Agenda and minutes

There were apologies from T. Abbot, S. Britton, Cllr. Garrity and P. Swallow.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Panel is asked to note the Terms of Reference as attached.

It was noted that the Terms of Reference attached to the agenda were out of date and a further reference to parks and gardens had since been included. The Committee Administrator undertook to circulate the correct Terms of Reference for the next meeting.

The Panel is asked to note the Membership as detailed on the front of the agenda.

The Panel noted its membership.

The following dates are proposed for meetings for the forthcoming year.

27 July 2005

31 August 2005

28 September 2005

26 October 2005

30 November 2005

21 December 2005

1 February 2006

1 March 2006

29 March 2006

26 April 2006

24 May 2006

All meetings will start at 5.15pm.

The Panel is asked to approve these dates.

Members of the Panel requested that the December meeting of the Panel be moved from December 21 to 14 December. The Committee Administrator noted that this would require amending the meeting dates following the December meeting. He undertook to circulate amended dates.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 May 2005 are attached and the Panel is asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 25 May 2005 were confirmed as a correct record.

Steve Bowyer noted that Appendix C, Item I, 118 Charles Street had already been determined when the Panel received the item for discussion. Officers in response stated that they were unaware this was the case and would seek to avoid this happening in future.

A draft copy of the character statement is attached for the Panel’s comments.

The Senior Building Conservation Officer introduced the proposed Market Street Conservation Area Character Statement. He noted that one of the main aims of the statement was to increase the size of the conservation area. He did however note that it was preferable to increase the size of this conservation area rather than declare further areas due to the bureaucratic obstacles associated with declaring an area.

A member of the Panel pointed out that the Thomas Cook statue was missing from the list of statues on page 6 of the document.

A member of the Panel queried whether it would be possible to declare a Granby Street Conservation Area. Officers in response stated that new planning legislation made declaring conservation areas more difficult.

A member of the Panel noted that the setting of boundaries was difficult but felt that this could be done on the basis of character that was contained within an area. Officers conceded that the Market Street, Belvoir Street and Granby Street all had different characters and separate conservation areas would probably be most appropriate. However it came down to resources. A member of the Panel also suggested that scale, theme and architecture could also be determinants of conservation area boundary.

A member of the Panel enquired about planning applications submitted within the proposed areas for the extension of the conservation area. Officers commented that there would be no statutory protection for these areas until the character statement was formally adopted.

Officer commented that it was hoped to formally declare the Character Statement in October.

Officers undertook to circulate to Panel Members information on what steps were required to declare a conservation area.

The Service Director, Environment submits a report on decisions made by the Development Control Committee on planning applications previously considered by the Panel.

The Service Director, Environment submitted a report on decisions made by the Development Control Committee on planning applications previously considered by the Conservation Advisory Panel.

RESOLVED:

that the report be received and the decisions taken be noted.

The Service Director, Environment submits a report on planning applications received for consideration by the Panel.

To consider such other business as, in the opinion of the Chair, ought, by reason of special circumstances, to be considered urgently.

Members are asked to inform the Chair and Committee Administrator in advance of the meeting if they have urgent business that they wish to be considered.

Molly O Gradys – Market Place

Mr Burrows pointed out that additional lighting had been installed on this premises which was a listed building. Officers undertook to investigate if any contravention had taken place.

St Marks Church

Officers noted that there was to be an open day at St Marks Church on the 9 July 2005 starting at 2.15pm.

Dave Trubshaw

Dave informed the meeting that he would be leaving Leicester City Council and that this would be his last meeting of the Panel. He would be taking up a post with Rutland County Council.

Members of the Panel thanked Dave for all his work for the Panel and wished him well for the future.

The meeting closed at 7.00pm.