Agenda and minutes

The Chair will ask the Committee Administrator to draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 7

The Senior Democratic Services Officer read out the procedure

A Vice Chair was not required

There was an apology for absence from Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones whose substitute was Councillor Brian Webber

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.

There was none

There was none.

The Chair informed members of the public that the planning applications at Cleveland House, Bathwick (Items 2 and 3, Report 10) and land opposite 199 Bailbrook Lane, Lower Swainswick (Item 4, Report 10) had been withdrawn from the Agenda and would not be considered at this meeting.

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

There was none

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 3^rd September 2014

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 3^rd September 2014 were approved as a correct record and were signed by the Chair

The Committee considered

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

·  An Update Report by the Group Manager on Item 2, a copy of which is included in the Minutes as Appendix 1

·  Oral statements by members of the public etc. on Item Nos. 1 and 2, 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 3 to these Minutes.

Item 1 Land adjacent to Tree Tops, Firgrove Lane, Peasedown – Erection of straw bale, timber framed living/work unit (Retrospective) – The Case Officer reported on this application and his recommendation to refuse permission.

The applicant made a statement in favour of the proposal. The Ward Councillor Nathan Hartley then made a statement in support of the application. Councillor Manda Rigby informed the meeting that the other Ward Councillor Sarah Bevan couldn’t attend the meeting but also supported the proposal.

Councillor Malcolm Lees sought clarification on whether the site was outside the Green Belt. The Group Manager confirmed that the site was indeed outside the Green Belt and, though adjacent to it, would not impact on its setting.

Councillor Dave Laming moved that the recommendation be overturned and that permission be granted. The motion was seconded by Councillor Malcolm Lees.

Members debated the motion. Councillor Les Kew opened the debate. He stated that the development was outside the housing development boundary and a green field site and queried whether anyone with a bit of land being used for some agricultural purpose could be granted permission for a dwelling. Although he had sympathy with the applicant, this was a policy issue and it would set a dangerous precedent if permission was granted. The Group Manager agreed that there was a consistency issue. There was an obligation for the applicant to demonstrate that an agricultural use required that workers or a family live on the site. An Agricultural Appraiser had been appointed who advised that the use did not generate the need for someone to live on the site. The Development Plan needed to be taken into consideration as to whether this was an essential use and this application did not meet that test. If the application was refused, the Council would need to consider if it was expedient to take enforcement action and an enforcement report would be formulated for consideration by Committee. If enforcement action was approved, there would be an amount of time for the occupants to find alternative accommodation. Regarding a few queries by Members regarding building regulations approval, measures to avoid setting a precedent and rearing alpacas on the site, the Group Manager stated that building regulations were not for consideration at this meeting; it would be very difficult to grant permission without setting a precedent; and specialist advice would be required regarding alpacas which at the moment was a hypothetical issue.

Members continued to debate the motion.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

The Committee considered

·  a report by the Group Manager – Development Management on various planning applications

·  an oral statement on Item 1, 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 The Chase, Rectory Lane, Compton Martin – Erection of single storey extension and alterations to the footprint (Retrospective) – The Case Officer reported on this application and her recommendation to grant permission subject to conditions. She reported on further submissions received.

The applicant made a statement in favour of the proposal.

Councillor Vic Pritchard raised various queries to which the Case Officer responded. After a point of clarification, Councillor Malcolm Lees moved the Officer recommendation to refuse permission which was seconded by Councillor Dave Laming.

Members debated the motion. Various queries were raised to which the Case Officer replied. The Group Manager stated that whether or not the extension could be seen from the road was a matter that should be taken into account. Members generally felt that the increased size was minor and would have been granted permission if the proposal had been submitted in its current form.

The motion was put to the vote and was carried, 9 voting in favour and 1 against with 3 abstentions.

Items 2 and 3 Cleveland House, Sydney Road, Bathwick, Bath – Erection of a single storey side extension and first floor terrace, including internal alterations, demolition of existing single storey extension (Revised proposal) (Ref 14/01380/FUL); and Internal and external alterations to include the erection of a single storey side extension and first floor terrace, following demolition of existing single storey extension (Ref 03181/LBA) – These applications were withdrawn from the Agenda and were not considered

Item 4 Land opposite 199 Bailbrook Lane, Lower Swainswick, Bath – Erection of 2 detached dwellings with retained open space – This application was withdrawn from the Agenda and was not considered

Item 5 Abbots Barn, Cameley Lane, Hinton Blewett – Erection of 1 dwelling house (Outline application with some matters reserved) – The Case Officer reported on this application and her recommendation to refuse permission.

The Ward Councillor Tim Warren made a statement on the application.

Councillor Malcolm Lees moved the Officer recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Dave Laming.

It was agreed that there were strong planning policies on which to refuse permission.

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

The report was noted