Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Corrina Haskins  01225 394357

Media

Items
No. Item

20.

Emergency evacuation procedure

The Chair will ask the Democratic Services Officer to draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Democratic Services Officer read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

21.

Apologies for absence and Substitutions

Additional documents:

Minutes:

22.

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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cllr Matt McCabe declared an interest in application 22/01093/REG03, Windsor Bridge, Windsor Bridge Road, Twerton, Bath due to his position as Cabinet Assistant as this was an application by Bath and North East Somerset Council.  He confirmed he would withdraw from the meeting during consideration of this item and take no part in the debate or vote.

23.

To Announce any Urgent Business Agreed by the Chair

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

24.

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

To note that, regarding planning applications to be considered, members of the public who have given the requisite notice to the Democratic Services Officer 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, i.e., 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.

Additional documents:

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.

25.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 1 MB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2022.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cllr Eleanor Jackson asked for an update on the application 21/02973/OUT, Parcel 3589, Silver Street, Midsomer Norton which was deferred from the previous meeting to allow officers to explore options for providing a pedestrian crossing as part of the development.  The Planning Officer confirmed that the options were still being considered and it was likely that the application would come back to the next meeting in August.

 

Cllr Eleanor Jackson proposed that the minutes be confirmed as a correct record subject to the correct spelling of complement on page 10 and the inclusion of “Norton” after Midsomer on page 11.  This was seconded by Cllr Paul Crossley and;

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 29 June 2022 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

26.

Site Visit List - Applications for Planning Permission Etc for Determination by the Committee

There are no site visit applications to determine.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no site visit applications.

 

27.

Main Plans List - Applications for Planning Permission Etc for Determination by the Committee pdf icon PDF 487 KB

The following applications will be considered in the morning session starting at 11am:

 

1.  22/01093/REG03 Windsor Bridge, Windsor Bridge Road, Twerton, Bath

2.  22/01448/FUL Mill Farm, Vicarage Lane, Compton Dando

3.  22/01449/LBA Mill Farm, Vicarage Lane, Compton Dando

 

The following application will be considered in the afternoon session starting at 2pm:

 

4.  22/00371/FUL Windyridge, Newtown, Moorledge Road, Chew Magna

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered: 

A report by the Head of Planning on various planning applications and update report in relation to item no. 1 - 22/01093/REG03 Windsor Bridge, Windsor Bridge Road, Twerton, Bath. 

 

Oral statements by members of the public and representatives.  A copy of the speakers’ list is attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes. 

 

RESOLVED that in accordance with the delegated powers, the applications be determined as set out in the Main decisions list attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes. 

 

 

Item No. 1

Application No: 22/01093/REG03

Site Location: Windsor Bridge, Windsor Bridge Road, Twerton, Bath

 

Cllr Matt McCabe withdrew from meeting during consideration of the application.

 

Cllr Brian Simmons arrived late and therefore did not participate in the debate or vote.

 

The Case Officer introduced the report relating to the application to demolish the redundant gas pipeline bridge and secure public realm improvements and confirmed that the site spanned two wards, Westmoreland and Kingsmead.  He reported that the site fell within the Bath World Heritage Site and part of it was in the conservation area and also that the River Avon was a site of nature conservation interest.  He advised the Committee that different options were considered before demolition was agreed as the best way forward:

 

1.  Do nothing.  This would run the risk of parts of the bridge falling off into the river and/or towpath.

2.  Repairing the bridge.  This would be a major refurbishment with the risk of escalating costs as well as ongoing maintenance costs.

3.  Repairing the bridge to use as a pedestrian/cycle route.  There were difficulties in pursuing this option, the Council did not own the land and would require a compulsory purchase order to access the route and there was no obvious connection point with Windsor Bridge Road.  The Council had an active travel strategy which safeguarded nearby Locksbrook Bridge as a sustainable travel route.

 

He advised that the option to demolish the bridge would result in a loss of trees due to the temporary support structure required for the works, but that this had been reduced from 18 to 13 and replacement trees would be planted both on and off-site along the river line.  The Committee noted that any refurbishment works would also have resulted in the loss of trees.

 

He confirmed the officer recommendation that the application be permitted.

The following public representations were received:

1.  Chris Beaver, agent, speaking in support of the application.

 

In response to Members’ questions, it was confirmed:

1.  In relation to the mitigation for the bats, there would be both on-site and off-site mitigation including habitat replacement.  The 12-month period was considered to be a reasonable timescale for the off-site mitigation. 

2.  The trees that had been saved were largely those on the edge of the site.  Alternative methods had been considered to deconstruct the bridge and avoid the loss of further trees, but these had not proven to be viable. 

3.  Officers confirmed that the loss of trees would not cause  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

28.

New Planning Appeals Lodged, Decisions Received and Dates of Forthcoming Hearings/Inquiries pdf icon PDF 67 KB

The Committee is asked to note the report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the appeals report. 

 

In response to a question, it was confirmed that a practising barrister had been appointed by the Council in relation to the appeal by Resourceful Earth, Charlton Road.

 

Cllr Eleanor Jackson gave an update that the appeal in relation to 3 Ruskin Road had been dismissed and thanked officers for their work in supporting the inquiry. 

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

20220727 Speaking List.doc pdf icon PDF 13 KB

Additional documents:

29.

Quarterly Performance Report 1 April - 30 June 2022 pdf icon PDF 979 KB

The Committee is asked to note the report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Quarterly Performance Report.

 

Cllr Paul Crossley acknowledged the high percentage of applications being processed and officers’ support in the appeals process.

 

In response to questions about the enforcement service, the Planning Officer confirmed that there had been an increase in the number of cases and some staffing changes in the team, but all posts were currently filled.  He reported that there were 3 Enforcement Officers in post along with an Apprentice and the Enforcement Manager, however the Manager would be moving to a different role in the organisation at the end of the summer and therefore his role would be subject to a recruitment process.

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.