Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from:

·       Councillor Suzanne Wickham, who was substituted by Councillor Mike Sankey.

·       Councillor Stewart Palmen, who was substituted by Councillor Gordon King.

·       Councillor Ernie Clark.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2023.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 June 2023 were considered. Following which, it was:

Resolved:

The Committee approved and signed the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 June 2023 as a true and correct record.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

There were no specific Chairman’s announcements.

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 no later than 10 minutes before the start of the meeting. If it is on the day of the meeting registration should be done in person.

The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are linked to in the Council’s Planning Code of Good Practice. 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.

Members of the public will have had the opportunity to make representations on the planning applications and to contact and lobby their local member and any other members of the planning committee prior to the meeting. Lobbying once the debate has started at the meeting is not permitted, including the circulation of new information, written or photographic which have not been verified by planning officers.

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 no later than 5pm on Wednesday 28 June 2023 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response, questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on Friday 30 June 2023. 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 Chairman explained the rules of public participation and the procedure to be followed at the meeting.

There were no questions or statements submitted by Councillors or members of the public.

To receive details of completed and pending appeals and other updates as appropriate.

The Chairman invited Kenny Green, Development Management Team Leader, to update the pending and determined appeals as per the appeals report included within the Agenda Pack.

The appeal decision for application PL/2021/07458 was highlighted and Members were given a brief overview of the history associated with the application site in which the applicant had continued unauthorised works despite Wiltshire Council refusing planning permission, having the subsequent appeal dismissed and there being an enforcement notice in place.

Councillor Trevor Carbin sought further information on a pending appeal within Staverton to which officers advised there continues to be backlog of appeals with the Planning Inspectorate.  However, the committee was reassured that once start date letters are received, the Council’s planning appeals team seeks to inform all stakeholders expeditiously. 

Following which, it was:

Resolved:

The Committee noted the appeals report for the period 27 April 2023 to 23 June 2023.

Erection of agricultural worker's dwelling and associated works.

Please note that this report contains an appendix that outlines the appeal decision with regard to application PL/2021/11357.

Public Participation

Kelly Pritchard, local resident, spoke in objection to the application.

Ann Haber, local resident, spoke in objection to the application.

Sarah Goodwin, local resident, spoke in objection to the application.

Tom Sadler, agent for the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

Councillor Bella Walker, Chair of South Wraxall Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application.

Councillor Steve Siddall, Chair of Holt Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application.

The Chairman highlighted that an error had been made on the opening page of the original report that had been circulated within the initial publication of the agenda which had mistakenly stated that the application site lay within Holt Parish. Following the initial publication of the committee agenda, the Local Member, Councillor Johnny Kidney, quickly brought this matter to the attention of officers who rectified the error and subsequently republished the agenda confirming that the site is located within the Parish of South Wraxall. Reference was also made to Appendix 1 of the report which included the appeal decision with regard to application PL/2021/11357.

The Senior Planning Officer, Steven Sims, introduced the report which recommended that the application for the erection of an agricultural worker’s dwelling and associated works be approved subject to conditions.

It was noted that prior to the committee meeting, a Member site visit had been undertaken, with the case officer being present.

Key material considerations were identified including the existing and proposed agricultural practices and the applicant’s submitted agricultural need; the principle of development/Wiltshire Council’s 5-year housing land supply; the impact on the openness of the Green Belt; landscape visual impacts; impact on the amenity of neighbouring residents; drainage issues; highway issues; and ecology issues.

Attention was drawn to a late representation that had been submitted via email which contained comments and photos in respect of the use of the agricultural barns and fields forming part of the applicant’s landholding.

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

Details were sought on where the public right of way was located within the application site due to discrepancies identified between the Ordnance Survey Maps and Wiltshire Council’s Rights of Way Team’s Definitive Maps.  Questions were also asked about how long calves would spend inside the barn after being born, the calving herd was questioned as well as planning history of the site.  The recent appeal decision and the agricultural need for a worker’s dwelling was also subject to Member questions and Members also queried what constituted “very special circumstances” in the context of the Green Belt.

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

The Unitary Division Member, Councillor Johnny Kidney, then spoken in objection to the application.

A debate followed where the harm caused by the loss of Green Belt land, inconsistencies between the information provided by the applicant and local residents in respect of the farming practices and activities taking place on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

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.