Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Davies, Dowd, Hawkins and Millington.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2024 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2024 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interest must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

Cllrs Clarke and Young declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 4.  They both reported that they had been contacted by the applicant but had not been engaged in any discussions with them.  They concluded that there were no grounds to prevent them from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

To receive any public participation in accordance with the Council’s public participation scheme.

There were members of the public in attendance who had registered to speak in relation to agenda item 4.  They were invited to speak at the relevant time on this item.

For the Committee to consider the application to amend the site licence conditions at Fleur de Lys Caravan Park and increase the number of caravans on the site to 12.

The Committee considered an application for the amendment of the site licence conditions to enable the increase of caravans to 12 on the site at Fleur De Lys Mobile Home Park.  The current site licence condition 1(i) stated that the total number of mobile homes shall not exceed 11 (eleven) at any time.

The Fire Risk Assessment provided by the applicant had been circulated to all members of the Committee prior to the start of the meeting.  The Assessment had been carried out on 2 April 2024.

The applicant’s solicitor, Ms Kirsty Apps addressed the Committee seeking approval of a change to the site licence conditions to increase the number of caravans on site from 11 to 12.  She confirmed that there was planning permission for 12 mobile units; that there was a separation distance of 6 metres from the new caravan to caravan number 14 and that this 6 metre distance took into account matters of privacy.  She reported that the extent of pitch no 14 and the distance to pitch number 2 was not a site licensing consideration.  It was confirmed that a car could park readily at number 12 without passing not less than 2 metres from number 2, but in light of this the applicant had agreed to move the parking space for number 11.  The car parking space for pitch 14 was not in breach of condition 2 (iv) g.  It was confirmed that an Independent Fire Risk Assessment had been carried out and no concerns had been raised from a fire safety perspective, particularly in terms of large vehicles accessing the site. 

The applicant, Mrs Kathleen Fitzgerald addressed the Committee and reported that she had owned the mobile home park for the last 13 years.  She had a good relationship with most residents and with the Council.   She spoke about the support she had given to her son and her daughter in law and that the new caravan had been purchased to provide a new home to them, following the premature arrival of their son, which would enable them to be nearby to provide support to the family.  She acknowledged that this was in breach of her licence conditions, but that the planning permission allowed for 12 units.  She had worked with the Council to move the original siting of the caravan to allow a 6 metre separation distance and to ensure that the additional caravan was not in breach of any other conditions.

Mrs Margaret Fitzgerald, the occupant of the new caravan (number 2) spoke in support of the application and the importance of having a home close to family due to her son being born prematurely, having a lot of medical appointments and needing additional support. She felt that the new caravan did not have any impact on the privacy of other residents on the site.

Miss Knight addressed the Committee in objection to the application for an additional mobile home.  She spoke about the licensing conditions only allowing for a total  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.