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 Democratic Services Officer read out the procedure

RESOLVED that a Vice Chair was not required on this occasion.

Apologies were received from Councillor Malcolm Lees, for whom Cllr Dave Laming substituted.

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 Kew declared a non-pecuniary interest in Items 1-3 of Agenda Item 10 (Horseworld) because his wife has an interest in a parcel of land adjacent to land owned by Horseworld. He therefore left the room during the consideration of these items.

Councillor Webber declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 12 of Agenda Item 10 (Little Willows) because he had had dealings with the owners and staff of the establishment and lived close to the site. He left the room during the consideration of this item, and did not return for the rest of the meeting. Because Item 14 was taken immediately after Item 8, he was present during the consideration of Item 14, but not during the consideration of Items 12 and 13.

There were no items of urgent business

The Democratic Services Officer informed the meeting that there were various people wishing to make statements on planning applications in Reports 9, 10 and 11 and that they would be able to do so when reaching their respective items in those Reports.

Councillor Jackson raised a concern about the wall on the terrace between 118 and 120 Frome Road, Radstock. She said that the wall was unstable following severe weather and there was a danger that it would collapse and harm children living at one of the properties. She hoped that action to deal with it could be expedited. The Development Manager thanked Councillor Jackson for her concern, and informed Members that this was still an open case; she would seek information about it from the appropriate officers.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 23^rd October 2013

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 23^rd October 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Agricultural Haulage Building and Yard, Pinkers Farm, Middle Street, East Harptree – Erection of 8 houses and 4 workshops and provision of a new access road – The Case Officer reported that the application had been withdrawn by the applicant.

The Committee considered

• A report by the Development Manager on various applications for planning permission
• Oral statements by members of the public etc on Item Nos 1-14, the Speakers List being attached as Appendix 1 to these Minutes
• An Update Report by the Development Manager on Item Nos 4 and 12, the Speakers List being 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

Items 1-3 Horseworld, Staunton Lane, Whitchurch – (1) Hybrid planning application for residential development of up to 125 dwellings and associated demolition, highways infrastructure and landscaping works. The outline component comprises up to 118 dwellings including associated demolition, highways infrastructure and landscaping works; and the detailed component comprises the redevelopment of 6 curtilage listed dwellings including associated demolition, highways infrastructure and landscaping works adjacent to the Grade II listed Staunton Manor; (2) erection of new visitor centre for the Horseworld charity including associated highways infrastructure, parking provision and landscaping; and (3) conversion of curtilage listed buildings to residential including selective demolition, extensions, internal and external works –

Cllr Kew withdrew from the room in accordance with his declaration of interest.

The Case Officer reported on these applications and his recommendations to grant permission with conditions.

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

Members sought clarification on various aspects of the applications. Members discussed the applications. Councillor Organ said that these were among the most difficult applications he had had to consider during his years on the Committee. At present he was unable to support them. He was concerned about the proposal to build 125 homes in the Green Belt and by the fact that only 10% of affordable homes were proposed, rather than the Council target of 35%. There were varying estimates of visitor figures, but in his view the only way of making the centre viable was to attract more visitors and keep them there longer, so that they spent more money.

The Development Manager was asked to comment on the Green Belt issues. She said that the Committee had to look at these applications on their merits and proposals to take land out of the Green Belt in the Draft Core Strategy could only be given limited weight. . The Committee should, in relation to the first two applications, focus on the harm that would result from inappropriate development, together with any harm to  openness of the Green Belt and and other harm. The Committee then needed to decide whether there were very special circumstances that clearly outweighed this harm. In relation to the third application, the Committee should consider the impact of the proposal on the listed building.

Councillor Gilchrist said that while he noted the potential for highways problems in the future, he would move to permit the applications. This was seconded by Councillor Webber. He thought Horseworld was a highly-regarded  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

To consider an application to vary the Section 106 Agreement

Oral statements by members of the public speaking against the application

The Case Officer reported on the application and her recommendation that a Deed of Variation be prepared to remove the financial contribution to Children’s Services from the S106 Agreement.

Public speakers spoke in favour of the application.

Members debated the matter. The Chair said that there were exceptional circumstances in this case. Good quality homes were being provided as well as an educational facility, benefitting the community in Bath and visitors. He moved to grant the application. This was seconded by Councillor Nicol.

The motion was put to the vote and carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that a deed of Variation be prepared to remove the financial contribution to Children’s Services from the S106 Agreement.

To note the report

Councillor Jackson asked why 140 enforcement cases were investigated, but only 10 enforcement notices were issued. The Development Manager replied that many of the cases had turned out not to be breaches of development control, some had been minor and others had been resolved by negotiation. The number of enforcement notices was therefore not the best measure of the effectiveness of enforcement.

Councillor Laming asked whether it would be possible to have a list showing the sites, the issues and progress. The Development Manager said that work was being done to facilitate this. Case details had to be entered into the database; a new member of staff would be appointed to take this work forward.

RESOLVED to note the report.

Councillor Kew referred to case 12/00707/FUL summarised on pages 235 and 236 of the agenda. He wondered how the viability of the enterprise would be monitored.

RESOLVED to note the report.