Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Cllr Laura Mayes.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2013.

The minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2013 were presented for consideration.

It was,

Resolved:

That subject to:

1)    The substitution of ‘Cllr Jerry Kunkler’ for ‘Cllrs Jerry Kunkler’ in Minute 1;

2)    The inclusion of ‘Mrs Gwen Phillips, applicant’ among the list of speakers in support, in Minute 6a; and,

3)    The substitution of ‘worst affected routes’ for ‘worst affect routes’ in Paragraph 6 of Minute 6a;

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 Chair gave details of emergency exits 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 Thursday 14 February 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.

The Committee noted the rules on public participation.

No questions or statements were submitted.

Attention was drawn to the late list of representations received, in relation to Minute 14, and which is attached to these minutes.

Public Participation

Mr John Cheke spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Malcolm Treacher spoke in objection to the application.

Dr Gary Mantle spoke in objection to the application.

Ms Vanessa Tanfield, agent, spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Peter Deck, Pewsey Parish Council, spoke in support of the application.

The Planning Officer introduced the report, which recommended the item be refused permission. The details of the public footpath status as detailed in the report and the highways access were highlighted.

The Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officers.

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

The Local Member, Councillor Jerry Kunkler, then spoke in support of the application.

A discussion followed, where details of waste collection and fire access were raised and noted, as well as the existing presence of vehicles and garages servicing the lane, and the opinion of Highways officers was emphasized.

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

That planning permission be REFUSED for the following reasons:

Public Participation

Mr Roger Greenwood spoke in objection to the application.

Mrs Anne-Marie Greenwood spoke in objection to the application.

Mrs Jackie Maynard spoke in objection to the application.

The Planning Officer introduced the report which recommended approval be granted. The history of planning applications on the site and their previous refusal was noted, and the scale and siting differences with the current application highlighted.

The Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer, where the context of the application in comparison to the surrounding area was sought.

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

The Local Member, Councillor Chris Williams, explained his reasons for bringing the item to Committee, and stated he would abstain from voting given he had been in close contact with both sides of the issue.

A debate followed, where the principle of development on the site, the presence of the ash trees lining the site and the design of the application were all raised. The relevant planning policies were discussed , along with the need or smaller housing in the town.

After discussion, it was,

Resolved:

That planning permission be REFUSED for the following reasons:

1.    The proposed bungalow would appear cramped and out of character, eroding the sense of openness afforded by the side garden to the existing dwelling.  As such the proposal would be contrary to policy PD1 of the Kennet Local Plan 2011 and government policy contained in Section 7 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

2.    The proposed dwelling would extend into the root protection area of a number of existing Ash trees along the southern boundary of the site.  These trees have been identified as being of local significance and they make an important contribution to the character and appearance of the area.  The proposals are likely to result in the loss of the trees through physical damage to their root systems and/or pressure to reduce or remove the trees from future occupiers of the bungalow who will be affected by loss of light to their garden and lounge/diner.  Loss of the trees (or their significant reduction) would be harmful to local amenity and the character and appearance of the area and as such the proposals are contrary to policy PD1 of the Kennet Local Plan 2011 and government policy contained in Section 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

3.    The proposed bungalow would be bland and unattractive in appearance, displaying a poor standard of design which fails to take the opportunities available for improving the character and quality of the area.  As such, the proposal is contrary to policy PD1 of the Kennet Local Plan 2011 and government policy contained in Section 7 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Public Participation

Mr Toby Farrell spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Richard Cook, applicant, spoke in support of the application.

Mr Nigel Kean, agent, spoke in support of the application.

The Planning Officer presented a report which recommended planning permission be granted. The current use of the site was noted along with the materials and currently granted permission for the adjoining parts of the site.

The Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officers.

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

The Local Member, Councillor Brigadier Robert Hall, then spoke in objection to the application as detailed in the report, but stated that subject to the addition of a condition preserving the paddock land to the east of the stables from hard surfacing, he and the principle objectors could support the application.

A debate followed, where the suggested condition from the local member was noted and detailed.

At the end of discussion, it was,

Resolved:

That planning permission be GRANTED for the following reason and subject to the conditions set out below:

The Council is required to give a summary of the reasons for this decision and its conditions, and a summary of the development plan policies and proposals relevant to the decision and its conditions. These are set out below:

The decision to grant planning permission has been taken on the grounds that the proposed development would preserve the character and appearance of the Hilcott conservation area and the settings of nearby listed buildings.  The amenities and scenic qualities of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty would also be preserved by the proposals and any impacts on residential amenity are capable of being controlled by the use of planning conditions.  There would be no harm to any other interests of acknowledged importance and the proposals would comply with Government policy contained in the National Planning Policy Framework and policies PD1, NR6 & NR7 of the Kennet Local Plan 2011.

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 samples of the bricks and clay tiles to be used for the external walls and roofs, and details of the finish proposed for the timber cladding for the external walls have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

REASON:

In the interests of visual amenity and the character and appearance of the area.

3)         INFORMATIVE TO APPLICANT:

Please note that the Planning Office does not have the facility to receive material samples.  Please deliver material samples to site, with a notification to the Planning Office where they are to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

There were no urgent items.