Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies were received from Councillors Jo Clements and Felicity Rice.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications. 

Councillor Brian Hitchcock was present as Councillor Rice’s substitute.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

Councillor Tarling declared an interest in respect of agenda item 6(b): Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre, due to comments on the application previously made as a member of the Audit & Governance Committee.  To avoid any suggestion of predetermination, Councillor Tarling confirmed he would recuse himself for the duration of the item.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 25 June and 6 July 2026.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meetings held on 25 June and 6 July 2026 be approved as a correct record.

Voting: Nem. Con.

To receive any requests to speak on planning applications which the Planning Committee is considering at this meeting.

The deadline for the submission of requests to speak is 10.00am on 19 August 2026 [10.00am of the working day before the meeting]. Requests should be submitted to Democratic Services using the contact details on the front of this agenda.

Further information about how public speaking is managed at meetings is contained in the Planning Committee Protocol for Public Speaking and Statements, a copy of which is included with this agenda sheet and is also published on the website on the following page:

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=613

Summary of speaking arrangements as follows:

Speaking at Planning Committee (in person or virtually):

·       There will be a maximum combined time of five minutes to speak in objection and up to two persons may speak within the five minutes.

·       There will be a further maximum combined time of five minutes to speak in support and up to two persons may speak within the five minutes.

·       No speaker may speak for more than half this time (two and a half minutes) UNLESS there are no other requests to speak received by the deadline OR it is with the agreement of the other speaker.

Anyone who has registered to speak by the deadline may, as an alternative to speaking/for use in default, submit a written statement to be read out on their behalf. This must be provided to Democratic Services by 10.00am of the working day before the meeting, must not exceed 450 words and will be treated as amounting to two and a half minutes of speaking time.

Please refer to the full Protocol document for further guidance.

Note: The public speaking procedure is separate from and is not intended to replicate or replace the procedure for submitting a written representation on a planning application to the Planning Offices during the consultation period.

The Chair advised that there were a number of requests to speak on planning application P/25/04159/FUL as detailed below.

To consider the planning applications as listed below.

See planning application reports circulated with the agenda, as updated by the agenda addendum sheet to be published one working day before the meeting.

Councillors are requested where possible to submit any technical questions on planning applications to the Case Officer at least 48 hours before the meeting to ensure this information can be provided at the meeting.

The running order in which planning applications will be considered will be as listed on this agenda sheet.

The Chair retains discretion to propose an amendment to the running order at the meeting if it is considered expedient to do so.

Members will appreciate that the copy drawings attached to planning application reports are reduced from the applicants’ original and detail, in some cases, may be difficult to read. To search for planning applications, please use the following link:

https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/search-and-comment-on-planning-applications

Councillors are advised that if they wish to refer to specific drawings or plans which are not included in these papers, they should contact the Case Officer at least 48 hours before the meeting to ensure that these can be made available.

To view Local Plans, again, the following link will take you to the main webpage where you can click on a tile to view the local plan for that area. The link is:

https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Planning-and-building-control/Planning-policy/Current-Local-Plans/Current-Local-Plan.aspx

The Committee considered two planning application reports, copies of which had been circulated and which appear as Appendices A and B to these minutes in the Minute Book. A Committee Addendum Sheet was published on 19 August 2026 and appears as Appendix C to these minutes.

Officers provided a brief summary of the addendum which detailed a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and subsequent policy considerations in respect of the applications to be determined.

East Southbourne & Tuckton Ward

P/25/04159/FUL

Alterations and conversion of building from care home (Use Class C2) to 20 sheltered accommodation/retirement living flats for 65+ aged persons with communal living room, bin and bike/mobility scooter store.

East Southbourne & Tuckton Ward

P/25/04159/FUL

Alterations and conversion of building from care home (Use Class C2) to 20 sheltered accommodation/retirement living flats for 65+ aged persons with communal living room, bin and bike/mobility scooter store

Representation requesting an additional condition

v  Carrie Hearne, local resident via statement

Applicant/Supporters

v  Giles Moir on behalf of the applicant

Ward Councillors

v  Councillor Judy Richardson, in support

Councillor Tarling moved to grant the application, subject to the inclusion of a condition mandating that any additional lighting proposed in the future be required to be brought before the Committee for determination in consultation with Council’s ecology team, in order to help protect local wildlife.

Councillor Le Poidevin seconded the motion.

Following debate, the Committee moved to the vote and it was:

RESOLVED: to GRANT permission in accordance with the recommendation set out in the officer’s report and the addendum published on 19 August 2026, with the addition of a further condition regarding lighting as detailed above.

Voting: For:8, Against:1, Abstentions:0

Notes: In granting the application, most Committee Members were supportive of the application, noting the car parking provision and that the building was structurally sound enough to be brought back into use.

Christchurch Town Ward

P/26/01695/FUL

Erection of new 2 storey extension, to provide 2 fitness studios. Regulation 3 application by BCP Council

The Chair confirmed that Councillor Canavan had called-in the application to the Committee. Cllr Canavan advised that he was not predetermined, and the Chair, with due regard to paragraph 8.3 of the Committee protocol, allowed Councillor Canavan to remain in the room and take part in the discussion without being permitted to vote on the item.

Christchurch Town Ward

P/26/01695/FUL

Erection of new 2 storey extension, to provide 2 fitness studios. Regulation

3 application by BCP Council

There were no registered speakers for the item.

Councillor Flagg moved to grant the application as set out in the officer’s report and as updated by the addendum.

Councillor Gillett seconded the motion.

Following debate, the Committee moved to the vote and it was:

RESOLVED: to GRANT permission in accordance with the recommendation set out in the officer’s report, as updated by the Committee Addendum published on 19 August 2026.

Voting: For:7, Against:0, Abstentions:0

Notes: In granting the application, Committee Members noted the officers’ confirmation that, in respect of ramp access for wheelchair users, building controls would ensure that people of all abilities would be able to safely exit the building in the event of a fire.

This report updates members of the planning committee on the Local Planning Authority's appeal performance over the stated period.

The report updated members of the Planning Committee on the Local Planning Authority's Appeal performance over the stated period.

RESOLVED: that the Planning Committee note the contents of the report.

Voting: Nem. Con.