Planning Committee

Responsibilities of the Planning Committee

The Planning Committee attends to all planning and environmental issues. These matters are similarly attended to by the Full Council when major applications are to be considered and when the Parish Council's responses are required before the next meeting of the Planning Committee.

Objectives:

• To support and promote the long-term environmental, cultural and economic health and vitality of the Parish creating a vibrant, safe, healthy and inclusive community.
• To seek high standards of design and construction in planning applications for Castle Donington.
• To ensure sustainable development with a balanced infrastructure which meets the visions and needs of the present generation without prejudicing the needs of future generations.
• To retain a balance between commercial/employment development and residential development.
• To inform local residents about all planning applications, in particular in relation to major planning proposals and Development Plans, etc.
• To retain the distinctive character of the Conservation Area paying particular attention to Listed Buildings and archaeological issues.
• To work with others to monitor developments and their effects on the flood plain, to minimise impact from traffic and to fight pollution in Castle Donington.
• To work with others to minimise noise pollution from the airport and from the race circuit and in particular to restrict night flying at the airport.
• To work with others to ensure that the existing green landscaping including trees with Tree Preservation Orders, is retained, particularly within the Conservation Area.
• To seek to establish and retain a green area of separation between Castle Donington and neighbouring settlements.
• To inform and consult local residents on all matters relating to the Airport and to Donington Park race circuit in conjunction with reference to NWLDC Local Plan, enhancing where deemed appropriate.
• To provide and maintain street furniture including seats and notice boards at key locations in Castle Donington.
• To maintain and seek to extend the current footpath and bridleways, ensuring connectivity with old and new developments through open dialogue with developers, and to promote non-motorised transport.
• To see to ensure that all residents have easy foot access to green open spaces to promote health and wellbeing as set out in government guidelines.
• To actively pursue provision of substantial number of car parking spaces available to central area users.
• To work with partner agencies and other bodies to look at ways to reduce soil, water, air, light and noise pollution, littering and fly-tipping.
• To actively raise the profile of environmental issues, within the Parish and District where possible within the remit and powers pursuant or a Parish Council.

• To raise the profile of the Government ambition for CO2 neutrality by 2050
• To encourage developers to make all new buildings CO2 neutral.
• To support retrospective fitting of CO2 reducing technology where this does not conflict with our heritage policy.
• To promote and protect the character of this historic market town.
• To promote the quality of the built environment and heritage features.

The Planning Committee shall have authority and consent to: -

1. Make comment or observation (for or against) on planning objectives on all planning applications and planning policies, Local Plans, Transport Plans, Structure, Health and Housing Plans submitted to the Council from either NWLDC or from any other authority.
2. implement the Planning Committee's aims and objectives.
3. inform all councillors on planning matters (whether they are members or not of the Committee) and make recommendations for particular policies or applications, especially for large or controversial applications or policy documents, to be considered by the Full Council.
4. deal with development matters relating to the Conservation Area and listed buildings.
5. deal with matters relating to all arboricultural matters.
6. deal with questions relating to the Council's street furniture and notice boards.
7. deal with questions relating to Air Quality Management Areas and other traffic pollution issues.
8. initiate and/or support complaints relating to highway matters.
9. deal with traffic problems, including road closures, diversions, street lighting and markings, street cleansing and repair.
10. initiate community appraisals and deal with questions relating to the Parish Plan
11. instruct the Clerk, to carry out the decisions of the Committee prior to the minutes and decisions of the Planning Committee meetings being approved and signed at Full Council.