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 Les Kew whose substitute was Councillor Tim Warren.

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 Tim Warren declared an interest in the planning application at Parcel 0153 Chelwood Road, Marksbury (Item 1, Report 10) as he had previously made public statements which suggested that he had predetermined the application. He would therefore leave the meeting for its consideration. Councillor Ian Gilchrist declared an interest in the same application as he was a shareholder in Bath and West Community Energy and therefore he would also leave the meeting for its consideration.

There was none

The Senior Democratic Services Officer explained the procedure for public speaking and indicated that there were a number of people wishing to make statements on planning applications in Reports 9 and 10 and that they would be able to do so when reaching their respective items in those Reports.

The Chair informed the Committee of a request from 1 of the 2 people wishing to speak against the Fosse Way School application (Item 3, Report 10) to have up to 3 minutes each instead of sharing 3 minutes. He put the request to the Members to which they acceded on this occasion.

There was none

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 9^th April 2014

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 9^th April 2014 were approved as a correct record, subject to the third and fourth sentences of the 3^rd paragraph of Item 6, Minute No 164 on page 5 of the Minutes being transposed.

The Committee considered

·  The report of the Divisional Director – Development on an application for planning permission etc.

·  An oral statement by a representative of the applicant on the Item the subject of the report, 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

Bath Soft Cheese, Park Farm, Church Lane, Kelston – Erection of extension to existing agricultural building to create a cheese dairy – The Case Officer reported on this application and her recommendation to refuse permission. She updated Members on matters since the report was published.

The applicant made his statement in favour of the proposal which was followed by a statement by the Ward Councillor Geoff Ward supporting the application.

Councillor Martin Veal, as the Ward Member on the Committee, opened the debate. He considered that the site visit had been a useful exercise. The dairy farm was a successful business which needed to expand its cheese-making facility and it was appropriate to do this all on the one site. There were a number of benefits from the scheme in that the business would become more sustainable, it would increase job opportunities, it would improve the layout and appearance of the site, it would have no significant effect on the landscape and only a limited impact on the Green Belt. He considered that these amounted to very special circumstances which outweighed the harm to the Green Belt and therefore moved that the recommendation be overturned and permission be granted subject to a 6 month crossover period as a trial basis to allow the business to develop into its new premises. The motion was seconded by Councillor Bryan Organ.

Members debated the motion. It was generally agreed that there would be economic benefits arising from the scheme and that there would be little impact on the Green Belt. The Chair reminded Members that this was an industrial unit proposed to be located in the Green Belt and the AONB and due regard needed to be given to this and possible implications for the future. Discussion ensued on possible conditions to be added such as screening and buildings to be removed. The Group Manager – Development Management sought clarification regarding the 6 months crossover period to which Councillor Martin Veal responded. The Officer stated that there were 2 containers that would be removed from the yard. There would be an improvement to the setting of the farmhouse which was a Grade II listed building. Conditions could be added such as landscaping and removal of the containers and he recommended that the motion be amended to delegate to Officers to grant permission subject to appropriate conditions. This was accepted by the mover and seconder.

The amended motion was put to the vote and was carried unanimously.

(Note: Councillor Doug Nicol was not present for the voting)

The Committee considered

·  The report of the Divisional Director – Development on various applications for planning permission etc.

·  Oral statements by members of the public etc. on Item Nos. 1-3 and 5, the Speakers List being attached as Appendix 1 to these Minutes

·  An Update Report by the Divisional Director – Development on Item Nos. 1 and 5, which Report 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 Parcel 0153 Chelwood Lane, Marksbury – Erection of solar pv farm and associated works (Resubmission) – The Case Officer reported on this application and his recommendation (A) that the application be referred to the Secretary of State to give him the opportunity to consider whether to exercise his call-in powers in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2009; and (B) subject to the Secretary of State not calling in the application, authorise the Group Manager – Development Management to permit the application subject to conditions. The Update Report referred to letters of support being received and to an error in the report regarding the amount of installed renewable energy capacity in the district.

The applicant’s representative made a statement in support of the application.

Members asked questions about the scheme to which the Officer responded. Councillor Liz Hardman considered that the scheme provided good clean renewable energy which was a much needed commodity. The site would be screened from the road (A368) and there was a 25 year limited permission. She therefore moved the Officer’s recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Manda Rigby.

Members debated the motion. There was some support for the proposal as it would provide clean renewable energy on a site that was not prominent and which would become more screened with further landscaping and thickening of hedgerows.

The motion was put to the vote and was carried 5 voting in favour and 3 against with 1 abstention.

(NOTE: 1) Councillors Ian Gilchrist and Tim Warren had left the meeting for consideration of this application in view of their interests declared earlier in the meeting; and 2) Councillor Doug Nicol left the meeting during the Case Officer’s report as he felt unwell and did not return to the meeting)

Item 2 Somerset Inn, Bath Road, Paulton – Conversion from a public house (Use Class A4) to form a single dwelling (Use Class C3) and associated works – The Case Officer reported on this application and his recommendation to grant permission subject to conditions. He referred to an error in the report regarding the site being outside the housing development boundary when it was actually within the boundary.

The public speakers made their statements against and in favour of the proposal. This was followed by a statement by the Ward Councillor John Bull expressing concerns about the proposal.

Councillor Liz Hardman, as the Ward Member on the Committee,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 175.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson congratulated the Planning Officers on their success rate in winning appeals.

The Committee noted the report.

The Chair stated that this could be Councillor Brian Webber’s last appearance on the Committee as a full time Member. On behalf of the Committee, he extended his thanks to Councillor Webber for his past services to the Committee.