Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report by the Interim Head of Planning and Sustainable Development, which recommended:-

that the application be approved subject to the following conditions:-

A scheme for the storage of waste generated by the occupants of the HMO shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority within 2 months of the issue of the decision for the application.  Thereafter the development shall be carried out in accordance with the details so agreed and the HMO shall not be occupied unless waste storage provision has been provided and is available for use – In order to preserve the existing amenity of the area.

INFORMATIVES:

Waste Services Comments

The 6 residents will require the following facilities:-

• An additional 240l wheeled general waste bin;
• An additional 240l wheeled food waste / food waste bin.  In addition another kitchen caddy will be supplied for food waste; and
• An additional black box and white bag for recycling (Paper / Cardboard, Plastic Bottles, Tins, Cans and Glass jars and bottles).  Please note that the black box and white bag will be swapped for 1 x 240litre recycling wheeled bin from 2017.

Please note that levels of provision may alter in line with changing service requirements across the city that corresponds to alterations in legislation.  For example, recycling systems may be altered to accommodate co-mingled collections in due course.

It is pertinent to note that these services will be provided taking account of the following:

General points

• All the wheeled bins and black boxes / white bags must be presented at the kerbside of only on the collection day and removed from the kerbside as soon as possible.  No containers should be permanently stored on the kerbside;
• No excess should be stored out with the containment provided.  Information for extra waste uplift is available to residents at either www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/wasteaware or by phoning 08456 08 09 19; and
• A path should be provided to the vehicle collection point which is level with bin stores.  Pathways to the collection vehicles should be free of obstacles with provision of a slope should there be any gradient; so that any containment can be easily moved to the kerbside on collection days.  Pathways should be suitably paved to allow bins to be moved safely.

In respect of any construction site signage it is important to note that in the interests of public safety, it is illegal to advertise on public highways, street furniture and lampposts.  Any signage installed to direct visitors to the development requires to be authorised by the Planning Department.  Anything installed out-with such approval could be classed as fly-posting and will incur action by Environment Officers.

Developers must contact Aberdeen City Council using the above details a minimum of two months before properties will be occupied.  Bins MUST be on site prior to residents moving into properties.  A purchase order can be raised with Aberdeen City Council using the above details.  We will provide guidance in purchasing the bins.

It might be pertinent nearer the final stages of completion for a representative from Aberdeen City Council’s waste team to assess the site to ensure that all of our considerations have been implemented.  This will be undertaken by the Recycling Officer for that area.  I ask that you contact us with a suitable date and time in the future.

Lucy Greene, Senior Planner circulated additional conditions as follows:-

(1)       That the development shall not be occupied unless there has been provided, details of covered cycle storage in accordance with a scheme that has been submitted to, and approved, by the planning authority – in the interests of encouraging sustainable forms of travel.

(2)       that the use hereby authorised shall not take place unless there has been submitted to and approved in writing for the purpose by the planning authority a scheme of landscaping for the site, which scheme shall include indications of all existing trees and landscaped areas on the land, and details of any to be retained, together with measures for their protection in the course of development, and the proposed areas of tree / shrub planting including details of numbers, densities, locations, species, sizes and stage of maturity at planting.  Proposals shall include hedging along the boundary of the rear garden - in the interests of the amenity of the area.

(3)       That all planting, seeding and turfing comprised in the approved scheme of landscaping shall be carried out in the first season following the completion of the development and any trees or plants which within a period of 5 years from the completion of the development die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of a size and species similar to those originally required to be planted, or in accordance with such other scheme as may be submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority.

(4)       That the use shall not take place unless there has been erected plot boundary treatments in accordance with a scheme to be submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority – in the interests of residential amenity.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The Convener addressed the Committee as indicated above and requested that the application be refused.  Accordingly, in terms of Section 7.15 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, the Convener declared an interest in the matter and withdrew from the meeting.

The Vice Convener, seconded by Councillor Boulton moved:-

That the application be refused on the following grounds:-

(1)       There would be overdevelopment due to increased capacity as the proposed six double bedrooms could accommodate twelve residents;

(2)       The concentration of the large number of residents in the property will impact on the residential amenity of surrounding properties particularly when using and accessing the rear garden;

(3)       The amenity of property residents, particularly those with limited mobility, will be impacted due lack of direct access to the rear garden and having to use the windows as an emergency exit;

(4)       The noise generated by traffic which greatly decreases in the evening will have less impact than that generated by the sounds emanating from partying residents of this property; and

(5)       Insufficient parking and lack of a turning area which will result in vehicles reversing out on to heavy and fast moving traffic using Tillydrone Avenue;

Councillor Crockett, seconded by Councillor Townson moved as an amendment:-

That the application be approved in accordance with the recommendation contained within the report.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (7) – the Vice-Convener and Councillors Boulton, Cormie, Hutchison, Lawrence, Jennifer Stewart and Sandy Stuart; for the amendment (4) – Councillors Crockett, Greig, Nicoll and Townson.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to adopt the motion to refuse the application; and

(ii)        that officers write to the applicant condemning the unauthorised work which had been carried out on the building and garden of the property and that the works be reinstated to their original state where appropriate.