Agenda and minutes

The Senior Democratic Services Officer read out the procedure

A Vice Chairman was not required

There was an apology for absence from Councillor Jasper Becker whose substitute was Councillor Donal Hassett. There was also an apology from Councillor Matthew Davies.

At this point in the meeting, declarations of interest are received from Members on 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 Paul Crossley declared a non-pecuniary interest in the planning application at the former GWR Railway Line, Frome Road, Radstock (Item 1, Report 10) as there may be a public perception that he was not open-minded about the application from his past involvement in the site’s regeneration, and he would therefore leave the meeting for its consideration. Councillor Rob Appleyard declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the same application as he is a Director of Curo and the road would affect the development on which Curo has an affordable housing interest – he would therefore leave the meeting for its consideration. Councillor Eleanor Jackson declared an interest in the same application as she is a Governor of St Nicholas Primary School which would benefit from the scheme. The applicants had also provided funding for Radstock in Bloom. Therefore, after making statements on behalf of the Meadow View Residents Action Group and Westfield Parish Council, she would leave the meeting for its consideration.

There were no items of urgent business. However, the Chairman stated that she may be able to provide some feedback at the next meeting on the possibility of these meetings being webcasted.

The Senior Democratic Services Officer informed the meeting that there were (i) no members of the public etc. wishing to make statements items other than on planning applications; and (ii) a number of people wishing to speak on applications and that they would be able to do so when reaching their respective items in Reports 9 and 10

There was none

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 29^th July 2015

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 29^th July 2015 were approved as a correct record and were signed by the Chairman, subject to, in the 4^th paragraph of Minute 33 on Page 12 regarding the Maynard Terrace application, the words “ …. still in question .…” being amended to read “ …. still available ….”.

The Committee considered

·  The report of the Group Manager – Development Management on a planning application on land at the rear of Yearten House, Water Street, East Harptree

·  An Update Report by the Group Manager on this application, a copy of which is attached as Appendix 1 to these Minutes

·  Oral statements by members of the public etc., a copy of the Speakers List being attached as Appendix 2 to these Minutes

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

Land at the rear of Yearten House, Water Street, East Harptree – Erection of 8 dwellings and access – The Case Officer reported on this application and her recommendation to (A) authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to enter into a S106 Agreement to secure various provisos; and (B) subject to completion of the Agreement, authorise the Group Manager to grant permission subject to various conditions. She reported the receipt of 3 further representations with photographs and on an amendment to the Plan Nos at the end of the recommendation. The Update Report provided further information on the accuracy of the plans, affordable housing and updated information in respect of the badger sett.

The public speakers made their statements against and in favour of the application which was followed by a statement by the Ward Councillor Tim Warren expressing concerns about the proposal.

Members asked questions for clarification. Councillor Les Kew opened the debate. He considered that this was a reasonable development with a mix of housing to accommodate families and young people – it was well located in the centre of the village and the site was within the housing development boundary. He therefore moved the Officer recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Rob Appleyard.

Members debated the motion. In response to a query about access and parking, the Team Manager stated that it was adopted highway and therefore need not be subject to a condition restricting parking.

The motion was put to the vote and was carried, 7 voting in favour and 1 against with 1 abstention.

The Committee considered

·  The report of the Group Manager – Development Management on various planning applications

·  An Update Report by the Group Manager on Item Nos. 3, 4 and 8, a copy of which is attached as Appendix 1 to these Minutes

·  Oral statements by members of the public etc. on Item Nos. 1-8, a copy of the Speakers List being attached as Appendix 2 to these Minutes

RESOLVED that, in accordance with their delegated powers, the applications be determined as set out in the Decisions List attached as Appendix 4 to these Minutes

Item 1 Former GWR Railway Line, Frome Road, Radstock – Approval of reserved matters with regard to outline application 13/02436/EOUT for the construction of a road on Area 3 of the development site – The Case Officer reported on this application and her recommendation to grant permission subject to conditions.

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

Councillor Bryan Organ opened the debate. He considered that this was an acceptable scheme which related to the road layout and therefore moved the Officer recommendation to grant permission subject to conditions which was seconded by Councillor Les Kew.

After a brief discussion, the Chairman put the motion to the vote which was carried unanimously.

(Note: Councillors Rob Appleyard, Paul Crossley and Eleanor Jackson were not present for discussion and voting on this application in view of their interests declared earlier in the meeting)

Item 2 Parcel 6781 Cobblers Way, Westfield, Radstock – Outline planning application (all matters reserved aside from access) seeking permission for 81 residential dwellings and associated works on land at the former St Peter’s Factory, Cobblers Way – The Case Officer reported on this application and her recommendation to authorise the Group Manager, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, to enter into a S106 Agreement covering the issues of highways, affordable housing, open space and landscape, cycle path and economic development; and (B) upon completion of the Agreement, authorise the Group Manager to grant permission subject to conditions.

The applicants’ Agent made a statement in favour of the proposal.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson opened the discussion as Ward Member on the Committee. She stated that there was already dense housing development with little facilities or infrastructure. The feeling of residents of Lincombe Road and Waterford Park was very strong in that it was too urban and out of character with surrounding development. It was a mixed development area and more employment opportunities were required. There were a number of objections to the scheme, namely, the site was outside the housing development boundary; although this site was in the SHLAA, many such sites were unsuitable in planning policy terms; ecological impact; the need for more employment sites; and the development was contrary to Policy SV1 Somer Valley Spatial Strategy as it was too prominent in the landscape when viewed from Haydon. On this basis she moved that permission be refused which was not seconded.

Councillor Les Kew  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

The Committee considered the quarterly performance report which provided Members with performance information across a range of activities within the Development Management function for the period April to June 2015.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson congratulated the Planning Officers on winning the RTPI Planning Excellence Award for Excellence in Decision Making. Members discussed aspects of the report relating to S106 Agreement figures presentation, Chair Referrals and Enforcement Investigations. A request was made that the S106 Agreement figures should include an annual running total.

The report was noted.

The Committee considered the report on Planning Appeals. The Team Manager – Development Management reported that the appeal at Temple Inn Lane, Temple Cloud, had been allowed after a 3 day public Inquiry and the appellant’s costs of the proceedings awarded against the Council. There was a query regarding subsequent action when an appeal had been dismissed. The Team Manager responded that enforcement proceedings would be formulated and a report submitted to Committee for authorisation if necessary. It was considered useful to let the Ward Members know of impending enforcement action.

After a short discussion on appeal decisions, the report was noted.