Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

It was noted that following the Council meeting on 29 July 2014, Councillor Graham Wright had been removed as a full member of the Committee and added as a substitute member. Councillor Trevor Carbin had been added as a full member of the Committee.

Apologies had been received from Councillors David Jenkins and Terry Chivers.

Councillor Chivers was substituted by Councillor Wright, and Councillor Jenkins was substituted by Councillor Ian West.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

Councillor Fred Westmoreland declared a non-pecuniary interest in the Army Rebasing Masterplan item by virtue of his military career, but that he was able to consider army items on their merits and would debate and vote on the item.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

The Chairman announced that with the agreement of the Committee the items on the agenda would be switched in order, with the Tisbury application taken first.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

Members of the public who wish to speak either in favour or against an application or any other item on this agenda are asked to register in person no later than 13.50pm on the day of the meeting.

The Chairman will allow up to 3 speakers in favour and up to 3 speakers against an application and up to 3 speakers on any other item on this agenda. Each speaker will be given up to 3 minutes and invited to speak immediately prior to the item being considered. The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are detailed in the Council’s Planning Code of Good Practice.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution which excludes, in particular, questions on non-determined planning applications. Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda (acting on behalf of the Director of Resources) no later than 5pm on Wednesday 23 July 2014. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

The rules on public participation were noted. A question from Mrs Dawn Taylor-Cox was received, with a written response included within Agenda Supplement 2.

Further late observations and comments would be published as part of Agenda Supplement 3.

Public Participation

Mr Sam Lowings spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Paul Colebourne spoke in objection to the application.

Mrs Jacqueline Bertie spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Lacey, West Tisbury Parish Council spoke in objection to the application.

Cllr Patrick Duffy, Chairman of Tisbury Parish Council spoke in support of the application.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the application which recommended the application be approved. Key issues were stated to include the scale and design of the new build, parking and the access arrangements. Attention was drawn to the late list of observations and changes to the recommendation contained in Agenda Supplement 3.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. In response to queries it was confirmed that should items of archaeological interest be discovered on site during the course of any new building, work would be halted for further investigation. Details were also sought on how close the nearest dwellings would be, particular to the accesses, and for details of the landscape plan.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the Committee, as detailed above.

The Local Member, Councillor Tony Deane, then spoke in support of the application, highlighting the benefits to the wider community area, extent of consultation on the proposals, and efforts to mitigate those concerns which had been raised.

A debate followed, where the provision on parking on the site was raised in light of concerns from the parish council, and it was stated officers felt that the current proposed level was sufficient, but details were sought for proposed materials used for the proposed meadow space which might permit, on rare occasions, overflow parking if required. The footprint of the new build was discussed, with the elimination of current structures meaning it was comparable or even smaller than that currently on the site. Drainage issues and the consultation on the campus proposals were also discussed.

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

That the application is delegated to the Area Development Manager (South), to Approve subject to the conditions set out below:

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

REASON:  To comply with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2. No development shall commence on site until details of the following matters have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority:

(a)   The means of access to the site (specifically the alignment at the access point).

The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

REASON:  In the interest of highway safety and pedestrian access.

3. No development shall commence on site until details and samples of the materials to be used for the external walls and roofs have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

Appendix 1: Army Basing Programme Masterplan

Appendix 2: Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) summary list of third party consultation responses

Appendix 3: Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) response to comments by EA, NE & WC Ecologist

Appendix 4: Summary of responses from statutory consultees & other stakeholders

Appendix 5: Abbreviations

A presentation was received from Lt Col John Fox and Mr David Alderson for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) on the Army Rebasing Masterplan (ABP), noting the vital strategic importance of the Salisbury Plain areas as a training and housing area for the army for its restructure plans, and the necessary work to assess, prepare for and mitigate the impact of thousands of additional soldiers and service families not just on the military bases in the area, but infrastructure and housing in the immediate and wider areas around those bases, including transport assessments and improvements, education facilities to be constructed and some limited additional employment opportunities. The level of consultation with local communities and stakeholders was noted, and it was emphasised that the most specific concerns relating to individual areas would need to be addressed in detail at the stage when applications were to be submitted, beginning in late 2014.

The Area Development Manager also delivered a presentation, drawing the attention of the Committee to the additional documents and alterations that had been received since the publication of the agenda, and which would also be available on the council’s website. The planning policy considerations were detailed, and it was highlighted that by receiving the Masterplan and encouraging resolution in specific areas, the council would not fetter its discretion when considering future applications in relation to the Masterplan.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officers and the team from the DIO. In response to queries it was stated that at the current time details of how many troops and service families would be moved at what stages could not be provided, which was in part a commercial decision and requiring MoD approval, though it was intended that where possible families would be moved during school holiday’s to ensure a simpler transition.

Details were also sought on the continuing work of officers and the DIO with stakeholders such as the NHS to ensure adequate services for the preferred sites. It was also confirmed that the additional housing required for service families did not count towards meeting the housing requirement of the emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy as it was not arising from growth of the Wiltshire population.

Local Unitary Members Councillors Chris Williams, Mark Connolly and Graham Wright then spoke in turn regarding the Masterplan, highlighting the importance of civilian-military integration and meeting the infrastructure needs arising from the plan, as well praising the level of consultation that had taken place, although there would be a need to continue to monitor the situation closely and work with local MPs such as Claire Perry MP to apply pressure where it was needed moving forward.

A debate followed, where members of the Committee discussed the presentations that had been received and the great significance of military ties to Wiltshire’s settlements and people, and recognising the situation was changing rapidly as the DIO continued to resolve remaining issues, as could be seen in the supplement papers.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

To confirm the date of the next meeting as 17 September 2014.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 17 September 2014.