Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the REGULATORY COMMITTEE of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Wednesday 8 November 2006

PRESENT:

24. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bryant due to a prior

engagement at a local school, Cartwright and Roger Price JP as they are representing

Hampshire County Council at the Fire Conference in Telford and Gurden.

25. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal

prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should

normally at the time of the debate declare their interest and, having regard to the

circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's

Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was

discussed.

26. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 October 2006, as amended, were confirmed

by the Committee and signed by the Chairman

27. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported that the Annual Members Tour would take place on

Friday 8 December 2006. Details to follow nearer the time.

28. ALTERATIONS, EXTENSION AND REFURBISHMENT WORKS OF

COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICES AT ELIZABETH COURT AND

ASHBURTON COURT, WINCHESTER

(APPLICATION NOS. W00723/15;W00723/16LBCA;W00723/17LB)

(COUNTY COUNCIL REF. WRG024)

All Members present declared a joint personal interest as being affected by the

loss of Members' reserved parking on the top deck car park as part of the proposals

under consideration; however alternative parking provision either has or will be

made such that the interest was not prejudicial.

The Committee resolved to suspend Standing Order 21 (h) to allow

Messrs Ian Parker, Steve Clow and Julian Lipscombe the opportunity to answer

Councillor Mrs Peskett's questions.

The following made deputations in respect of this item (1) M B. P. H. Orange,

(2) Messrs Ian Parker, Head of Estates and Steve Clow, Head of Architecture from

Property, Business and Regulatory Services, Hampshire County Council and

Julian Lipscombe (Director from Bennetts Associates, Hampshire County Council's

Architects) and (3) Mrs Cooper.

Councillor Mrs Peskett, as local Member also attended the meeting and asked

questions of (inter alia) the impact of car parking, disabled access, accommodation,

energy and pollution.

The Committee noted Mrs Cooper's concerns which were not of a planning nature

and asked that an Officer respond to her questions outside the Committee.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Planning Adviser (Item 6 in the

Minute Book) and supplementary report circulated to Members and set out at

Item 6x in the Minute Book, on an application for planning permission for the

alteration, extension and refurbishment of the County Council's headquarters offices

at Ashburton Court and Elizabeth II Court, Winchester.

The Committee considered most carefully all aspects of the application and agreed

that the non planning issues associated with the application should be discussed

outside of the meeting and requested the Leader of the County Council to consider a

mechanism for such comments to be heard.

During the debate some Members expressed disappointment with the aesthetics of

the proposed building and concerns about (inter alia) car parking and associated

Travel Plan and the lack of opportunity for them to view and discuss the detailed

proposed plans.

The Chief Planning Adviser reported that the plans were developed in line with

the County Council's aspirations to move into a new and modern way of flexible

office working arrangements and were unanimously supported by Winchester City

Council's Planning Committee. Stakeholders had also strongly supported the

proposals and would be further consulted on the travel plan details.

The Committee considered that Condition 5 relating to the Full Travel Plan in the

Supplementary Schedule of Conditions should be amended to include `following

consultation with all affected parties' prior to the full occupation of the Ashburton

Court buildings.

The Committee requested that details of the exterior cladding in terms of colour and

materials should be submitted to the Regulatory Committee for consideration.

Councillor Mrs Dickens wished it to be recorded that she had abstained from voting.

RESOLVED:

(i) That subject to confirmation of implementation arrangements, timetable and

monitoring for the proposed travel plans, planning permission in respect of

alteration, extension and refurbishment works, including removal of various

features, structures and top floors of north and west wings; erection of new

extensions at fourth floor level of west wing and podium level to provide new

County Council offices and ancillary accommodations; installation of new

enclosed and open plant to west, north and east wings and main podium;

provision of new elevational treatment; new landscaped podium level courtyard

areas; seven replacement trees along western side of Tower Street; deletion of

253 existing car parking spaces; provision of 100 cycle parking spaces in

basement; external alterations to Elizabeth II Court relating to new bridge link

from Ashburton Court and new pedestrian ramp to main courtyard at

Elizabeth II Court and Ashburton Court located between Tower Street,

Sussex Street and the County Councils headquarters offices at Ashburton Court

and new pedestrian ramp to main courtyard at Elizabeth II Court and

Ashburton Court located between Tower Street, Sussex Street and the

High Street, Winchester (Application No. 06/02619/HCS) be granted for the

reason set out in the report and subject to the conditions specified in the

supplementary report of the Chief Planning Adviser.

(ii) That the Secretary of State be recommended to grant Listed Building Consent in

respect of: External:- Alterations to northern elevation following removal of the

bridge link to Ashburton Court, installation of pedestrian ramp, formation of

landing by main entrance in the courtyard and formation of two new disabled

persons parking spaces. Internal:- Alterations including replacement of two sides

of lift shaft with glazed screens and change to main staircase in relation to new

bridge link access to the existing Elizabeth II Court offices, Hampshire County

Council, High Street, Winchester (Application Nos. 06/02736/LS and

W00723/17LB) for the reason set out in the report and subject to the conditions

specified therein.

(iii) That the Secretary of State be recommended to grant Conservation Area Consent

in respect of the removal of an unlisted structure in a conservation areas, for the

upper level of that part of the existing bridge link between Ashburton Court and

Elizabeth II Court, where it spans across the service road between these two

buildings, Tower Street, Winchester (Application No. 06/02735/LBC -

W00723/16LBCA) for the reason set out in the report and subject to the

conditions specified therein.