Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr Mark Packard

Cllr Packard  was substituted by Cllr Watts.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 August 2013.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 August 2013 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a true and correct record and sign the minutes.

Cllrs Douglas, Hutton and Watts declared an interest in agenda item no. 7b being members of Chippenham Town Council. They declared they would participate in the debate and vote for the item with open minds.

Cllr Whalley declared an interest in agenda item no. 7b being a member of Corsham Town Council. He declared he would participate in the debate and vote for the item with an open mind.

To receive any announcements through the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s 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 4 September 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.

An appeals update report is attached for information.

The Committee noted the contents of the appeals update.

Attention was drawn to the late list of observations provided at the meeting and attached to these minutes, in respect of applications 7b as listed in the agenda pack.

Public Participation

Don Queen and Dave Martin spoke in objection to the application.

Michael Armstrong spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Maggie Bawden, Hullavington Parish Council spoke in objection to the application.

The officer introduced the report which recommended that permission be granted subject to conditions. He confirmed that there were no issues with archaeology and that the access track would be permanent for the lifetime of the installation. The Committee’s attention was drawn to the proposed landscaping to mitigate the visual impact and the design of the panels, being on spikes, giving it relatively easy reversibility. He noted the work done on the construction traffic route and the conditions around materials and construction.

The Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of officers and it was confirmed that although estimates varied it was expected to generate power for approximately 2000 households. Clarification was sought on the cumulative visual impact and it was confirmed that at present there were no further similar applications coming and that each application would be considered on its individual merit. As the site connected straight to the grid there was no issue with upgrading of equipment. Issues around construction route traffic would be reported to enforcement officer and proposed measures included surveys of route and repair of damage which included the decommissioning phase

Members of the public then had the opportunity to address the committee as detailed above.

The local member, Cllr Jane Scott explained that whilst supportive of renewable energy, there was concern over both the visual impact of the site to the west and the proposed construction traffic route. She noted the closure of Pig Lane until new year for Network Rail work, and questioned whether Norton Parish Council had been consulted over the proposed route. She also highlighted the proximity of the airfield and queried whether discussions had taken place with the army who flew from there. She drew attention to the stubble in the current field and asked for a condition to seed the field with meadow grass prior to installation. The Committee’s attention was also draw to the ongoing negotiations around a local payment and how their negotiation powers would be affected should the Committee decide to grant the application.

In the debate that followed the need to understand the visual impact by way of a site visit was necessary in order to make a decision. It was confirmed that both the Ministry of Defence and the Civil Aviation Authority had been consulted on the proposal. Concern was raised over the impact on the local payment negotiations and it was suggested that Wiltshire Council should consider a future policy change which would allow the Council to give guidance to parish councils in this area. The establishment of seeded grass in the field was considered critical to allow the land to remain agricultural. Concern was raised over the type of fencing panel used being alien to the site and it was suggested that stock fencing would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 114.

Public Participation

Dr Bret S Palmer spoke in objection to the application,

Jonathan Adams spoke in support of the application

The officer introduced the report and drew the Committee’s attention to the late observations which detailed the recommendation that permission be delegated to the Area Development Manager to grant subject to the signing of a Section 106 Agreement and subject to conditions. He noted that objections from consultees had been removed after revised plans had been submitted. He explained that the site was located in a prominent and important position being one of the key gateways into the town. The section 106 agreement would fund the relocation of slow worms and grass snakes, and noted the timing issues around this. The Committee’s attention was drawn to the significant design alterations made which reduced the visual impact. The employment and economic benefits arising from the development were highlighted and reference was made to the Council’s recently adopted business plan and it’s priorities in this regard

The Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of officers and it was explained that there was no such thing as precedent in the planning system, and as a consequence the height of the office building would be a material consideration in relation to other proposals in the locality if approved but that all applications must be considered on their own merits taking into account all such material considerations. Corsham and Chippenham Town Councils had not been specifically consulted over the colour scheme revisions including alternate coloured materials as they had not specifically objected on that matter. It was confirmed that the number of parking spaces had been looked at by Highways and considered appropriate for all uses on the site. There had been no concern raised over the impact of reflection from the Sun on drivers approaching from the south and the panels used were non-reflective.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to address the committee as detailed above.

As the application affected two divisions, two local members addressed the Committee. Cllr Philip Whalley, local member for Corsham Town welcomed the employment opportunities the proposal would generate and acknowledged the changes made in design to temper the appearance. He explained that the height of the building was unacceptable and should not exceed the height of the adjacent buildings. He also raised concern over the impact of queuing traffic as this was already a common problem. He asked the Committee to refuse the application on the grounds that the design, height and visual mass was unsuitable.

Cllr Peter Hutton, local member for Chippenham Cepen Park and the Derriads addressed the committee and explained he represented the residents affected. He raised concern over whether the design could be classed as ‘landmark’ and whether it would be a building residents could be proud of, given it’s location on an important and highly visibly gateway from Chippenham to the South West.

In the debate that followed a motion was moved and seconded  to refuse the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 115.

Public Participation

Ms Kath Hatton and Mr Andrew Chapman spoke in objection to the application.

Richard Cosker and Lloyd Stephens spoke in support of the application.

The officer introduced the report which recommended that planning permission be refused. He noted Policy R6 of the adopted North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 (Existing Local Shops and Services) being the primary policy consideration. The property had been included on the Community Assets Register and regard should be paid to the prospective viability of an alternative community-led arrangement.

The Committee than had the opportunity to ask technical questions of officers and it was confirmed that reasonable time frame for an alternative community-led arrangement would be six months.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to address the committee as detailed above.

The local member, Cllr Toby Sturgis then spoke in objection to the application.

In the debate that followed the Committee noted the need to support rural inns and pubs and agreed that an alternative community-led arrangement should be explored.

Resolved:

To REFUSE Planning Permission for the following reason:

On balance, the proposed development will result in the detrimental loss of a local service with a realistic prospect of viable community use and therefore conflicts with Policies R6 of the adopted North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011, CP49 of the emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy and Paragraph 28 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

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.