Agenda and minutes

To note the membership of the Committee as appointed by Council at its meeting on 13 November 2012, as set out at the front of the agenda.

The Committee noted the changes to the membership of the Committee, as follows:

Full Members Removed:Cllr Chris Humphries (Con)

Cllr Peggy Dow (Lib Dem)

Substitutes Removed:      Cllr Francis Morland (Ind)

                                                Cllr Jerry Kunkler (Con)

Full Members Added:        Cllr Trevor Carbin (Lib Dem)

                                                Cllr Jerry Kunkler  (Con)

Substituted Added:           Cllr Peggy Dow (Ind)

                                                Cllr Stuart Wheeler (Con)

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Laura Mayes, Cllr Richard Gamble, Cllr Nick Fogg and Cllr Jane Burton.

Cllr Mayes was substituted by Cllr Jonathon Seed.

Cllr Gamble was substituted by Cllr Liz Bryant.

Cllr Fogg was substituted by Cllr Peggy Dow.

Cllr Burton was substituted by Cllr Nigel Carter.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 01 November 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 01 November 2012 were presented. It was,

Resolved:

That subject to the correction to the numbering of Conditions for Minute 67a, to remove the inclusion of Two Condition Fives, to APPROVE as a true and correct record and sign the minutes.

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

There were no declarations.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

There were no specific 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 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 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 07 November 2012. 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.

There were no questions submitted.

To consider and determine the following planning application.

Public Participation

Mr Christopher Loveday spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Marc Willis, agent, spoke in support of the application.

Mr Peter Riddle spoke in support of the application.

The Area Development Manager presented a report which recommended the application be approved. The level of recent development in the area was noted, and it was stated that Highways officers considered one parking place per dwelling was acceptable given the near town centre location. It was highlighted that the principle of two dwellings on the site had been accepted with previously granted permissions, and that the key issue was the impact on the character and amenity of the area.

The Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. Details were sought regarding the previous residential planning permission on the site, and also regarding the rear pedestrian access for houses along the London road, next to the proposed dwellings.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to address the Committee with their views, as detailed above.

The Local Member, Cllr Peggy Dow, then spoke in objection to the application.

A debate followed, during which the appropriate level of parking for the site was raised, along with whether the application constituted an overdevelopment of the site. The quality of the design in respect of the wider area was also discussed.

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

That the application be GRANTED subject to the conditions set out below and 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 National Planning Policy Framework and the following policies and proposals in the Kennet Local Plan 2011 namely: policy PD1 and HC1.

Conditions:

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

REASON: 

To comply with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

2. No development shall commence on site until details of the proposed ground floor slab levels of the 3 dwellings have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved levels details.

REASON:

In the interests of visual amenity and to safeguard the character and appearance of the area which is designated as a conservation area and the setting of adjacent listed buildings.

3. Notwithstanding the submitted details, no development shall commence on site until details and samples of the materials to be used for the external walls (including the string course and boundary walls) and roofs have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The roof material shall comprise either natural slate or a plain clay tile.  Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

REASON:

To safeguard  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.1

There were no urgent items.