Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Bill Douglas (who was substituted by Cllr Simon Killane).

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 20 April 2011. (copy herewith)

Resolved:

To confirm and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 April 2011.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman announced that Motions put to Committee which are at variance with the Officer’s recommendations and are approved by the Committee, would be subsequently referred to the proposer of the Motion to ensure that the wording was correct before the draft Minutes are published.

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. Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named above (acting on behalf of the Director of Resources) no later than 5pm on Wednesday 4 May 2011. Please contact the officer named on the first page 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.

Members of the public addressed the Committee as set out in Minute No 47 below.

There were no questions received from members of the public or members of the Council.

An appeals update report is attached for information.

The Committee received and noted a report setting out details of forthcoming hearings and public inquiries between 26 April and 31 July 2011.

The following person spoke in support of the proposal:

Mr Andrew Macpherson, the agent

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer which set out the main issues in respect of the applications. She introduced the report which recommended that planning permission and listed building consent be refused.  She also drew Members’ attention to the late items.

The Case Officer explained that the applications had been deferred from the meeting held on 15 December 2010 to allow for the submission of outstanding information including condition and structural survey, fire and sound protection details, ecological studies and further negotiation on the legal agreement to secure contributions to affordable housing, education and public open space and potentially an ecological and landscape management plan for the site.  It was reported that a conditions survey had been submitted on 18 February 2011 together with a Great Crested Newt and revised bat survey, amended plans and confirmation of an agreed education contribution of £42,983.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which the Committee received a statement from a member of the public as detailed above, expressing his views regarding the planning application.

Members heard the views of Cllr John Thomson, the local member, in support of the applications.

After discussion,

Resolved:

To defer consideration of the application and to request the Area Development Manager to bring it back to the Committee one further time in order to arrange:

1.         The submission by the agent on behalf of the applicant of  full details  with narrative as to how sound and fire protection requirements  are to be  satisfied between each of the units and on each floor.

2.         Confirmation as to whether details   will be submitted at this stage in respect of:

a) any repairs to windows and  which  windows are to be replaced if necessary; and

b) damp proofing works; and

If such details are not to be submitted, confirmation is to be provided that a Listed Building application in respect of matters identified in 2 will be submitted at a later date.

The following person spoke against the proposal

Mr Michael Moss, an adjacent neighbour

The following person spoke in favour of the proposal

Mr Geoff Taylor, representing the agent

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer which set out the main issues in respect of the application.  She introduced the report which recommended that the application be delegated to the Area Development Manager to approve subject to the completion of a legal agreement securing public open space and affordable housing contributions and conditions. 

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which the Committee received statements from members of the public expressing their views regarding the planning application.

Members heard the views of Cllr John Thomson, the local member, objecting to the application.

After discussion,

Resolved:

To delegate to the Area Development Manager to grant planning permission, subject to the applicant entering into a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in respect of the provision of a financial contribution towards public open space and affordable housing, as required by policies CF3 and H6 of the adopted North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 for the following reason:-

The proposed development is considered appropriate in terms of its scale, layout and means of access in the context of the surrounding area.  In addition, the proposal is not considered to result in an unacceptable impact upon residential amenity of surrounding occupiers.  In this way the proposed development is considered to comply with the provisions of policies C3, NE4, NE14, H3, H6 and CF3 of the adopted North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 and guidance contained within PPS3 Housing.

Subject to the following conditions:

There were no urgent items.