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 Tim Warren.

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.

1.  Tour of Completed Development Sites
The Chair thanked officers for organising the annual tour of completed development sites and confirmed that Members had found the tour useful.

2.  Team Manager – Development Management

The Chair reported that Chris Gomm would be leaving at the end of the month to take up a position in another authority.  On behalf of the Committee, Cllr Eleanor Jackson thanked him for his work at B&NES and wished him well in his new role.

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 20 September 2023 as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

It was moved by Cllr Eleanor Jackson, seconded by Cllr Toby Simon and:

RESOLVED  that the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 20 September 2023 be confirmed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

There are no site visit applications for consideration.

There were no site visit applications for consideration and it was noted that the application deferred from the previous meeting was scheduled to come back to the November meeting.

The following items will be considered at 11am:

1.  23/01535/PIP - Strathmore, Staunton Lane, Whitchurch, Bristol, Bath And North East Somerset

2.  23/02676/FUL - 22 Rockliffe Avenue, Bathwick, Bath, Bath And North East Somerset

3.  23/03048/VAR - Parcel 2000, Silver Street, Midsomer Norton, 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)  23/01535/PIP - Strathmore, Staunton Lane, Whitchurch, Bristol, Bath And North East Somerset

The Planning Officer introduced the report which considered a permission in principle planning application for the erection of one dwelling and associated works. 

She confirmed the recommendation that permission in principle be granted.

The following public representations were received:

1.  Isabelle Reynolds, agent, speaking in support of the application.

In response to Members’ questions, it was confirmed:

1.  In relation to permission in principle applications, an assessment could only be made in relation to the location, land use and amount of development.  If permission was granted, the applicant would have 3 years to submit the technical details.  A permission in principle did not mean that an application for the technical details would be granted if technical details did not prove to be satisfactory.

2.  The Planning Inspector’s decision to allow an appeal for 3 infill dwellings at a nearby site had not set a precedent, but consideration needed to be given to the Inspector’s conclusion that decision makers should, when determining whether or not a site can be considered in a village, have regard to the situation 'on the ground' as well as to any relevant policies.

3.  In relation to the highways objection raised in 2017 which was no longer of concern to officers, this related to a private road.  Since 2017, there had been the Inspector’s decision to grant an appeal on a nearby site and in view of this, it was considered that a refusal on highway grounds could not be warranted. 

4.  The site did include a tree which was not the subject of a Tree Preservation Order. 

5.  Some weight could be given to an application being self-build. 

6.  There were some rare cases where personal circumstances could be considered but, on the whole, personal circumstances were not a material consideration.

7.  The application site was within the curtilage of Strathmore and would be located in the side garden.  There was no difference to its location in terms of openness than if it had been located on a separate piece of land.

8.  In terms of the green belt location, if the principle of infill was considered appropriate, there was no need for very special circumstances to justify the development.

A number of Members expressed a general concern that the decision of the Planning Inspector to grant permission for a nearby application as infill would effectively lead to the redrawing of the boundary for housing development resulting in a piecemeal approach to further developments.

Cllr Ian Halsall stated that he  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

The Committee is asked to note the report.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Chair drew attention to the improved performance in relation to the number of enforcement cases being closed and it was noted that, after a period of vacancies, the Enforcement Team was now fully staffed.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.