Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

There were no apologies received.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 18 December 2014.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 December 2014 were presented for consideration, and it was,

Resolved:

To APPROVE the minutes and sign as a true and correct record.

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

Councillor Christopher Devine declared a non-pecuniary interest in application 13/02543/OUT - Matrons College Farm, Castle Lane, Whaddon, Salisbury - by virtue of being very lightly acquainted with the applicant, but not to the level that he could not consider the application on its merits and would debate and vote on the application.

Councillor Mike Hewitt declared a non-pecuniary interest in application 14/07832/OUT - Land off the A338 and Bourne View, Allington - by virtue of living opposite the application site. Councillor Hewitt stated he would consider the application on its merits and would debate and vote on the item.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

The Chairman explained the meeting procedure to the members of the public.

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 5.50pm 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 Corporate Director) no later than 5pm on 7 January 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.

There were no questions or statements submitted.

To receive details of completed and pending appeals.

The Committee received details of the appeal decisions as detailed in the agenda.

To consider and determine planning applications in the attached schedule.

Public Participation

Sandra Richardson spoke in objection to the application.

Dr Rachel Clapton spoke in support of the application.

Amanda Newbury, spoke in support of the application.

Jon Gately, agent, spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Kim Diprose, Alderbury Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application.

The Senior Planning Officer presented a report which recommended that planning permission be refused. Key issues were stated to include the principle of the proposed 28 dwellings and health centre on the site, which lies outside the Limits of Development of the village, as well as impacts upon ecology, residential amenity and infrastructure and suitability of the access

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer.

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

The local Unitary Division Member, Councillor Richard Britton, then spoke in objection to the application, stating that the viability of the proposal to provide a community benefit significant enough to outweigh going against policy by permitting outside the Limits of Development, could not be assured on the evidence provided in regards to the funding for building and running the proposed health centre, although if it could be assured then the community benefit was clear and should move forward.

A debate followed, where the Committee discussed the difficulties in securing funding for provision of health services in such outreach hubs, and noted that the original proposals had been for a Doctor’s surgery, and when that had been altered the Parish Council had withdrawn their support for the proposal. The level of objection and support received from local residents was also assessed.

The Committee also debated the location of the site in the context of surrounding development and it sustainability, and that the 40% proportion of Affordable Housing included as part of the proposals.

At the end of debate, it was,

Resolved:

To DEFER determination on the application until evidence of the viability of the community benefit to be afforded could be assured in the form of financial details for the construction and running of the proposed health centre.

Public Participation

Lorraine Le-gate spoke in objection to the application.

Justin Paterson, applicant and architect, spoke in support of the application.

Roger Paye spoke in support of the application.

Trevor Storer spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Michael Brunton, Chairman of Allington and Boscombe Parish Council, spoke in support of the application.

The Area Team Leader presented a report which recommended that planning permission be refused. Key issues were stated to include the principle of the proposed 18 dwellings and village hall on the site outside the Limits of Devlopment, highways access and ecology concerns.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. Details were sought regarding the access proposals, the level of affordable housing provision being offered by the applicants and the connections between the Allington and Boscombe communities. In response to queries it was confirmed that the application did not include details for the construction of a village hall, but was outline permission for the principle of one so that a later detailed application could be made if desired.

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

The local Unitary Division Member, Councillor John Smale, then spoke in support of the application, stating the extensive consultation and overwhelming local support for the proposals, providing significant community benefit through a village hall, outweighed the policy consideration of laying outside the Limits of Development.

The Committee discussed the application, noting the longstanding efforts of the Parish Council to secure a village hall, and the limited opportunities for development in other locations. It was noted Wiltshire Council Highways had withdrawn their objections to the access proposals, although their objections on sustainability grounds remained. Concerns regarding ecological impact, layout and parking were debated, including whether some or all of these could be mitigated at the detailed application stage.

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

To delegate to the Area Development Manager to grant planning permission following completion of a Section 106 obligation requiring payment of a financial contribution towards the following:

·         Affordable Housing – A 30% affordable housing contribution is sought in accordance with the core strategy policies (5 houses)

·         Education - Financial contribution of £141,092 towards improvements to existing education infrastructure, in accordance with core policy of the Wiltshire Core strategy. 

·         Adult Recreation –on site provision of 810m2 of pitch provision as shown on the   plans and maintenance arrangements

·         Ecology - £1976.76 towards the Stone Curlew Project within the Special Protection Area for Birds, to mitigate for the impact of increased use of Salisbury Plain for recreational activity by residents of the development. 

·         S106 Monitoring Fee – £3,000.

And subject to conditions to be agreed with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee.

Councillor Ian Tomes left the meeting following this item.

Public Participation

Tom Corbin spoke in objection to the application.

Susan Sneddon, applicant, spoke in support of the application.

The Senior Planning Officer presented a report which recommended the application be approved. Key issues were stated to include the principle of the development, impact upon residential amenity and the character of the area and highways safety.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. Details were sought on the size of the proposed flats, bin storage and communal garden use.

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

The local Unitary Division Member, Councillor Ricky Rogers, then spoke in objection to the application, stating parking problems would be increased in the area, and that while there was a demand for one bedroom properties in this case there would be a loss of neighbouring amenity due to the overdevelopment.

The Committee discussed the application, noting the level of demand for smaller properties, and debating whether the proposals were suitable to meet that demand. The level of floorspace for each flat was assessed, and it was noted there was no minimum standard in the UK, and the comments from Environmental Health were noted. The impact on the wider area was raised, along with the current level of occupancy of the building and its impact on residents.

At the end of debate, it was,

Resolved:

That the Area Development Manager (South) be delegated to grant planning permission following completion of a Section 106 obligation requiring payment of a financial contribution towards off-site recreation / open space provision, and subject to the following conditions -

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 section 51(1) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2.      The materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the development hereby permitted shall match those used in the existing building.

REASON: To ensure that the proposed extension will satisfactorily harmonise with the external appearance of the existing building

3.      The development hereby permitted shall not be first occupied until the whole of the proposed car parking areas have been consolidated and surfaced (not loose stone or gravel). These areas shall be maintained as such thereafter.

REASON: In the interests of highway safety.

4.      The gradient of the proposed car parking areas shall not at any point be steeper than 1 in 15 for a distance of 4.8m from the back of the paved footway.

REASON: In the interests of highway safety.

5.      No development shall commence on site until a scheme for the discharge of surface water from the site (including surface water from the car parking areas), incorporating sustainable drainage details, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Any other items of business which, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be taken as a matter of urgency 

There were no urgent items.