Agenda item

Integration of police station into existing office space for police operational and administrative purposes including accommodating both a community policing team and an enquiry office facility.

Public Participation

Mary Stephens spoke in objection to the application.

Darryl Rogers (Agent) spoke in support to the application.

Assistant Chief Constable Kier Pritchard spoke in support to the application.

Cllr Michael Pope - representative of Salisbury City Council spoke in Objection to the application.

The Development Control Team Leader introduced the application for the integration of the police station into existing office space for Police operational and administrative purposes including accommodating both a community policing team and an enquiry office facility. A total of 87 Officers in total would be based at Bourne Hill, these would be in shifts so a maximum of 24 Officers at a time. A request for 7 additional parking spaces to be added on to the existing allocation.

The application was recommended for approval.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the Officers. It was noted that the specific nature of the use of the 31 spaces was not known. The Green Travel Plan (GTP) did not permit Council staff to park in the car park for work, it was hoped that this also applied to Police staff.

The Committee had been asked to consider the application pending the change of use of part of the building as a matter of transparency.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the Committee as detailed above.

The Unitary Division Member; Councillor Atiqul Hoque spoke in objection to the application, asking the Committee to consider the residents views relating to the car park and the rapid response vehicles which would be operating from there. He did not feel it was acceptable for a further 7 car parking spaces to be allocated to the Police.

Councillor Fred Westmoreland proposed approval in line with Office recommendation. This was seconded by Councillor Richard Britton.

The Committee discussed the application, noting that decision to move the Police station to Bourne Hill had impacted on the number of parking spaces available in College Street Car Park. It was felt that the level of consultation carried out by the Police and Crime Commissioner had not been adequate. There were no current air quality issues in that part of the city.

It was noted that there was no clear indication of the type pf vehicles that would be using the 31 spaces, and that Highways had not seen the GTP to assess the suitability for use by police.

It was felt that the GTP was an integral part of the application. There had only been 4 letters of objection to the application. The Committee noted that Policing was constantly evolving and as such the requirements had changed. It was necessary to accommodate the requirement of the Police within Bourne Hill, as this would help to develop joined up working and thinking.

It was agreed that the Green Travel Plan submitted to satisfy condition 3 should be approved by members.

Resolved

That application 16/0736/FUL be APPROVED as per the Officers recommendation with the following conditions:

1)    The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

REASON:   To comply with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2)    The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

Application form dated 27th July 2016

Site Plan as received 1st August 2016

Agents supporting letter dated July 27th 2016

REASON: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

3)    No part of the development shall be occupied by the new use, until the existing Green travel Plan has been updated and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The updated Travel Plan shall include details of implementation and monitoring and shall be implemented in accordance with these agreed details. The results of the implementation and monitoring shall be made available to the Local Planning Authority on request, together with any changes to the plan arising from those results.

REASON: In the interests of road safety and reducing vehicular traffic to the development.

4)    The number of staff employed by the Police authority and permanently based at Bourne Hill shall not exceed 87 as specified in the applicants accompanying statement unless otherwise agreed in writing with the local planning authority.

REASON: In order to ensure that there is no adverse effect on the amenity of neighbouring residents from an increase in police numbers without further consideration by the local planning authority.