Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will ask the Committee Administrator to draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

The Democratic Services Officer read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Paul Crossley.  Councillor Rob Appleyard attended as substitute.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

There was no urgent business.

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.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 12^th January 2022 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Committee considered:

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

An update report by the Head of Planning is attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes.

Oral statements by members of the public and representatives on items.  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. 21/03907/FUL

Site Location: 61 Warminster Road, Bathampton, Bath, Bath And North East Somerset, BA2 6RX Installation of roof extension with lift to provide first floor accommodation.

The Case Officer reported on the application and her recommendation to permit.

There were no registered speakers for this application.

The Case Officer responded to questions as follows:

·  The roof will be raised in line with the neighbouring property.

·  The case officer showed on the map the possible public right of way in relation to the application but could not confirm the exact location.

·  Officer opinion was that the walkway will only have transient movement and would cause no significant harm.

Cllr Hounsell stated that the reasons for the site visit given at the last meeting, were to look at the design and street scene - after completing the site visit, he would support the officer’s recommendation.

Cllr Jackson thanked the Chair for arranging the site visit as it helped to provide context.

Cllr Hounsell moved the officer recommendation to permit, and this was seconded by Cllr Bromley.

The motion was put to the vote, and it was RESOLVED unanimously to PERMIT the application subject to the conditions set out in the report.

The following applications will be considered in the morning session of the meeting (from 11am):

• 21/03907/FUL– 61 Warminster Road, Bathampton

• 21/04147/FUL – Frome House, Lower Bristol Road, Westmoreland, Bath

• 21/04507/FUL – Proposed Café, 223 Trajectus Way, Keynsham

The following applications will be considered in the afternoon session of the meeting (from 2pm):

• 221/04626/FUL – Ashfield, Stockwood Vale, Keynsham

• 21/05004/FUL - Clarkson House, 5 Great Stanhope Street, Kingsmead, Bath

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 No. 1 

Application No. 21/04147/FUL? 

Site Location: Frome House, Lower Bristol Road, Westmoreland, Bath 

Enlargement of Frome House and associated change of use from office (Use class E(g)) (Excluding existing ground floor tyre repair centre) to 66 student bedspaces and associated works 

The Case Officer reported on the application and her recommendation to permit. 

A representative from the Bath Preservation Trust spoke against the application. 

The applicant spoke in favour of the application. 

Councillor June Player, local ward member, spoke against the application, she felt that office space is needed in this location and not more student accommodation. Student accommodation has just been built only 35 paces away, so even since the application, the neighborhood has changed and now put into context would have a more detrimental effect, especially as this application is built right up to the pavement. With narrow pavements in this area this will add to the hemmed in feeling already now present. Councillor Player requests the committee complete a site visit if this application is not rejected.

Councillor Dine Romero, local ward member, spoke against the application with concerns that the lack of parking on the site will cause a negative impact in neighboring roads. The proposed five story building will tower over people, and this will cause a loss of amenity in Albany Road. The constant noise from Bathwick Tyres and particulates coming from the business does not fit well with this development above. She supported Councillor Player in asking for a site visit if this is application is not rejected.

The Case Officer then responded to questions as follows: 

·  No marketing evidence of viability as office development has been provided by the applicant, but the officer assessment is that in principle the application complies with Policy E1B.

·  The Local Plan Partial Update topic paper for student accommodation shows a shortfall of 648 Purpose Built Student Accommodation places, and is a material consideration, but given limited weight in the officer’s report.

·  The Local Plan partial update has not yet been adopted so can only be given limited weight.

·  The principle of student accommodation is assessed against policy B5, for this application it is only part of the overall consideration when assessing the planning balance.

·  The scheme was considered by Officered to be acceptable in terms of building height policy; the Committee would have to make its own conclusion on appropriateness.

·  The student management plan has been included as a condition in the update report to address parking and refuse issues. If the committee permit the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 99.

The Committee is asked to note the quarterly performance report from October to December 2021.

The Committee noted the quarterly performance report from October to December 2021.

The Committee is asked to note the report.

The Committee considered the appeals report.

RESOLVED to NOTE the report.