Agenda and minutes

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

The Democratic Services Officer read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Duncan Hounsell and Cllr Toby Simon.  Cllr Alex Beaumont and Cllr Fiona Gourley were in attendance as substitutes.

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 4.4 Appendix 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.

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

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 Wednesday 26 July 2023 as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

It was moved by Cllr Paul Crossley, seconded by Cllr Tim Warren and:

RESOLVED  that the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 26 July 2023 be confirmed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

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

1.  22/03580/FUL Former Welton Bibby And Baron Factory, Station Road, Welton, Midsomer Norton

The Committee considered:

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

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

(1)  22/03580/FUL Former Welton Bibby And Baron Factory, Station Road, Welton, Midsomer Norton

The Case Officer introduced his report which considered the application for enabling works including demolition, groundworks, flood mitigation and formation of a 2m footpath.

He gave a verbal update to confirm:

1.  The report had been updated since the previous meeting:

1.  the application had been screened under the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (EIA) 2017 and it was concluded that it did not represent EIA development.

2.  Condition 3 relating to highways improvements and Condition 6 relating to the rebuilding of brewery façade had now been removed as conditions and replacement obligations included as part of a Section 106 Agreement instead.

3.  Heritage policies had been clarified. 

2.  Petitions had been received in support of the application totalling 218 signatures, although one signature was accompanied by the comment ‘keep as it is please’.

He confirmed the officer recommendation that officers be delegated to permit subject to:

1.  A Section 106 Agreement to cover the following:

1.  Highways works including:

  a.  Widening of the Station Road carriageway.

  b.  Provision of a 2m footpath along west side of Station Road.

  c.  Widening of footpath to 1.8m along east side of Station Road

  d.  Provision of two pedestrian crossing points on Station Road.

2.  Submission and approval of programme relating to the demolition and rebuilding of the former brewery building façade.

2.  Suitable conditions.

The following public representations were received:

1.  Cllr Michael Moxham, Midsomer Norton Town Council, speaking in support of the application.

2.  Jane Lewis, local resident, objecting to the application.

3.  Nigel Whitehead, agent, speaking in support of the application.

Cllr Michael Auton was in attendance as local ward member and raised the following points:

1.  The current pavement was narrow, and it was difficult for pedestrians to navigate.  The proposal to widen the footpath would benefit pedestrians.

2.  The site had been vacant for a number of years and was in need of redevelopment.  Seagulls were nesting on the site and causing a public nuisance.

3.  He had received a lot of representations from local residents who wanted to see the site redeveloped.  He had not received any representations about retaining the brewery building. 

4.  He asked the Committee to support the application.

In response to Members’ questions, it was confirmed:

1.  There would not be an impact on Station Road if an additional bus service was introduced as the road was already used by large vehicles.  The proposed highway improvements would not solve all issues along the full stretch of the road and other works may be required when the site was further developed in the future. 

2.  The application did conflict with policy SSV4 which stated the brewery building should be retained,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

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

1.  22/04498/FUL The Cottage, Sutton Hill Road, Bishop Sutton, Bristol, Bath And North East Somerset

2.  23/01759/FUL 8 Rennie Close, Bathwick, Bath, Bath and North East Somerset

The Committee considered:

A report and update report by the Head of Planning on various planning applications under the main applications list.

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.

(1)  22/04498/FUL The Cottage, Sutton Hill Road, Bishop Sutton, Bristol, Bath And North East Somerset

The Planning Officer introduced the report which considered an application for a single storey front extension. 

He confirmed the recommendation that the application be refused as it was considered overly dominant and harmful to the character of the cottage.

The following public representations were received:

1.  Barney Bonner, agent, supporting the application.

In response to Members’ questions, it was confirmed:

1.  The site was not in the green belt and therefore the Committee did not need to consider whether the proposal was 30% larger than the original footprint.  However, officers had made a judgement that the application was too large and dominant.  The proposal was smaller than the existing garage.

2.  Although the Parish Council support of the application was dependent on a condition to control artificial lighting, officers did not consider this was a reasonable condition for an application of this size. 

3.  In relation to the comments made by neighbours, these were building regulation matters and not a consideration for the Committee.

Cllr Tim Warren acknowledged the support of the Parish Council in relation to the application and expressed his view was that the proposal was appropriate within the housing development boundary.  He proposed that officers be delegated to permit the application subject to suitable conditions to ensure the proposal was built in accordance with plans.  This was seconded by Cllr Eleanor Jackson who stated that a further reason would be that the development would allow the applicants to work from home which was a material consideration in the context of the climate emergency.  Cllr Tim Warren agreed with this additional reason as mover of the motion. 

Cllr Paul Crossley spoke in support of the application, he considered the design to be sympathetic and did not consider that it would cause substantial harm. 

On being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED (8 in favour, 0 against - unanimous)

RESOLVED  that officers be delegated to permit the application subject to suitable conditions for the following reasons:

(1)  The development was appropriate in its location within the housing development boundary.

(2)  There was an additional environmental benefit of enabling the applicants to work from home.

(2)  23/01759/FUL 8 Rennie Close, Bathwick, Bath, Bath and North East Somerset

The Case Officer introduced the report which considered the application for the erection of a ground floor extension to the rear and installation of a roof light.

She confirmed her recommendation that the application be permitted subject to the conditions set out in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

The Committee is asked to note the report.

Cllr Eleanor Jackson reported that Westfield Parish Council welcomed the outcome of the appeal in relation to Aviemore, Fosseway, Westfield.  She expressed disappointment with the outcome of the appeal in relation to The Magpies and requested that the application on an adjacent plot be referred to committee under Chair’s delegation.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

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