Planning, Regulatory and Licensing

It agreed to hold fact-finding site visits for two applications to convert homes into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), homes shared by unrelated people, at 75 Ninth Avenue and the Mount Pleasant Hotel in Merthyr Vale, because of highway safety concerns. It also received a list of planning decisions made by officers in April 2024.

1. Turning 75 Ninth Avenue into a house in multiple occupation

   Decided

   The meeting resolved to hold a fact-finding site visit for this application. A Member had proposed the visit because of highway safety concerns.

   Why

   Councillor David Isaac asked for the application to go to committee because of resident concerns about the character of the area, residential amenity and highway safety. The change would turn a house into a house in multiple occupation (HMO), a home shared by unrelated people, for up to five occupants. The report noted that the Head of Engineering and Highways raised no objection, and that 48 letters and three petitions with 425 signatures objected. A further request asked that Highways representatives attend the meeting, but the minute records no decision on it.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report

2. Mount Pleasant Hotel: flats and a six-bedroom HMO

   Decided

   The meeting resolved to hold a fact-finding site visit for this application. A Member had proposed the visit because of highway safety concerns.

   Why

   Councillor Darren Roberts asked for the application to go to committee because of resident concerns about the character of the area, residential amenity and the type of tenants it might house. The application would change a former hotel and bed and breakfast into two flats and a six-bedroom HMO, with no external changes. The report noted that the Head of Engineering and Highways raised no objection, and that 91 letters of objection and a petition with 1,275 signatures were received, mainly about the HMO. A further request asked that Highways representatives attend the meeting, but the minute records no decision on it.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report

3. Delegated decisions made in April 2024

   Decided

   The meeting received the delegated decisions report for 1 to 30 April 2024.

   Why

   Delegated powers let council officers decide some planning applications without a committee vote. The report lists these decisions, mostly approvals, with some refusals and certificates confirming that work needs no planning permission, for information only.

   Based on the minutes, Delegated Report April 2023

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 1

   Apologies for absence

   Minute

   Apologies for absence were received from Cllr L Davies, Cllr M Colbran, Cllr C Jones and Cllr J Thomas.

2. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   No Declarations of Interest were made.

3. 3

   P/24/0058 - 75 Ninth Avenue, Galon Uchaf, Merthyr Tydfil

   Decision as recorded

   Resolved that: A Fact Finding Site Visit be convened in relation to this application.

   Minute

   Change of use from C3 Dwelling house to C4 House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) For maximum of 5 occupants A Member proposed that a Site Visit be convened as there were highway safety concerns. A further request was also made that representatives of the Highways Department be present at this Meeting together with appropriate Officers. Resolved that: A Fact Finding Site Visit be convened in relation to this application.

   Part of an issue followed across 4 meetings

   Papers: Committee Report
4. 4

   P/24/0089 - Mount Pleasant Hotel, Mount Pleasant, Cardiff Road, Merthyr Vale, Merthyr Tydfil

   Decision as recorded

   Resolved that: A Fact Finding Site Visit be convened in relation to this application.

   Minute

   Change of use from bed and breakfast into 2 flats and a 6 bedroom HMO A Member proposed that a Site Visit be convened as there were highway safety concerns. A further request was also made that representatives of the Highways Department be present at this Meeting together with appropriate Officers. Resolved that: A Fact Finding Site Visit be convened in relation to this application.

   Part of an issue followed across 4 meetings

   Papers: Committee Report
5. 5

   Delegated Report - 01/04/2024 - 30/04/2024

   Decision as recorded

   Resolved that: The Delegated report be received.

   Minute

   Resolved that: The Delegated report be received.

   Papers: Delegated Report April 2023
6. 6

   Any Other Business Deemed Urgent by the Chair

   Minute

   The Chair advised that there was no other business deemed urgent.

Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.

The minutes record no declarations of interest.

• Clive Tovey, Vice-ChairIndependentPresent
• Declan Sammon, ChairDowlais and Pant Community IndependentsPresent
• Brent Carter, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Clive Jones, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• David Isaac, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Ernie Galsworthy, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• John Thomas, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• Lee Davies, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• Michelle Jones, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Scott Thomas, Committee MemberLabourPresent

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