism to the area and the continuous
running of cross Solent transport as mentioned in the report, there was no mention of
the recent High Street Heritage Action Zone initiatives in Ryde and Newport as well as
the resources received for the incoming new trains and the Ryde Interchange bid.
The original bid for the interchange funding for some £16M had been declined, but a
revised bid was invited from the Isle of Wight Council of some £10M which had
subsequently been granted. However, the Ryde Regeneration Group had only seen
the draft plans of the original bid and therefore some £5M of adjustments needed to
be taken into account, of which the Town Council has as yet no knowledge.
Essentially changes included an upgrade of Ryde Pier with a proposed covered cycle
and walkway in the mid-section (once the Tramway), refining the entrance to the Pier
which would take up some small part of Western Gardens, the Public Toilets and the
Café as well as revising the bus station and the amount of Bus Bays being reduced to
four. The £10M would be divided relatively equally to cover the costs of these works
as well as some small spend on developing a cycleway between Spencer Road and
Appley. The public toilets would see a proposed relocation to the main station.
134/20 ISLE OF WIGHT HOUSING AND LAND USE - REPORT BY ISLE OF WIGHT MP
The Chair advised that the report from the MP was produced as a result of his
opposition to housing targets on the Island and the proposed changes to national
planning policies and how the Island could best manage such variations. He was
asking for support from local councils.
This report made the case for Exceptional Circumstance for the Isle of Wight in relation
to housing targets, using statistics from Central and Local Government to oppose
national targets as they were not deemed suitable for an Island community separated
from the mainland.
It also explored how fifty years of poorly thought-out housebuilding which prioritised
mainland house-buyers over the needs of Islanders, young and old could be reversed
as well how the landscape of the Isle of Wight could be protected for future generations,
for social and economic benefit, and how a positive future for Islanders in line with the
Island’s status as a UNESCO biosphere could be secured.
She also reported that, with regard to local responses to the proposed planning policy
changes, the Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils (IWALC) was putting together
a combined response from local Town and Parish Councils, to which Ryde Town
Council had already contributed.
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Members were of the opinion that regarding Ryde specifically, the town was getting an
unfair deal with too many housing numbers planned for the town and insufficient
infrastructure to support them. Such numbers were also a major concern for the Island
as a whole.
RESOLVED:
THAT the Isle of Wight Housing and Land Use report by the Isle of Wight MP be
noted.
135/20
HIGH STREET HERITAGE ACTION ZONE (HSZAZ) UPDATE
The Chair of the HSHAZ Steering Group advised that owing to some unavoidable
personal circumstances affecting the HSHAZ Project Manager, there had been no
Steering Group meeting.
It was however noted that the shop front design code was the next major project to be
undertaken.
The next HSHAZ Steering Group Meeting would take place on Wednesday, 14 October
2020 and the Chair of the Steering Group would provide an update on this at the next
Planning Committee meeting.
136/20
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED:
THAT the next meeting of the Planning, Regeneration and Environment
Committee will be held on Tuesday, 27 October 2020 via the Zoom Video meeting
facility, at 4 pm.
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