Agenda and minutes

Councillor Manda Rigby was elected to Chair the start of the meeting in the absence of Councillor Gerry Curran

The Chair will ask the Committee Administrator to draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 6

The Senior Democratic Services Officer read out the procedure

A Vice Chair was not required

There was an apology for absence from Councillor David Veale whose substitute was Councillor Vic Pritchard, There was also an apology from Councillor Doug Nicol.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number and site in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or other interest (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Councillor Martin Veal stated that, in the report on the planning application at Bath Soft Cheese, Park Farm, Church Lane, Kelston (Item 3, Report 9) there was a reference to him supporting the proposal; however, he had not predetermined the application and would hear the debate before voting. Councillor Manda Rigby later declared a non-prejudicial interest in the application at 66 Upper East Hayes, Bath (Item 5, Report 9) as her property was across the road (A4) from the site and therefore she would speak and vote on the application.

There was none

The Senior Democratic Services Officer explained the process for public speaking and indicated that there were a number of people wishing to make statements on planning applications in Report 9 and that they would be able to do so when reaching those items. The Chair had previously indicated that the speaking time on the application at 60 Ringwood Road could be extended from the standard 3 minutes to 5 minutes in view of the number of objectors.

There was none

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 12^th March 2014

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 12^th March 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair

The Committee considered

·  A report by the Divisional Director – Development on various applications for planning permission etc

·  An Update Report by the Divisional Director – Development on Item Nos 1 and 6, a copy of which is attached as Appendix 1 to these Minutes

·  Oral statements by members of the public etc on Item Nos 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7, the Speakers List being attached as Appendix 2 to these Minutes

The Team Manager – Development Management stated that, where reference was made in the report to the Development Manager, Head of Planning Services etc, it should now read Divisional Director – Development.

RESOLVED that, in accordance with their delegated powers, the applications be determined as set out in the Decisions List attached as Appendix 3 to these Minutes.

Item 1 Milford Head, Stitchings Shord Lane, Bishop Sutton – Demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of the site to provide 9 dwellings (Outline with all matters reserved except access)(Resubmission of 12/05599/OUT) – The Case Officer reported on this application and his recommendation to (A) authorise the Divisional Director - Development to grant permission subject to the applicant entering into a legal agreement to secure various provisions relating to Education, Open space and recreational facilities, Transport and Protection of boundary hedges; and (B) subject to the prior completion of the above Agreement, authorise the Divisional Director - Development to grant permission subject to conditions.. He referred to submission of an indicative plan showing a revised layout of the development as set out in the Update Report.

The public speakers made statements against and in favour of the proposal.

Councillor Vic Pritchard as Ward Member on the Committee opened the debate. He was not comfortable with the proposal for many reasons including that it was in the AONB, adjoining the Green Belt and outside the housing boundary, it was designated an RA1 village in the Emerging Core Strategy, there was risk of flooding in the Lane and it affected the 5* caravan park adjoining the site. Councillor Les Kew supported these views and in addition considered that it was overdevelopment and the cumulative effect of housing development in the village would undermine the plan-making process. He therefore moved that Officers be authorised to refuse permission on the basis of these comments which was seconded by Councillor Eleanor Jackson. The Team Manager – Development Management gave advice on how housing schemes such as this could have an adverse cumulative effect on the Council’s plan-making process by undermining the Council’s housing strategy as set out in the Emerging Core Strategy. At Councillor Nigel Robert’s request, the mover and seconder agreed that the impact on the AONB should be included as a reason for refusal. After a short debate, the motion was put to the vote and was carried, 8 voting in favour with 0 against and 3 abstentions.

(Note: Councillor Gerry Curran was not present for consideration of this item)

Item 2 No 40 Bryant Avenue, Westfield, Radstock – Construction of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 164.

The Team Manager – Development Management pointed out that the decision on the appeal at Tree Tops, Horsecombe Grove, Combe Down, Bath, had been allowed and not dismissed as indicated in the report.

The Committee noted the report.