Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from:

·       Cllr Dr Brian Mathew MP – substituted by Cllr Sam Pearce-Kearney

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 22 August 2024.

Document to follow.

The Chairman confirmed that the wording of the conditions for application PL/2024/01509: Townsend Farm Yard, had not been finanlised, so the minutes of the previous meeting were not ready for approval.

On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Adrian Foster, it was:

Resolved

To defer approval of the minutes of the meeting held on 22 August 2024.

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 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 and others will have had the opportunity to make representations on planning applications and other items on the agenda, and to contact and lobby their local elected member and any other members of the planning committee, prior to the meeting.

Those circulating such information prior to the meeting, written or photographic, are advised to also provide a copy to the case officer for the application or item, in order to officially log the material as a representation, which will be verbally summarised at the meeting by the relevant officer, not included within any officer slide presentation if one is made. Circulation of new information which has not been verified by planning officers or case officers is also not permitted during the meetings.

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 12 September 2024 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 16 September 2024. 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 Committee noted the rules on public participation.

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

The Chairman noted that, although no appeals had been decided between 9 August and 6 September 2024, some had been submitted.

On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Iain Wallis, it was:

Resolved

To note the planning appeals update for the period between 9 August and 6 September 2024.

Outline planning permission (matters to be considered: Access only) for up to 14 dwellings (Use Class C3) and a food store (Use Class E(a)), together with open space, drainage, parking and associated access, infrastructure, landscaping and removal of bus shelter.

Public Participation

·       Mr Richard Day – spoke in objection to the application

·       Mr Sean Bates (Feltham Properties) – spoke in support of the application

·       Mr James Iles (Pro Vision) – spoke in support of the application

·       Mr Slater Reynolds - spoke in support of the application

·       Cllr Chloe Stevens (Market Lavington Parish Council) – spoke in objection to the application

The Senior Planning Officer, Jonathan James, introduced a report which recommended that the outline application for up to 14 dwellings (Use Class C3) and a food store (Use Class E(a)) be granted subject to conditions and the completion of a S106 agreement. The application would also include the creation of open space, drainage, parking and associated access, infrastructure, landscaping and the removal of bus shelter. Key details were stated to include the principle of development, as well as the landscape, heritage, environmental, ecological and highway impacts.

Attention was drawn to late representations stating that the application was contrary to the Neighbourhood Plan and raising concerns about the highway impacts. The Senior Planning Officer explained that the late correspondence had not raised any issues that were not included in the report. He also highlighted that a condition, stipulating that visibility displays were provided on the highway, had been omitted from the report and recommended that the Committee included this as an additional condition if they approved the application.

The Senior Planning Officer confirmed that the application was for outline planning permission, so the drawings provided were indicative. Other than the access arrangements, the final details, such as appearance of the proposed development, would be determined by a reserved matters application.

He explained that the proposed development would not have a negative long-term impact on the landscape. No objection had been raised by Wiltshire Council’s ecologist and the indicative landscape plan proposed enhanced planting to the south of the site.

Whilst it was acknowledged that the inclusion of a retail store was a slight departure from the Market Lavington Neighbourhood Plan, the site had been allocated for the provision of up to 20 dwellings. An appropriate retail assessment had been carried out and the scheme was found to accord with the principle of sustainable development within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as it would provide services to the local community. The Senior Planning Officer explained that the economic benefits of the proposed development and provision of affordable housing meant that it met the requirements of the Development Plan. 

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the Senior Planning Officer. Details were sought about whether the existing bus stop would be replaced, and it was confirmed that a similar in situ bus stop would be erected approximately 25 metres from the existing stop.

It was confirmed that the provision of affordable housing matched the requirements identified by Wiltshire Council’s Housing Officer.

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

The Unitary Division Member, Cllr Dominic Muns  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

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.