Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 February 2014. (Copy attached)

Resolved:

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 February 2014.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no 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 in person no later than 10.20am 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 no later than 5pm on Wednesday 5 March 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 received from members of the public or members of the Council.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

The following people spoke against the proposal:

Mr Jack Churchill, a local resident

Ms Sue McCulloch, a local resident

Mr John Kirkman, representing the CPRE

The following people spoke in support of the proposal:

Mr Roger Keen, a local resident

Ms Shirley McCarthy, a local resident

Mr St J Hughes, the applicant

The Committee received a presentation by the Area Development Manager which set out the main issues in respect of the application and updated the Committee with details of the National Planning Practice Guidance relevant to this proposal that had been issued by the Government since publication of the officer’s report. He introduced the report which recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which the Committee received statements from members of the public as detailed above, expressing their views regarding the planning application.

Members then heard the views of Cllr Terry Chivers, as local Member who explained that he called this application for Members to determine in view of:

·         The scale of the development

·         The visual impact upon the surrounding area

·         The relationship with adjoining properties

·         The design, bulk, height and general appearance

·         Environmental and/or highway impacts

·         Public interest

He went on to inform the Committee that despite wide consultation within his constituency, he had only encountered one objection to the proposal. 

Cllr Jonathon Seed, an adjoining local Member reported that a number of his constituents in Seend objected to the proposal principally on account of visual impact from their properties.

Resolved:

To defer consideration of the application pending the holding of a site visit on Wednesday 23 April 2014 and that consequently the start time of the scheduled meeting of the Committee due to be held on that date be delayed until after the completion of the site visit. 

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

The following person spoke against the proposal:

Mr Francis Morland, a resident of Chapmanslade

The following person spoke in support of the proposal:

Mr John Hall, the agent

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer which set out the main issues in respect of the application.  She introduced the report which recommended that planning permission be granted, subject to the prior completion of a Section 106 legal agreement and also subject to conditions.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which the Committee received statements from members of the public as detailed above, expressing their views regarding the planning application.

Members then heard the views of Cllr David Jenkins, the local Member objecting to the proposal on the grounds of its scale considering that Westbury was overdeveloped. He also drew attention to the need for a second exit from the site and was concerned that the land might well be susceptible to flooding.

Cllr Gordon King, an adjoining local Member, also expressed his opposition to the proposal principally on the grounds of insufficient infrastructure and lack of adequate highway facilities.

During the following discussion, Members were informed that no objections had been received from Wessex Water or the Wiltshire Council Drainage Officer regarding flooding or drainage.  Furthermore, no objections had been received from Wiltshire Council’s Highways Officer to highway proposals.

After further discussion,

Resolved:

To delegate to the Area Development Manager to grant planning permission, subject to the prior completion of a Section 106 legal agreement in relation to the following matters:-

·                The delivery of affordable housing

·                The delivery of a contribution towards local education provision

·                The delivery of a contribution towards on site play and open space provision

·                The delivery of a contribution towards the introduction, improvement and enhancement of bus services, footways and cycle improvements, to be decided after consultation with Westbury Town Council and Westbury Area Board.

And subject to the following conditions:-

To note that the next meeting is due to be held on Wednesday 23 April 2014 in the Council Chamber at County Hall, Trowbridge, starting at 10.30am.

Resolved:

To note that the next meeting was due to be held on Wednesday 23 April 2014 in the Council Chamber at County Hall, Trowbridge.