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

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Liz Hardman whose substitute was Councillor Rob Appleyard

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.

There were no declarations of interest

There were no items of Urgent Business. However, the Chair announced that the planning application at Bubblers Dytch, High Street, Wellow (Item 17, Report 11) had been withdrawn from the Agenda as had the 2 Enforcement Reports at Opa, North Parade, Bath (Report 12) and The Quarry, Eastcourt Road, Temple Cloud (Report 13).

The Senior Democratic Services Officer informed the meeting that there were various speakers on planning applications in Reports 10 and 11 and that they would be able to make their statements when reaching their respective Items in those Reports.

There were no items

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 10^th April 2013

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 10^th April 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair

The Senior Professional – Major Developments to provide an oral update

The Development Manager reported that discussions had commenced with the developers of the former Cadbury’s site, Somerdale, and that, once the application had been registered, the usual consultation process would follow.

In response to Councillor Eleanor Jackson’s query about the Norton Radstock Regeneration proposals, the Development Manager stated that an application was expected in the near future.

The Committee noted.

The Committee considered

·  The report of the Development Manager on an application for planning permission at The Chase, Rectory Lane, Compton Martin

·  An Update Report by the Development Manager which is attached as Appendix 1 to these Minutes

·  Oral statements by members of the public etc, 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.

The Chase, Rectory Lane, Compton Martin – Erection of extensions including a first floor extension to create a 1.5 storey dwelling (Revised proposal) – The Case Officer reported on this application and her recommendation to Permit with conditions.  The Update Report advised Members of further drawings submitted by the applicants and of further representations by the adjoining neighbour.

The public speakers made their statements against and in favour of the proposed development which was followed by a statement by the Ward Councillor Vic Pritchard.

Councillor Les Kew considered that the recent site visit had proved to be very useful. He considered that the amenities of the adjoining property were not affected and that the value of both properties would be improved. He therefore moved that the Officer recommendation be approved which was seconded by Councillor Doug Nicol.

After a brief discussion, the motion was put to the vote and it was carried unanimously.

The Committee considered

·  The report of the Development Manager on various applications for planning permission etc

·  an Update Report by the Development Manager on Item Nos 2-6, 11 and 14, a copy of which is attached as Appendix 1 to these Minutes

·  oral statements by members of the public etc on Item Nos 2-15, 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.

Items 2-6 Parcels 2866 and 0005 South, Woolley Lane, Woolley – (2) Alterations and extension to existing agricultural building; alterations to access; formation of hard standing and farm track; construction of stock pond; siting of 2 feed hoppers and ancillary works (Retrospective). Siting of a temporary timber cabin for an agricultural worker for a period of up to 3 years on Parcel 2866 (Ref 12/05660/FUL); (3) erection of general purpose agricultural building on Parcel 2866 (Ref 12/05661/FUL); (4) siting of 4 mobile poultry units (Retrospective) on Parcel 2866 (Ref 12/05662/FUL); (5) siting of 3 mobile poultry units (Retrospective) on Parcel 0005 South (Ref 12/05663/FUL); and (6) siting of 3 mobile poultry units (Retrospective) on Parcel 0005 South (Ref 12/05664/FUL) – The Case Officer reported on all 5 applications and his recommendations to refuse permission.  The Update Report provided the full comments of the Highways Officer on these applications and the observations of the Planning Officer.

The public speakers made their statements against and in favour of the proposals which were followed by statements by the Ward Councillors Geoff Ward and Gabriel Batt.

Councillor Martin Veal (Ward Member) stated that the applicants were riding roughshod over the community. He considered that the development blighted the visual amenity of the area which was AONB and Green Belt and impacted on the setting of a World Heritage Site. The cumulative effect was unacceptable. He complimented the Case Officer on producing a good report. He raised a query on the wording of the last sentence on page 2 of the Update Report. The Case Officer stated that, instead of “the highway response is open of objection …” it should read “the highway response is one of objection …”

Councillor Eleanor Jackson agreed with the Officer’s conclusions on Item 2 and therefore moved the Recommendation to refuse permission which was seconded by Councillor Martin Veal. Councillor Brian Webber referred to the Article 4 Direction which covered the area and removed agricultural permitted development rights over a wide area of the Swainswick Valley. This was an overriding consideration. The motion was then put to the vote and was carried unanimously.

Councillor Martin Veal moved separately that the remaining 4 applications be refused as recommended which were seconded by Councillor Les Kew. Voting was taken separately and these were carried unanimously.

Councillor Les Kew thanked the Case Officer for producing such a good report. In view of the above decisions, Councillor Martin Veal expressed a desire  ...  view the full minutes text for item 175.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda on 3 May.

This Report was withdrawn from the Agenda

This item was withdrawn from the agenda on 3 May.

This Report was withdrawn from the Agenda

To note the report

The Chair extended his thanks on behalf of the Committee to Development Control Officers for their hard work and endeavours during a particularly busy period.

The report was noted.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson congratulated Planning Officers for their overall high success rate in winning appeals.

The report was noted.

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

The Development Manager reported that the appellants had applied for costs as regards the Council’s withdrawal of Enforcement Notice 01. She informed Members that the Statement of Case on the 2^nd Bite Notice had been submitted yesterday. No response had been received from the Planning Inspectorate regarding the appeal held in abeyance. She also referred to two statements received from the appellants’ agents.

The Committee noted.