Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Cllr Jerry Kunkler.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2012 were presented for consideration.

It was,

Resolved:

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.

The Chairman gave details of exits to be used in the event of a fire.

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 Thursday 24 January 2013. 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 or statements submitted.

The Committee noted the rules on public participation.

To consider and determine planning applications as listed below:

A late list of information in relation to the application below is attached to these minutes.

Public Participation

Mr Brian Tapp spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Stephen Sawyer spoke in objection to the application.

Mrs Jacqueline Sawyer spoke in objection to the application.

Mrs Gwen Phillips, applicant, spoke in support of the application.

Mr David Glasson, agent, spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Tony Molland, Potterne Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application.

The Area Development Manager presented a report which recommended the application be approved, subject to conditions laid out in the report papers. The key issues were stated to be the principle of the new farm buildings and proposed temporary dwelling, the visual amenity and highways issues. The Officer’s recommendation was also amended for Condition Two, to replace the date for the removal of any temporary dwelling, in the absence of further granted permission, from 10 January 2016 to 31 January 2016.

The Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions relating to the report of the officer. Details were sought on the assessments that would be required should a permanent dwelling be applied for in future, and on the need for planning permission in relation to polytunnels and other ancillary structures.

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

The Local Member, Cllr Liz Bryant, then addressed the Committee and explained that the details of the proposed scheme had raised local concerns, and that therefore she felt the decision on the application needed to be made democratically.

A debate followed, where issues relating to the activities to take place on the site, the lack of green belt status and viability of the proposed business were discussed. It was noted that Council officers had determined the proposed business to be viable, which could be reassessed for future permissions, should approval be granted. 

Traffic issues were also raised, and it was stated that a nearby school had once provided traffic along the route, but that this had now closed, limiting the impact on the road, and that an informative had been drafted to encourage visitors to the site to avoid the worst affected routes nearby. The number of parking spaces was raised, and it was stated that the figure of 20 spaces for vehicles was a listing of total capacity on the site, not designated spaces.

The Committee also discussed the planning policies which applied to the application, and stressed the application was for an agricultural business on agricultural land.

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED for the following reason and subject to the conditions listed below.

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: policies HC26, NR6, NR7 & PD1.

In accordance with paragraph 187 of the National Planning Policy Framework,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.1

There were no urgent items.