Agenda and minutes

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 desired

There was an apology from Councillor Bryan Organ whose substitute was Councillor Sally Davis. It was stated that Cllr Organ had broken his ribs in a fall. The Chair on behalf of the Committee extended his best wishes for a speedy recovery.

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 an 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 Les Kew declared an interest in the planning application on Parcel 0006 Maynard Terrace, Clutton (Item 2, Report 11) as he was the subject of a complaint arising from an earlier consideration of this application by Committee and, as such, he did not feel it appropriate for him to speak or vote. He would therefore leave the meeting for its consideration. Councillor Eleanor Jackson declared an interest in the application at 5 Bath Road, Peasedown, as she was acquainted with a neighbour but as she did not consider it to be significant and prejudicial, she would speak and vote on the matter.

There was none

The Senior Democratic Services Officer informed the meeting that there were no speakers on matters other than planning applications. There were a number of people wishing to make statements on planning applications in Reports 10 and 11 and that they would be able to do so when reaching those items on the Agenda.

There was none

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 21^st November 2012

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 21st November 2012 were approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record

The Senior Professional – Major Developments to provide an oral update

The Senior Professional - Major Development informed the meeting that there were no updates to report but he would respond to any queries.

In response to Members' queries, the Officer reported as follows:

Norton Radstock Regeneration - He was not personally involved with the preparation of the proposals for this development but understood that a planning application with a significant package of information was expected to be submitted shortly after Christmas. He would advise Members at that stage.

Brunel Square/Vaults at Bath Spa Railway Station - Not all the units would be occupied before Christmas due to problems with water seepage but it was expected that they would be by mid-January.

Former Cadbury's site, Somerdale - Some significant archaeological discoveries had been found at The Hams part of the site (possible Roman town). More work was to be undertaken on the land south of the factory but it was considered that the impact on the number of houses would be less than feared.

Woolley Valley - Further information concerning this site would be provided at the end of the meeting.

Gasometers, Western Riverside - Although this was being dealt with by the Major Projects Team, he understood that discussions had been held regarding finance for their decommissioning but there was no timetable yet for their removal. The next step would be for the gas suppliers to make further arrangements for equipment/installations elsewhere in the gas network before they could be removed.

The Committee considered:

·  a report by the Development Manager on an application for planning permission at Maylou, 118A Rush Hill, Bath

·  oral statements by an objector and the applicant's representative, the Speakers List being attached as Appendix 1 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 2 to these Minutes.

Maylou, 118A Rush Hill, Bath - Erection of a two-storey extension and a single storey garage extension (Revised resubmission) - The Case Officer reported on this application and her recommendation to Permit with conditions.

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

After receiving clarification to a query, Councillor Eleanor Jackson moved the Officer recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Martin Veal.

The motion was put to the vote and was carried, 10 voting in favour and 2 against with 1 abstention.

The Committee considered:

·  a report by the Development Manager on various applications for planning permission etc

·  oral statements by members of the public etc, the Speakers List being attached as Appendix 1 to these Minutes

·  an Update Report by the Development Manager on Item 2, a copy of which is attached as Appendix 3 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 Bath Press site, Lower Bristol Road, Bath - Mixed use redevelopment comprising 6,300sq m of retail (Class A1), 4,580sq m of creative workspace (Class B1), 2,610sq m of offices (Class B1), 220sq m of community space (Class D1/D2), 10 residential houses, basement car park, landscape and access (including realignment of Brook Road) - The report on this application was withdrawn by the Development Manager as a result of further information being received which could not be assessed in time for this meeting.

Item 2 Parcel 0006, Maynard Terrace, Clutton - Erection of 36 dwellings and associated works (Revised resubmission) - The Case Officer reported on this application and his recommendation to (A) authorise the Planning and Environmental Law Manager to enter into a S106 Agreement as detailed in the report to the Committee; and (B) upon completion of that Agreement, authorise the Development Manager to permit the application subject to conditions. He referred to the Update Report where 2 further conditions were being recommended and which also referred to a recent appeal decision in which an application for residential development had been allowed by the Inspector who had attached significant weight to the fact that the Council could not demonstrate a 5 year supply of housing land. The Case Officer stated that recent evidence suggested that, nationally, Inspectors appeared to be allowing appeals in respect of residential development outside of housing development boundaries where local planning authorities could not demonstrate a 5 year supply of housing land. He also referred to some of the highways issues relating to the proposal.

The public speakers made their statements against and in favour of the proposal which was followed by a statement by the Ward Councillor Jeremy Sparks.

Members asked questions and commented on the proposals stating that there had been no change to the previous application. The Case Officer and the Senior Highways Development Engineer responded to some of the comments. Councillor Eleanor Jackson referred to paragraphs 14, 47 and 49 of the National Planning Policy Framework. Affordable housing was needed but this was a sensitive site in an unsustainable location with inadequate mitigation measures. It would have a significant impact on the rural aspect of Clutton and destroy its rural character. She also had concerns regarding highway safety. She felt Members should keep to their principles and, on this basis, moved refusal of the application for the same reasons as had been moved at the Committee’s September meeting, namely, that the proposal was unsustainable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 106.

The report was noted

The appropriate Officer(s) will make an oral report to update Members on progress

The Development Manager stated that Proofs of Evidence had been drafted and would be exchanged shortly. The Public Local Inquiry would be held on 28th January 2012.

Referring to a query raised under Item 9 Update on Major Developments, the Development Manager commented on the current situation regarding Woolley Valley. She stated that the recently submitted planning applications were invalid. If valid planning applications were not received shortly, the development could be the subject of a report to Committee in January regarding possible enforcement action.