Agenda and minutes

Councillor E Marper substituted for Councillor D Wells and Councillor C Sherwood substituted for Councillor R Hannigan.

The following members declared that they had been lobbied –

Councillor S Bainbridge

Application: PA/2022/754

Councillor M Grant

Application: PA/2022/754

Councillor N Sherwood

Application PA/2022/754

The Development Management Lead submitted a report containing the details of a major application for determination by the committee, including summaries of policy context, representations arising from consultation and publicity and assessment of the applications.

Prior to consideration of the application, the council’s Development Management Lead informed the committee that the local authority Ecologist had respectfully requested that, were members minded to grant the application, attach two conditions to the decision notice on bio-diversity.

The current licensee at the premises spoke against the application.  She stated that the application was not actually for 29 Gloucester Avenue.  No flats and/or houses could be built on the site due to legal restrictions that were in place.  The public house was listed by the council as an Asset Community Value.  The premises was at the heart of the local community and integral to its identity.   The premises was an iconic music venue in North Lincolnshire, but more importantly it generated much needed income for the local community.  A petition opposing this planning application had more than one thousand signatures. 

A second objector stated that as a young person, the venue was iconic and incredibly important as an independent music venue.  Such venues were few and far in between and should be maintained, not demolished.  The venue supported many musicians, both locally and nationally and it would be a travesty were it to be lost from the music scene.

A representative of the applicant attended the meeting.  He stated that the developer had no intention to destroy a thriving public house.  It had a strong reputation of working alongside companies to help them thrive.  However, in the case of the Lincoln Imp, the business was failing with the likelihood of the business being able to become successful being unlikely.  Affordable housing was an issue in any every town and city in the county, with Scunthorpe being no exception.  The application was desperately needed in the area and would be of huge benefit to the community.  The developer would not close any thriving public house.  But the Lincoln Imp was failing.  Evidence clearly demonstrated that.  The public house had been up for sale/lease for a long time, with little or no interest in the premises.  The developer was a huge advocate of mental health charities, and this application would assist those individuals/families who were suffering.

The Chairman read out a letter against the planning application from the local Member of Parliament for Scunthorpe, Holly Mumby-Croft, who was concerned about the loss of an asset that was integral to the community and its identity.  The application, were it granted, would adversely affect the street scene and, as a result, should be refused.

The Chairman also read out a letter from music venue Trust.  They were unequivocal in their opposition to the closure of the Lincoln Imp due to its importance to the music scene in Scunthorpe and further afield.

Councillor R Waltham MBE attended the meeting and spoke against the application.  He stated that the council had held positive discussions with the brewery Admiral Taverns over the long-term viability of the Lincoln Imp.  A business case for the premises to remain open had been made and should be allowed to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2259a

There were no urgent items for consideration at the meeting.