Agenda and minutes

Venue: Brunswick Room - Guildhall, Bath. View directions

Contact: Marie Todd  01225 394414

Items
No. Item

124.

Emergency evacuation procedure

The Chairman will ask the Committee Administrator to draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 7

Minutes:

The Democratic Services Officer read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

125.

Election of Vice Chairman (if desired)

Minutes:

A Vice Chairman was not required on this occasion.

126.

Apologies for absence and Substitutions

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence or substitutions.

127.

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.

128.

To Announce any Urgent Business Agreed by the Chairman

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

129.

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.

130.

Items from Councillors and Co-opted Members

To deal with any petitions or questions from Councillors and where appropriate Co-opted Members

Minutes:

There were no items from Councillors or Co-Opted Members.

131.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 99 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2017.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2017 were confirmed and signed as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

 

Minute No. 121 – Item No. 2 – Application No. 16/04499/FUL – paragraph 4, line 2, after the words “She stated that the conservation policy” add the words “statement for Midsomer Norton”.

132.

Site Visit List - Applications for Planning Permission Etc for Determination by the Committee pdf icon PDF 205 KB

Minutes:

The Committee considered:

 

·  A report by the Group Manager (Development Management) on various planning applications.

 

·  An update report by the Group Manager (Development Management) on item no 1 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 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. 16/06124/FUL

Site Location: 14 Audley Grove, Lower Weston, Bath, BA1 3BS – Erection of 1 dwelling, car parking and associated landscaping in rear garden of existing dwelling

 

The Case Officer reported on the application and her recommendation to permit.  She informed the Committee that some further objections had been received but that no new material planning issues had been raised.

 

The registered speakers spoke for and against the application.

 

Councillor Chris Pearce, local ward member, spoke against the application.

 

In response to a question the Case Officer explained that the Ecologist had not felt that an ecology report was required for this application.

 

Councillor Jackson noted that there had already been infill development in the area and felt that this was a good design.  She then moved that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.  This was seconded by Councillor Appleyard.

 

Councillor Kew supported the proposal and pointed out that the location was already a built up area.

 

Councillor Roberts felt that the house and design were acceptable but that the development would change the nature of the street.  This could set a precedent and could lead to more houses being built in the area.  Officers explained that each application had to be considered on its own merits.

 

The motion was then put to the vote and there were 4 votes in favour, 5 votes against and 1 abstention.  The motion was therefore LOST.

 

Councillor Roberts then moved that the application be refused due to the detrimental effect on the amenities of the neighbouring properties (overlooking and loss of light), increased activity representing a nuisance, overdevelopment of the site and inadequate vehicular access.  This was seconded by Councillor Organ.

 

The Group Manager, Development Management, explained that it would be difficult to defend a precedent or density reason for refusal if the applicant went to appeal and that there was no objection from the highway authority to the development on grounds of highway safety.

 

The motion was then put to the vote and there were 3 votes in favour, 6 votes against and 1 abstention.  The motion was therefore LOST.

 

The Senior Lawyer explained that it was open to Members to put forward further motions until a positive decision was reached on a motion as the 2 motions at this point had failed.

 

Councillor Appleyard then moved that, having reflected on the advice provided by officers, the Committee delegate to permit the application subject to conditions and the rear fence-line being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 132.

133.

Main Plans List - Applications for Planning Permission Etc for Determination by the Committee pdf icon PDF 7 MB

Minutes:

The Committee considered:

 

·  A report by the Group Manager (Development Management) on various planning applications.

 

·  An update report by the Group Manager (Development Management) 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 4 to these minutes.

 

Item No. 1

Application No: 16/04818/EREREG03

Site Location: Bath Quays South Development Site, Riverside Business Park, Westmoreland, Bath – Mixed-use development of land bounded by Lower Bristol Road, Riverside Court, River Avon and Maritime House with vehicular access via Riverside Road and Lower Bristol Road comprising:

 

(1)  Detailed Application for the erection of an office building (Use Class B1 – 5,017sqm GIA), change of use of and alterations to Newark Works and adjacent buildings to provide Creative Employment Workspace (Use Class B1, A1, A3, D1, D2, - 4,539sqm GIA, non-B1 uses not more than 10% of the total floor area).

(2)  Outline Application (Access, Layout and Scale to be approved) for the erection of building(s) to accommodate up to 5,027sqm of residential accommodation (up to 60 units, Use Class C3) and up to 193sqm GIA of retail space (Use Class A1, A2 or A3).

 

Associated development comprising demolition of existing buildings, provision of new public realm, landscaping and infrastructure works.

 

Item No. 2

Application No: 16/04819/REG13

Site Location: Bath Quays South Development Site, Riverside Business Park, Westmoreland, Bath – Internal and external alterations to Newark Works (including West Machine Shop and Smithy) and demolition of Foundry and Boiler House

 

The Case Officer reported on the applications and his recommendation to delegate to permit subject to amendments to the conditions.  He explained that the applications had been amended by the applicants as a result of some of the objections received.  The update report outlined the issues regarding the withdrawal of BMT (prospective occupiers of the new office building) from the scheme.

 

The registered speakers spoke in favour and against the application.

 

Councillor Becker spoke as local member.  He stated that while he had no objection to the development of the site he was not happy with the design.  He felt that it contradicted the Placemaking Plan Policies and that the traditional nature of Bath should be celebrated.  He felt that this development was not in the public interest and asked the Committee to reject this design and bring back an enhanced proposal.

 

In response to a query regarding the withdrawal of BMT the Case Officer stated that any potential harm to the development had been considered and the principle of the scheme remained acceptable.

 

Councillor Jackson asked why there was no affordable housing on this site.  The Case Officer explained that the application had been supported by a financial appraisal which advised that affordable housing would not be viable for the development.  A review mechanism would be proposed and the question  ...  view the full minutes text for item 133.

Additional documents:

134.

New Planning Appeals Lodged, Decisions Received and Dates of Forthcoming Hearings/Inquiries pdf icon PDF 24 KB

To note the report

Minutes:

The Committee considered the appeals report.

 

RESOLVED to NOTE the report.