The Committee is asked to note any apologies for absence and substitutions received from Members.

There were no apologies for absence submitted, nor substitutes appointed, on this occasion.

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee, held on Tuesday, 7 July 2026.

It was moved by Councillor Alexander, seconded by Councillor Goldman and:-

RESOLVED that the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee, held on Tuesday 7 July 2026, be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registerable Interests of Non-Registerable Interests, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

Councillor Alexander declared an interest, in relation to Planning Application 26/00112/FUL – 1 Wellesley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 3PP, in that he was one of the Ward Members and he was pre-determined. He therefore would not sit as a member of the Committee for this item but would retire from the room whilst this application was determined.

Councillor Goldman informed the Committee that he had not attended its meeting on 9 June 2026 when Planning Application 26/00112/FUL – 1 Wellesley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 3PP had been first considered and subsequently deferred. He therefore informed Members that he would take no part in the further consideration and determination of that application.

Subject to providing two working days’ notice, a Member of the Committee may ask the Chairman of the Committee a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the Tendring District and which falls within the terms of reference of the Committee.

No questions on notice pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 38 had been submitted for this meeting.

Change of use to Temporary Emergency Accommodation (Use Class Sui Generis).

Earlier on in the meeting, as reported under Minute 18 above, Councillor Alexander had declared that he was one of the local Ward Members and that he was pre-determined. He did not sit therefore as a member of the Committee for this item, and he retired from the room whilst it was deliberated upon and determined.

In addition, Councillor Goldman had informed the Committee that he had not attended its meeting on 9 June 2026 when Planning Application 26/00112/FUL – 1 Wellesley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 3PP had been first considered and subsequently deferred. He therefore took no part in the further consideration and determination of this application.

Further to minute 5 (9.6.26) when Members had resolved to defer determination of this application to enable a site visit to be undertaken and to obtain further information regarding the proposed use and its management, the Committee recalled that this application sought permission for the change of use of a three-storey building at 1 Wellesley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, to temporary emergency accommodation (Sui Generis).

The Committee was made aware that the Officers’ report, at Section 7, provided the additional information requested by Members, including clarification on the proposed management measures, together with a detailed explanation of the distinction between housing definitions of HMOs and the relevant planning use classes. Changes to the national policy context were shown in bold in the relevant sections.

Members were informed that Officers remained satisfied that the proposal had been fully assessed against relevant planning policy and material planning considerations. Their recommendation was therefore unchanged and remained one of approval.

The Committee had before it the published Officer report (A.1) containing the key planning issues, relevant planning policies, planning history, any response from consultees, written representations received and a recommendation of approval subject to conditions.

At the meeting, an oral presentation was made by the Council’s Planning Officer (AP) in respect of the application.

No updates had been circulated to Members in relation to this application.

There was no public speaking on this application at this meeting as that had taken place at the meeting of the Committee held on 9 June 2025.

Outline Planning Application (Access to be considered) - multi-use sports community building incorporating a cricket pavilion, a cricket pitch and enabling residential development of up to 120no. dwellings.

It was reported that this outline application proposed up to 120 dwellings with only access to be considered at this stage. The site was located outside but abutted the Settlement Development Boundary for Great Bentley. The Council’s lack of a five?year housing land supply had engaged the presumption in favour of sustainable development. The site had been included as a potential housing allocation in the emerging Local Plan. Technical matters including highways, archaeology, drainage, ecology, landscaping and amenity had been demonstrated as acceptable or could be mitigated through conditions and a Section 106 agreement.

The Committee had before it the published Officer report containing the key planning issues, relevant planning policies, planning history, any response from consultees, written representations received and a recommendation of refusal.

At the meeting, an oral presentation was made by the Council’s Principal Planning Officer (MP) in respect of the application.

No updates had been circulated to Members in relation to this application.

Henry Fairbanks (the Chairman of Great Bentley Cricket Club, the joint applicant) spoke in support of the application.

Parish Councillor Peter Harry, on behalf of Great Bentley Parish Council, spoke in support of the application.

Councillor Aimee Keteca, the Ward Member, spoke in support of the application.

Councillor White suggested that Highways Informative Note iv) within the Officer report (A.2) should be amended or removed to reflect the recent priority changes made by Essex County Council in relation to climate action and net zero carbon emissions. The Head of Planning and Building Control undertook to take that into consideration.

Construction of floodlit Football Foundation Playzone.

It was reported that this application sought planning permission for a Football Foundation PlayZone within Cliff Park, Dovercourt, comprising a floodlit multi-use games area, fencing, seating and associated infrastructure. The proposal would enhance existing recreational provision within an established area of public open space and increase opportunities for sport and physical activity.

Members were informed that, whilst the development would result in a low level of less than substantial harm to the significance of the Lower Dovercourt Conservation Area and nearby heritage assets, this harm was outweighed by the public benefits of the scheme. Subject to conditions, archaeological mitigation, and no objection being received from Natural England and Place Services Ecology, the proposal was considered by Officers to be acceptable and was recommended by them for approval.

The Committee had before it the published Officer report containing the key planning issues, relevant planning policies, planning history, any response from consultees, written representations received and a recommendation of approval.

At the meeting, an oral presentation was made by the Council’s Planning Officer (AP) in respect of the application.

Prior to the commencement of the meeting, an Officer update sheet had been circulated to Members in relation to this application. That update had detailed the correct site plan as shown below:-

The update sheet had also informed Members that a statutory consultee response had been received from Natural England who had confirmed that “Based on the plans submitted…the proposed development will not have significant adverse impacts on statutorily protected nature conservation sites or landscapes”.

No member of the public had registered to speak on this application.

It was moved by Councillor Land, seconded by Councillor Alexander and unanimously:-

RESOLVED that:-

(a)     the Head of Planning and Building Control be authorised to grant planning permission, subject to no objections from Place Services Ecology being received and subject to the conditions as stated at paragraph 9.2 of the Officer report (A.3) (and any subsequently put forward by Place Services Ecology), or varied as is necessary to ensure the wording is enforceable, precise, and reasonable in all other respects, including appropriate updates, so long as the principle of the conditions as referenced is retained; and

(b)     informative notes be sent to the applicant, as may be deemed necessary, by the Head of Planning and Building Control.