Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2010.

Minutes from the previous meeting held 16^th December 2010 were presented.

The Chairman noted an error on minute no.99a in relation to application ref. E/10/1330/FUL, Melbourne House, Devizes, in that the speaker recorded as Mr Peter Lawson, should be amended so as to correctly read Mr Peters. It was,

Resolved:

To approve and sign the minutes as a correct record subject to the above amendment.

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

Councillor Richard Gamble declared a personal interest in item no. 7a, ref. E/10/0714/FUL, Yew Tree Farm, Wilsford, Pewsey, owing to his knowing the architect, Mr Keith Bennett.

Councillor Laura Mayes declared a personal interest in item no. 7a, ref. E/10/0714/FUL, Yew Tree Farm, Wilsford, Pewsey, owing to her knowing the agent, Mr James Miles Hobbs.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

Members of the public who wish to speak either in favour or against an application 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. 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.

The Committee noted the rules on public participation and the manner in which the meeting would proceed.

To receive a quarterly report detailing completed and pending appeals (copy herewith).

The Committee noted a list of appeals determined between 01/10/2010 and 31/12/2010.

To consider and determine planning applications in the attached schedule.

The following people spoke in favour of the proposal:

Mr Keith Bennett, the architect

Mr James Miles Hobbs, the agent

The following people spoke generally on the proposal:

Mrs Mary Gilmore, of Wilsford Parish Council

Cllr Brig. Robert Hall, the divisional member

The Committee received a presentation by the Area Development Manager which set out the main issues in respect of the application and introduced the report, which recommended approval.

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 this planning application.

After discussion regarding:

·        Whether the proposals would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the conservation area;

·        Whether the proposals would preserve the scenic qualities of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; and

·        Impact of the proposed access works upon highway safety.

It was,

Resolved:

That the application be deferred and delegated to the Area Development Manager to grant planning permission, for the reasons set out in the report, and subject to the conditions set out in the report, subject to the application being altered to include the following changes:

-          that the blue storage container on site be relocated inside one of the barns or removed from the site altogether, to protect the appearance of the area;

-          that the field access gate be relocated so as to sit a minimum of 4.5 metres from the carriageway edge, in the interests of road safety;

-          that the Eastern barn be re-clad in one uniform dark colour, to protect the appearance of the area;

-          replacement of condition 3 of the report with a revised condition preventing the erection of permanent horse jumps, to protect the appearance of the area; and

-          Replacing all the close boarded fencing and close boarded gate with post and rail fencing and a more open, sensitively designed gate.

The following people spoke in favour of the proposal:

Mr Keith Bennett, the architect

Mr James Miles Hobbs, the agent

The following people spoke generally on the proposal:

Mrs Mary Gilmore, of Wilsford Parish Council

Cllr Brig. Robert Hall, the divisional member

The Committee received a presentation by the Area Development Manager which set out the main issues in respect of the application and introduced the report, which recommended approval.

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 this planning application.

After discussion regarding:

·        Whether the proposals would preserve the scenic qualities of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,

It was,

Resolved:

That the application be approved for the following reason:

The decision to grant planning permission has been taken on the grounds that the proposed development would not cause any significant harm to interests of acknowledged importance and having regard to the following:

(a)   Policies PD1, NR6 & NR7 of the Kennet Local Plan 2011

And subject to the following conditions:

The following people spoke against the proposal:

Mr Adrian Flook, an immediate neighbour

Mrs Frangelica Flook, an immediate neighbour

Mr David Stirling, agent for the above

Mr Simon Holt, of Urchfont Parish Council

The following people spoke in favour of the proposal:

Mr Paul Richards, the agent

Mr Keith Ewart, the applicant

The following person spoke generally on the proposal:

Cllr Lionel Grundy OBE, the divisional member

The Committee received a presentation by the Area Development Manager which set out the main issues in respect of the application. He introduced the report, which recommended approval, and drew members’ attention to the late items.

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 this planning application.

After discussion regarding:

·        Whether the development would have an adverse impact upon the residential amenities of neighbouring occupiers, and

·        Whether the development would have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the area.

It was,

Resolved:

That the decision be deferred and delegated to the Area Development Manager to grant planning permission, for the reasons set out in the report and subject to the conditions set out in the report, subject to the  application being amended by removal of the double garage building from the application, to protect the amenity of residents of the adjacent property.

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.