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 required

An apology for absence was received from Councillor David Veale whose substitute was Councillor Sally Davis

Members who have an interest to declare are asked to state:

(a) the Item No and site in which they have an interest; (b) the nature of the interest; and (c) whether the interest is personal or personal and prejudicial.

Any Member who is unsure about the above should seek advice from the Monitoring Officer prior to the meeting in order to expedite matters at the meeting itself.

There was none

There was none

The Senior Democratic Services Officer informed the meeting that there was a member of the public wishing to make a statement on Report 12 relating to a Tree Preservation Order at Gaia, Widcombe Hill, Bath, who would be able to do so when reaching that item on the Agenda. There were various members of the public etc wishing to make statements on planning applications in Report 10 and they would be able to make their statements when reaching those items in that Report.

There was none

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 14^th March 2012

The Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 14^th March 2012 were approved as a correct record and were signed by the Chair

The Senior Professional – Major Developments to provide an oral update

The Chair stated that the Senior Professional – Major Development had no matters on which to update the Committee but if Members had any queries, they could contact the Officer direct

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 2, 3 and 6, the Speakers List being attached as Appendix 1 to these Minutes

·  An Update Report by the Development Manager on Item Nos 3-6, a copy of which Report is 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 The Galleries Shop, Freshford Lane, Freshford – Erection of extension to Freshford Shop to increase café area and decking – The Development Team Leader reported on this application and the recommendation to Permit with conditions. He reminded Members that the application had been considered at the March ordinary meeting where Officers had recommended Refusal. The Committee deferred the application for it to be advertised as a Departure from the Development Plan and to give the applicants the opportunity to demonstrate very special circumstances to outweigh the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness. However since that meeting, the National Planning Policy Framework had been published which allowed exceptions including “the extension or alteration of a building provided that it does not result in disproportionate additions over and above the size of the original building.” This enabled Officers to recommend that permission now be granted. However, the Departure advertisement did not expire until the day after this meeting and therefore he amended the Recommendation to Delegate to Officers subject to no new objections being received up to the expiry of the advertisement period and subject to the Conditions set out in the Report.

After some clarification by Members, Councillor Neil Butters moved the revised Recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Martin Veal. Following a brief debate, the motion was put to the vote and was carried, voting being 11 in favour and 1 against.

Item 2 Folly Farm, Folly Lane, Stowey – Change of use from Class C2 to Mixed Use combining Classes C2/D2 for residential education, wedding ceremonies and receptions with ancillary café, teaching and workshop (Retrospective) – The Case Officer reported on this application and his Recommendation to Permit with conditions. He reminded Members that the application had been considered at the February Committee meeting. However, third parties had not received notification letters of the meeting which had therefore denied them the opportunity to make representation. He referred Members to the receipt of a further letter of objection resulting from consultation responses received the day before and which had been passed to the Chair and the Group Leaders. He summarised the content of the letter bringing the Committee’s attention to the salient points and the traffic count submitted in the letter of representation. He advised Members that this did not alter his Recommendation; however, he recommended that a further Condition be added to limit the number of weekend wedding ceremonies to 35 per year.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 160.

To consider a recommendation to confirm this Tree Preservation Order without modification

The Committee considered the report of the Senior Arboricultural Officer which (1) referred to a Tree Preservation Order provisionally made on 23^rd November 2011 to protect a belt of trees and an individual tree on land adjoining Tesco, Old Mills, Paulton as they made a significant contribution to the landscape and amenity of the area; (2) advised that an objection to the Order had been received on behalf of Tesco in relation to the north-south section of the belt of trees only; (3) informed that Paulton Parish Council supported the Order; and (4) considered the objection and recommended that the Order be confirmed without modification to ensure the retention of the trees.

The Senior Arboricultural Officer reported on the matter by means of a power point presentation. Members discussed the matter. Councillor Liz Hardman supported the Tree Preservation Order and therefore moved the Officer recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Martin Veal. Members briefly debated the motion.

RESOLVED that the Tree Preservation Order entitled “Bath and North East Somerset Council (Land adjacent to Tesco, Old Mills, Paulton No 12) Tree Preservation Order 2011” be confirmed without modification.

To consider a recommendation to confirm this Tree Preservation Order without modification

The Committee considered the report of the Senior Arboricultural Officer which (1) referred to a Tree Preservation Order provisionally made on 15^th December 2011 to protect a group of trees on land at Gaia, Widcombe Hill, Bath, as they made a significant contribution to the landscape and amenity of the area; (2) advised that an objection to the Order had been made by the owners of the land; (3) informed that a number of local residents supported the Tree Preservation Order; and (4) considered the objection and recommended that the Order be confirmed without modification to ensure the retention of the trees.

The Senior Arboricultural Officer reported on the matter by means of a powerpoint presentation. The owner of the property made a statement against the Order being confirmed. The Officer answered queries by Members and the Chair read out a statement by the Ward Councillor Ian Gilchrist who couldn’t attend the meeting and who supported the owner’s objections. Members discussed the matter. Councillor Bryan Organ considered that it would be useful to see the site and the trees and therefore moved that consideration be deferred for a Site Visit which was seconded by Councillor Martin Veal.

RESOLVED to defer consideration for a Site Visit

To note the report

Members asked questions about various aspects of the Performance Report to which the Development Manager responded. Regarding new posts being created in the Development Control Section, Councillor Martin Veal stated that it would be useful if they could attend a meeting of the Committee as soon as they took up their positions. He congratulated the Development Manager and her Team on dealing with the number of planning applications given the workload levels. The Chair on behalf of the Committee echoed these sentiments. Councillor Les Kew stated that it would also be useful if Committee Members could meet the newly recruited Officers after the Committee meeting that they would be attending.

The Committee noted the report.

To note the report

The Committee noted the report