Minutes:
Prior Notification of Demolition of Sports Centre
The Team Leader (Strategic Team), Allan Simpson thanked the Chair and Committee for agreeing to hear the matter in relation to the Prior Notification of Demolition of the Sports Centre at Glenholme Park. Members were asked to note that the matter was not whether the Sports Centre should or should not be demolished, simply whether Members of the Committee wished to comment upon the method of demolition and restoration of the site thereafter.
The Team Leader (Strategic Team) explained that approvals under the Building Act had already been given and that this Prior Notification required determination within 28 days, the period for this particular matter being 11 October 2011. The Committee noted that such matters would normally be dealt with under delegated powers; however, the Local Member, Councillor J Bailey, had approached Planning Officers asking for the matter to be heard at Committee. Councillors noted that ordinarily the Application would have been scheduled to be heard by the Area Planning Committee (South and West); however timescales were such that the matter was brought to the County Planning Committee for Members’ consideration today.
The Team Leader (Strategic Team) concluded by noting that the demolition was proposed to be carried out in adherence with the requisite British Standards and usual conditions as set out in the Report and accordingly the recommendation was that “Prior Approval was not required”.
The Chair welcomed the Local Members, Councillor J Bailey and P Jopling and asked them to keep any comments regarding the Application to the matters that the Committee could comment upon, not the issue of whether the Sports Centre should have closed, or be demolished.
Councillor J Bailey thanked the Chair and Committee for the opportunity to comment on the matter and explained that emotions were running high at Crook as a result of the closure and proposed demolition of Glenholme Sports Centre and that the people of Crook needed leisure provision. The Chair understood the Local Member’s comments, however, the Committee were asked to be mindful of what Members were being asked to consider, as set out within the Report.
Councillor P Jopling added that she believed that the matter should be deferred to enable further research into by-laws that may apply to the site and issues relating to how adjacent facilities and amenity would be affected. The Chair noted that the Committee could only consider matters that were within its remit in relation to Planning, and contained within the Report.
The Team Leader (Strategic Team) reiterated that this matter was not regarding operational issues, which had been decided upon elsewhere, and the matter before Committee was in relation to the technical details of the demolition and restoration process.
Councillor M Dixon moved that the application be approved; he was seconded by Councillor C Walker.
RESOLVED
That the application be APPROVED, and that Prior Approval was not required.