Agenda and minutes

Venue: Brunswick Room - Guildhall, Bath. View directions

Contact: Marie Todd  01225 394414

Items
No. Item

101.

Emergency evacuation procedure

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

Minutes:

The Democratic Services Officer read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

102.

Election of Vice Chairman (if desired)

Minutes:

A Vice Chairman was not required on this occasion.

103.

Apologies for absence and Substitutions

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence or substitutions.

104.

Declarations of Interest

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.

Minutes:

·  Councillor Eleanor Jackson declared an interest in planning application number 16/05498/AR as she knew the Chair of the Parish Council, who was speaking on the item, due to her involvement in the Britain in Bloom competition.  She stated that she would leave the meeting while this item was considered and therefore would not speak or vote.

 

·  Councillor Bryan Organ declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in planning application number 16/05771/FUL - 6 Fairways, Saltford as he was the applicant.  He stated that he would leave the meeting while this item was considered and therefore would not speak or vote.

105.

To Announce any Urgent Business Agreed by the Chairman

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

106.

Items from the Public - To receive Deputations, Statements, Petitions or Questions

(1) At the time of publication, no items had been submitted.

 

(2) To note that, regarding planning applications to be considered, members of the public who have given the requisite notice to the Committee Administrator will be able to make a statement to the Committee immediately before their respective applications are considered. There will be a time limit of 3 minutes for each proposal, ie 3 minutes for the Parish and Town Councils, 3 minutes for the objectors to the proposal and 3 minutes for the applicant, agent and supporters. This allows a maximum of 9 minutes per proposal.

Minutes:

The Democratic Services Officer informed the meeting that there were a number of people wishing to make statements on planning applications and that they would be able to do so when these items were discussed.

107.

Items from Councillors and Co-opted Members

To deal with any petitions or questions from Councillors and where appropriate Co-opted Members

Minutes:

There were no items from Councillors or Co-Opted Members.

108.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 105 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2017.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2017 were confirmed and signed as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

 

Page 7 – paragraph 5 – Add the wording:

 

“Councillor Jackson stated that the proposal would result in an unacceptable loss of amenity to neighbouring properties.”

109.

Site Visit List - Applications for Planning Permission Etc for Determination by the Committee pdf icon PDF 174 KB

Minutes:

The Committee considered:

 

·  A report by the Group Manager (Development Management) on various planning applications.

 

·  An update report by the Group Manager (Development Management)  attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes.

 

·  Oral statements by members of the public and representatives.  A copy of the speakers’ list is attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes.

 

RESOLVED that in accordance with the Committee’s delegated powers, the applications be determined as set out in the decisions list attached as Appendix 3 to these minutes.

 

Item No. 1

Application No. 16/04535/FUL

Site Location: 33 Parklands, High Littleton, BS39 6LB – Erection of a dwelling following demolition of the outbuilding

 

The Case Officer reported on the application and her recommendation to grant planning permission.

 

The registered speaker spoke against the application.

 

Councillor Kew, local ward member, stated that whilst he appreciated the concern of residents he did not feel that the development would be too intrusive.  He noted that the area was already quite densely populated.

 

Councillor Jackson stated that she had found the site visit very helpful.  She stated that the concerns of the neighbours regarding being overlooked should be taken into account.  They would suffer loss of amenity due to the drop in land levels.  If permission were to be granted she felt that an additional condition relating to screening between the new property and 26 Parklands should be included.

 

Councillor Roberts agreed with the need to consider screening and moved that planning permission be granted subject to the inclusion of an additional condition to provide sufficient screening.  This was seconded by Councillor Appleyard.

 

The Team Manager, Development Management, explained that the Committee could delegate authority to officers to negotiate with the applicant to provide appropriate screening or to impose a condition.  He stated that a fence could appear dominant in this location and that a hedge may be more appropriate.

 

Councillor Roberts and Councillor Appleyard agreed to amend the motion to delegate to permit including a condition to ensure that appropriate and reasonable planting/screening was provided by the applicant.

 

Councillor Kew agreed that a hedge would be more appropriate than a high fence.  He suggested that the existing hedge could be retained and extended if necessary.

 

The motion was put to the vote and it was RESOLVED by 6 for, 2 against and 2 abstentions, to DELEGATE TO PERMIT the application subject to the conditions outlined in the report and an additional condition to provide appropriate and adequate planting/screening along the boundary between the new property and 26 Parklands.

110.

Main Plans List - Applications for Planning Permission Etc for Determination by the Committee pdf icon PDF 956 KB

Minutes:

The Committee considered:

 

·  A report by the Group Manager (Development Management) on various planning applications.

 

·  An update report by the Group Manager (Development Management), attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes.

 

·  Statements by members of the public and representatives.  A copy of the speakers’ list is attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes.

 

RESOLVED that in accordance with the delegated powers, the applications be determined as set out in the decisions list attached as Appendix 4 to these minutes.

 

Item No. 1

Application No. 16/04289/EFUL

Site Location: Ministry of Defence, Warminster Road, Bath – Erection of 6 apartment blocks to provide 87 new dwellings (Partial revision of application no. 14/02272/EFUL)

 

The Case Officer reported on the application and his recommendation to delegate to permit.  He explained that the application would mean an increase of 39 units due to the replacement of some terraced housing with apartment blocks.  He also pointed out an amendment to Condition 2 which changed the starting time for working hours on site (Mondays to Fridays) from 7.30am to 8am.

 

The registered speakers spoke for and against the application.

 

The local ward member, Councillor Matt Cochrane, spoke against the application.

 

In response to a question the Case Officer confirmed that the nearest properties to the development were approximately 35 metres away.  He also confirmed that the land sloped away to the North.

 

Councillor Organ stated that he would like the Development Management Committee to be kept informed of progress on the various aspects of the Section 106 agreement if permission was granted.

 

Councillor Crossley asked a question regarding the affordable housing aspect of this scheme.  The Case Officer explained that the scheme permitted in 2014 consisted of 40% affordable housing.  The revised application consisted of 33% affordable housing.  An independent viability appraisal had been carried out and the revised scheme would return a 19.33% profit (as opposed to 13% under the original scheme).  The rent reduction programme had affected profitability along with some unknown development costs.  The surplus £400k would be commuted to the Council to fund the off-site provision of affordable housing.  Councillor Crossley remained concerned at the reduction in the percentage of affordable housing in the development.  The Case Officer confirmed that there was no reduction in the number of affordable housing units which remained at 81.

 

Councillor Appleyard also expressed concern at the reduced percentage of affordable housing and pointed out that house prices were likely to increase once the scheme was completed.  He questioned the viability process. 

 

Councillor Veale stated that he felt the original scheme had been very good but that he could not support the revised application.

 

Councillor Jackson then moved that planning permission be refused for the following reasons:

 

·  the development is an inappropriate development for the gateway to a world heritage site

·  the height of the buildings would have an adverse impact on the amenity of the area

·  the development would have an unacceptable impact on the vista of the city

·  environmental reasons, such as light spillage would impact  ...  view the full minutes text for item 110.

Additional documents:

111.

Quarterly Performance Report - October to December 2016 pdf icon PDF 177 KB

The Committee is asked to note the report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the quarterly performance report for the period from October to December 2016.  Members queried the figure for the number of “invalid” applications which was quoted as being 41%.  The Team Manager agreed to look into this and respond to members after the meeting.

 

RESOLVED to NOTE the report.

112.

New Planning Appeals Lodged, Decisions Received and Dates of Forthcoming Hearings/Inquiries pdf icon PDF 42 KB

To note the report

Minutes:

The Committee considered the appeals report.

 

RESOLVED to NOTE the report.