Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Marie Todd  01225 394414

Items
No. Item

37.

Apologies for absence and Substitutions

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

38.

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:

There were no declarations of interest.

39.

To Announce any Urgent Business Agreed by the Chairman

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

40.

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.

41.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 204 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 26 August 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 August 2020 were confirmed as a correct record.

42.

Main Plans List - Applications for Planning Permission Etc for Determination by the Committee pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

The Committee considered:

 

·  A report by the Head of Planning on various planning applications.

 

·  An update report by the Head of Planning 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 delegated powers, the applications be determined as set out in the decisions list attached as Appendix 3 to these minutes.

 

Item Nos. 1 and 2

Application Nos. 19/04933/FUL and 19/04934/LBA

Site Location: Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Upper Borough Walls, Bath – Change of use from hospital (Use Class D1) to 164 bedroom hotel (Use Class C1) and 66sq m of restaurant/café (Use Class A3); to include publicly accessible restaurant, health spa, bar, lounge/meeting spaces at ground and first floor; external alterations to East Wing roof including removal of lift room and flu, demolition and replacement of roof top plant area and extension to existing pitched roof; demolition and replacement of modern infill development to south elevation and new infill development to north elevation of the East Wing internal courtyard and new glazed roof to spa area; removal of modern eternal staircase to rear of West Wing and replacement infill development and glazed link to new extension; demolition and replacement of 3rd storey extension to West Wing; alterations to the roof of West Wing; including new lift shaft and plant screen; erection of 3.5 storey extension to rear of West Wing with glazed link/conservatory space; removal of two trees and replacement tree planting; landscaping and associated works.

 

Listed Building Consent: Internal and external alterations associated with proposed conversion to hotel (Use Class C1); demolition and replacement of modern infill extension, new glazed roof and new infill development of northern elevation to internal courtyard of East Wing; alterations to the roof of East and West Wings; removal of external staircase to West Wing and replacement with glazed link to new extension and replacement infill development; abutment of new glazed structure with West Wing chapel south wall; demolition and replacement of 3rd floor extension and replacement infill development; abutment of new glazed structure with west wing chapel south wall; demolition and replacement of 3rd floor extension to West Wing and additional plant screen and lift overrun to West Wing roof; partial demolition of the boundary wall on Parsonage Lane; construction of replacement glass screen to main internal ground floor lobby of West Wing; changes to internal layout and consequential changes to internal partitions and other fabric.

 

The Chair explained that it had not been possible to physically visit the site due to the current situation with Covid-19 and the need to maintain the safety of members, officers and members of the public.  The Committee had, instead, undertaken a virtual site visit in which they viewed films of the site prepared by officers along with photographs and drawings.  Members also have local knowledge of the area.  He reassured members of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

Update Report - Appendix 1 pdf icon PDF 94 KB

Additional documents:

43.

Tree Preservation Order 2020 - Land to the North of The Orchard, High Street, Pensford No. 3 pdf icon PDF 241 KB

To consider making a Tree Preservation Order.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report regarding the making of a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) because an objection had been received from the landowner following the making of the Order.  The Order had been supported by Publow and Pensford Parish Council and representations from three residents.

 

A local resident spoke in favour of the TPO.

 

The Chair read out a statement from Cllr Paul May, local ward member, in favour of the TPO.  This stated that the prominent site was a valued natural area unsuitable for development. If the trees were removed without any care for the environment this would seriously harm the visual amenity of the site in the greenbelt.

 

The Case Officer confirmed that there were no obvious problems with the health of the trees and that a recent arboricultural report stated that no work was required at this time.

 

Cllr Rigby noted the prominent position of the trees.

 

Cllr Jackson moved the officer recommendation stating that the trees should be preserved for both ecological and aesthetical reasons.

 

Cllr Clarke seconded the motion and stated that a sign should be erected on the site stating that the trees are protected.

 

The motion was put to the vote and it was RESOLVED unanimously to confirm the Tree Preservation Order without modification.

44.

Proposal to Extend the Member Call-In Period pdf icon PDF 152 KB

To consider a proposal for the member call-in period to be extended to two days after the closure of the public consultation period.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report regarding the consultation period for members to call a planning application to committee.

 

Members discussed the advantages and disadvantages of making a change to the scheme of delegation.  Disadvantages included transparency, and the risk of a reduction in performance levels relating to timescales.  Advantages included the ability to engage with Parish Councils before calling in a decision and less chance of missing an important application.

 

It was pointed out that the Council had recently changed the scheme of delegation to extend the consultation period for members to call an application to committee to five weeks.  Some members felt the Council should wait to see the impact of this change before making another.  It was pointed out that members can call-in an application and then withdraw this if necessary.

 

It was noted that the majority of agents were in favour of a change and it was felt that it would be an easy process with only a small number of applications falling into this category.

 

RESOLVED: To recommend to Council to change the planning scheme of delegation, for a trial period of one year, to allow members to call applications to the Planning Committee up to two days after the closure of the public consultation period. 

 

(Moved by Cllr McCabe and seconded by Cllr Hodge – 8 for and 2 abstentions).

45.

New Planning Appeals Lodged, Decisions Received and Dates of Forthcoming Hearings/Inquiries pdf icon PDF 76 KB

The Committee is asked to note the report.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the appeals report.

 

RESOLVED to NOTE the report.

46.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The Committee is invited to pass the following resolution:

 

Having been satisfied that the public interest would be better served by not disclosing relevant information, the Committee, in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, RESOLVES that the public shall be excluded from the meeting for agenda item 11, and that the reporting of that part of the meeting shall be prevented under Section 100A(5A), because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended. 

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That, having been satisfied that the public interest would be better served by not disclosing relevant information, in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item and that the reporting of that part of the meeting shall be prevented under Section 100A(5A), because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended.

47.

Committee Enforcement Update

To receive an update regarding an enforcement case (report to follow).

Minutes:

The Committee received an update regarding an ongoing enforcement case.

 

RESOLVED: To note the update report.