Agenda item

The attached document is a revised version of the original published on 7 February 2012. It incorporates amendments to the “Reasons for reporting the Application to the Committee” in respect of two applications:

application1, The Bath Press, Lower Bristol Road, Westmoreland, Bath, (10/03380/EFUL)

application 3, Clearbrook Farm, Midford Hill, Hinton Charterhouse, Bath, (11/04422/FUL).

This revised document was published on 10 February 2012.

The Chairman announced that the applications relating to the proposed new Tesco development on the former Bath Press site and the expansion of Sainsbury’s at Green Park had been withdrawn from this agenda and would be debated at the March meeting of the Committee.

The Committee considered

• A report by the Development Manager on various applications for planning permission etc

• Oral statements by members of the public etc on Item Nos 3-5, the Speakers List being attached as Appendix 1 to these Minutes

• An Update Report by the Development Manager on Item Nos 1-3, a copy of which is attached as Appendix 2 to these Minutes

RESOLVED that, in accordance with their delegated powers, the applications be determined as set out in the Decisions List attached as Appendix 3 to these Minutes.

Item 3 - Native Woodland Ltd. Clearbrook Farm, Midford Hill, Hinton Charterhouse, Bath, Bath And North East Somerset. Use of agricultural land as a natural burial ground (revised resubmission).

The Case Officer reported on this application and his recommendation for refusal. The public speakers made their statements on the application.

Members asked questions to which the Case Officer responded.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson stated that she felt that the application was not inappropriate within the Green Belt and moved that the Committee disagree with the officer recommendation and grant the application. The motion was seconded by Councillor Martin Veal. Members debated the motion. It was generally agreed that the main issue was the impact of the car parking on the site but that such use would be intermittent and well screened and therefore not harmful to openness or visual amenity.

The Chairman therefore asked the Committee to vote on the motion moved by Councillor Jackson to delegate to officers to permit the application subject to appropriate conditions.

Voting: 7 in favour, 2 against and 2 abstentions. Motion carried.

Reasons: the Committee felt that the proposal was not an inappropriate development within the Green Belt as it would not cause any harm to the openness of the Green Belt – the burial ground itself would have little impact and members were satisfied that car parking associated with the development would be intermittent and would be well screened by the existing hedgerow. For the same reasons, members were also satisfied that the impact on the countryside and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty would be acceptable.

Item 4 - Avon Wildlife Trust. Folly Farm, Folly Lane, Stowey, Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset. Change of use from Class C2 to Mixed Use combining Classes C2/ D2 for residential education, wedding ceremonies and receptions with ancillary cafe, teaching and workshop facilities (Retrospective).

The Case Officer reported on this application and his recommendation to permit with conditions. A public speaker and Ward Councillor Vic Pritchard made their statements on the application.

Members asked questions to which the Case Officer responded.

Councillor Les Kew stated that he saw the application as a continuation in the use of the site, which had caused no complaints and felt that it was ideal for the occasions outlined in the application. He therefore moved the Officer recommendation and asked for a management plan to be included as part of the conditions imposed. The motion was seconded by Councillor Martin Veal.

The Chairman at this point wished to clarify the operational hours of the site as they had been printed incorrectly within the agenda. Condition 4 should read ‘The use hereby approved shall not operate outside the hours of 0900 to 0200 Monday to Saturday and 0900 to 2300 Sundays and Bank Holidays.’

The Case Officer stated that there were other conditions that required amendment (eg a limit on the number of wedding events in a given period) and suggested that the motion be changed to delegate to officers to permit with appropriate conditions. The mover and seconder agreed.

The Chairman asked the Committee to vote on the motion moved by Councillor Kew to delegate to officers to permit the application subject to appropriate conditions.

The Committee voted and the motion was carried unanimously.

Item 5 - Partridge Homes (Cotswolds) Ltd. Former Allotment Gardens,

Southbourne Gardens, Fairfield Park, Bath, Bath and North East Somerset.Variation of condition 2 (plans list) of application 10/03251/VAR (Variation of condition 2 of application 07/01598/FUL to allow a variation to the design of house type A (Plots 1-8)).

The Case Officer reported on this application and his recommendation to permit with condition(s). The public speakers and Ward Councillor Lisa Brett made their statements on the application.

Councillor Douglas Nicol moved that consideration be deferred for a Site Visit to view the access proposals to the site in the context of its surroundings. This was seconded by Councillor Martin Veal.

The Committee voted and the motion was carried unanimously.