Agenda item

A report from the Chief Executive Officer- Place, Alistair Cunningham.

The Chairman invited the Cabinet Member for Spatial Planning, Development Management and Investment, Councillor Toby Sturgis, to present his report on the Trowbridge Bat Mitigation Strategy Supplementary Planning Document. The strategy was necessary as a result of increased requirements in relation to habitat assessment. 

It was noted that the area around Trowbridge was home 14 of the 18 native species of bats in the UK, and delivery of further planned growth in the area depended on protection of the bat population. The mitigation strategy followed the preparation process set out in legislation for supplementary planning documentation including consultation, and the Inspector agreed the strategy was prepared in a robust manner. Revisions to certain table was set out in the report.

Councillor Sturgis moved the proposals set out in the report, seconded by Councillor Bridget Wayman.

A statement was then received from a member of the public. Lou Barry made a statement suggesting there were scientific doubts that the mitigation strategy could protect the bat population adequately and development should not take place.

A statement was received from John Cox, stating that the West Wiltshire District Scouts had been seeking to undertake a significant tree planting project and had submitted a business case to the Council which would develop woodland to meet the aims of the bat mitigation strategy in a more cost-effective way, but that the report did not mention this proposal.

Comments were then received from Group Leaders, as follows:

Councillor Philip Whitehead stated officers would discuss options with Scouts to see what might be possible to work together. He emphasised that the document was a strategy and detail would be included in operational documents as necessary. He also noted that bat habitats included the movement of bats not just nesting sites, and difficulties where this crossed the A350.

Councillor Ian Thorn welcomed the strategy as good for the county and would support the proposal.

Councillor Ernie Clark stated some strategy was better than none, but that potential flaws needed to be investigated.

Councillor Ian McLennan on behalf of the Labour Group, supported the proposal.

The debate was then opened to Members.

Comments included that the strategy would have a significant ecological impact and much needed, as some stated bat activity appeared to have reduced in recent years.

Other comments included that they key would be implementation of the strategy, and detailed mitigation plans would be needed for any development in the area, with some concerns that developers had not always made mitigation plans in a timely manner. It was also suggested further support of green areas on the edge of town could have assisted the strategy, but were included in the Housing Sites Allocation Plan. There were also comments that there was a need to protect insect populations to support bats, with reference of pesticide use.

Councillor Sturgis responded to comments made during debate, including noting that a report would be produced when the strategy implementation was looked at by the Environment Select Committee.

It was then,

Resolved:

That Council

(i) Notes the response to the consultation on the draft Trowbridge Bat Mitigation Strategy Supplementary Planning Document (the TBMS) set

out in the Consultation Statement at Appendix 1.

(ii) Endorses the amended TBMS as set out in Appendix 2.

(iii) Adopts the amended TBMS as a Supplementary Planning Document.

(iv) Agrees that the Director for Economic Development and Planning in consultation with the Director for Legal, Electoral and Registration

Services and the Cabinet Member for Spatial Planning, Development Management and Investment, undertakes the final stages associated

with the formal adoption and publication of the TBMS, including any minor textual changes in the interests of clarity and accuracy.

In accordance with the Constitution this was a recorded vote.

Votes for the motion (67)

Votes against the motion (0)

Votes in abstention (0)

Details of each vote are attached to the minutes.