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Agenda and minutes

Contact: Ellen Ghey  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

42.

Apologies

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence received.

43.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 13 April 2022.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Western Area Planning Committee held on 13 April 2022 were considered. Following which, it was:

 

Resolved

 

The Committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting of the Western Area Planning Committee held on 13 April 2022 as a true and correct record.

 

 

44.

Declarations of Interest

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

Minutes:

Cllr Edward Kirk declared an interest in Agenda Item 7a due to his wife’s business’ involvement in the application and as such, withdrew from the meeting and did not vote or participate in the debate.

 

45.

Chairman's Announcements

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

Minutes:

The Chairman asked that all phones were switched off or turned to silent mode to minimise any potential disturbances and explained the procedure if a fire alarm were to sound.

46.

Public Participation

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 no later than 10 minutes before the start of the meeting. If it is on the day of the meeting registration should be done in person.

 

The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are linked to in the Council’s Planning Code of Good Practice. 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.

 

Members of the public will have had the opportunity to make representations on the planning applications and to contact and lobby their local member and any other members of the planning committee prior to the meeting. Lobbying once the debate has started at the meeting is not permitted, including the circulation of new information, written or photographic which have not been verified by planning officers.

 

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 4 May 2022 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on 6 May 2022. 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.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Chairman explained the rules of public participation and the procedure to be followed at the meeting.

 

No questions had been received from Councillors or members of the public.

 

47.

Planning Appeals and Updates

To receive details of completed and pending appeals and other updates as appropriate.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Kenny Green, Development Management Team Leader, to update the Committee on any pending and determined appeals as per the appeals report included within the Agenda Pack.

 

It was noted that no appeal decisions had been received for the period stated and it was explained that there were different timescales depending upon the type and complexity of appeal ranging from six months to several years.

 

Resolved

 

The Committee noted the appeals report for the period 1 April 2022 to 29 April 2022.

48.

PL/2021/06702: Forest and Sandridge C Of E Voluntary Aided Primary School, Cranesbill Road, Melksham, SN12 7GN

The works include an extension to the existing 2 form entry primary school to provide 4 additional classrooms, a new studio space, 2 No. additional group rooms, additional WCs and storage. There are also internal works to the existing nursery space to enable a new reception classroom to be formed. The existing car park is also expanded to respond to an increase in staff numbers. 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Public Participation

Ms Anna Wilcox, on behalf of Mr Scott James, Headteacher of Forest and Sandridge CofE VA Primary School, spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Jon Hubbard, on behalf of Melksham Town Council, spoke in objection to the application.

 

Steven Sims, Senior Planning Officer, introduced the report which recommended that the Committee approve the application, subject to conditions, for works including an extension to the existing 2 form entry Primary School to provide 4 additional classrooms, a new studio space, 2 additional group rooms, additional WCs and storage, internal works to the existing nursery space, and expanding the existing car park.

 

Reference was made to the presentation slides (Agenda Supplement 1) and it was highlighted that the school site was located within the built up area of Melksham and that the proposed expansion was required to serve the projected increase in the number of children requiring a school place in the next few years, as a consequence of new housing development.

 

The case officer described the site which included the school building, the car park, the access points, and boundary features. The proposed extension was then detailed including floor layouts, the car park expansion and elevation plans.

 

Key issues highlighted were: the principle of development; the impact on the character and appearance of the area; impact on the amenity of neighbouring residents; highways/parking issues; ecology issues; drainage and other issues.

 

Members of the Committee were then given the opportunity to ask technical questions to the officer. The main points of focus included: the need for additional crossing points, bat protection and highways issues.

 

In response, the case officers confirmed that the local highways authority had reviewed the local highway network and concluded that the proposed development did not necessitate a new controlled crossing point on Snarlton Lane.

 

Members of the public, as detailed above, then had the opportunity to address the Committee and speak on the application.

 

Local Unitary Member, Cllr Mike Sankey, addressed the Committee and detailed his objections to the application, which specifically related to highway and parking conflicts during drop off and pick up times; about children’s safety and the school travel plan; and he made the suggestion that the existing car park could be re-used for play provision during school hours to enable some of the existing paly area to be re-developed for additional car parking to reduce the congestion on the public highway.

 

Clara Davies, as the Councils School Place Commissioning Lead officer, referenced the school travel plan and confirmed that discussions between the school and the Council’s Travel Plan officer were ongoing to reduce traffic congestion during pick up and drop off times. It was further explained that s106 developer contributions had been ring fenced for this school expansion to meet the increasing school pupil projections and that if the development was not approved or implemented, the school place needs would still exist but the Council would not be able to re-allocate the s106 money to another school, and in accordance with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

49.

Urgent Items

Any other items of business which, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be taken as a matter of urgency.

 

Minutes:

There were no Urgent Items.