Agenda and minutes

To note any apologies for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Clark.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 30 May 2014 (copy attached.)

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2014 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2014.

To note any announcements through the Chairman.

The Democratic Services Officer announced changes to the membership of the Western Area Planning Committee noting that Cllr Knight was the new Vice-Chairman and that Cllr Drewett was now a full member of the planning committee and Cllr Hawker would be a substitute.

The Chairman gave details of the exits to be used in the event of an emergency.

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

Cllr MacDonald declared that he had a pecuniary interest on application 14/02361/FUL Garage site at Leslie Rise Westwood BA15 2BN, as a result of being a director of Selwood housing. For that item Cllr MacDonald sat away from the committee and did not participate in the debate or vote.

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 2.50pm 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 14 May 2014.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.

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

The Chairman welcomed all present. He then explained the rules of public participation and the procedure to be followed at the meeting.

To consider and determine the following planning applications:

Isobel Hollands (Agent) spoke in support of the application.

Roy Gurney (Broughton Gifford Parish Council) spoke in objection of the application.

The Area Development Manager outlined the report which recommended the application for approval subject to conditions. The site description and an overview of the proposed development were also given. The site would essentially consist of a solar photovoltaic park over approximately 30.5 hectares.

The Area Development Manager outlined the relevant planning policy drawing particular attention to: The West Wiltshire District Plan – 1^st Alternation 2004 - C34: Renewable Energy, C1: Countryside Protection, C6a: Landscape Features.

Four letters of objection had been received and five letters in support which had been outlined in the report.

The Area Development manager drew attention to the relevant planning

considerations wand drew particular attention to the impact on the landscape of the open countryside.

Members were invited to ask technical questions about the site. The questions focused on the decommissioning of the site and the views of Melksham Without and Broughton Gifford Parish Councils..

Members of the public were invited to speak on the application as listed above.

Cllr Chivers as local member opened the debate noting the site visit had been a worthwhile exercise and that the conditions were important for the protection of the local community. A question was asked if a condition could be imposed to protect the hedges within the site. It was agreed that a suitably worded condition could be imposed.  

A motion was proposed to approve the application, with the addition of an extra condition relating to management of the hedgerows and it was;

Resolved

That Planning Permission be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

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.

The development hereby approved shall be discontinued and the land restored to its former condition on or before 01June 2039 in accordance with a Decommissioning Plan to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of decommissioning; unless before that date planning permission has been sought and granted for the retention of these structures for an extended period of time.

REASON: In the interests of amenity and the circumstances of the use.

In the event that the development ceases to be operational for the generation of energy before the end of the period defined in condition 2 then all associated development on, under or above the application site shall be removed from the site and the land returned to its former condition in accordance  a Decommissioning Plan to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of decommissioning, and within six months of the cessation of the generation of energy from the site.

REASON: In the interests of amenity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

Andy Green spoke in objection of the application.

Simon Fisher spoke in objection of the application.

Vicky Landell-Mills spoke in objection of the application.

Councillor Gwen Allison spoke on behalf of Bradford-On-Avon Town Council in objection of the application.

The Case Officer outlined the report which recommended the application for approval subject to conditions. The site description and an overview of the proposed development were also given. The development would involve demolishing the existing two houses and the erection of 10 houses with an associated access road.

The Case Officer outlined the relevant planning policy which included the West Wiltshire District Plan 1st Alteration (2004), National Planning Policy Framework (2012), Wiltshire Local Transport Plan 2011- 2026 and that  some weight was also afforded to the Emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy, however as it was yet to be formally adopted by the Council, only limited weight could be given to the policy.

The Case Officer outlined the comments and objections received through consultation, as set out in the report, paying particular attention to the S106 contributions required to fund school places. It was reported that 116 letters of objection had been received, as outlined in the report.

The Case Officer drew attention to the relevant planning considerations set out in the report.

Members were invited to ask technical questions of the site. The questions focused on concerns with traffic and air quality.

Members of the public were invited to speak on the application as listed above.

Cllr Rosemary Brown as the local member spoke in objection to the application with the main points summarised as:  inadequate access and  pedestrian safety, site levels, flooding and light pollution, ecology, archaeology and the design of the proposed houses.

Members then entered debate which focused on: the site levels of the proposed housing, traffic and pedestrian safety and the impact on the character and appearance of the area of this number of houses. A motion to refuse the application was withdrawn and a new motion for a site visit was proposed.

At the end of the debate, the Committee;

Resolved:

To DEFER for a site visit on 11 June 2014 at 12:30 noon (the date and time was agreed at the end of the meeting)

A recess was taken from 16:15 until 16:25.

 Public Participation

David Petrie spoke in objection of the application.

Paul Pursey spoke in objection of the application.

Howard Waters (Agent) spoke in support of the application.

Tim LeMare spoke on behalf of West Ashton Parish Council in objection of the application.

The Case Officer outlined the report which recommended the application for approval subject to conditions. The site description and an overview of the proposed development were also given. The site would essentially consist of a single dwelling within the village policy limit.

The Case Officer outlined the relevant planning policy which included the National Planning Policy Framework 2012 and the West Wiltshire Local Plan

The Case Officer outlined the comments and objections received through consultation, as set out in the report. It was reported that 4 letters of objection had been received, as outlined in the report.

The Case Officer drew attention to the relevant planning considerations set out in the report.

Members were invited to ask technical questions of the site. The questions focused on the use of the land and whether a further permission was required for a change of use from agriculture. It was advised by the Officer that this was included within the principle of the proposal and no separate application was required.

Members of the public were invited to speak on the application as listed above.

Members debated the application. A motion was proposed to defer the application for a site visit.

At the end of the debate, the Committee;

Resolved:

To DEFER for a site visit on 11 June 2014 at 1:30pm (the date and time was agreed at the end of the meeting).

Julie Adcock spoke in objection of the application.

Paul Walsh (Agent) spoke in support of the application.

Jeannie Johnston spoke on behalf of Westwood Parish Council in objection of the application.

The Case Officer outlined the report which recommended the application for approval subject to conditions. The site description and an overview of the proposed development were also given. The development would involve demolishing the existing six garages and the erection of two houses with associated road and parking, within the Village Policy Limits and not obstructing the Public Rights of Way.

The Case Officer outlined the relevant planning policy which included the West Wiltshire District Plan 1st Alteration (2004), Leisure and Recreation DPD 2009, National Planning Policy Framework (2012), Neighbourhood Plan and that  some weight was also afforded to the Emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy, however as it was yet to be formally adopted by the Council, only limited weight could be given to the policy.

The Case Officer outlined the comments and objections received through consultation, as set out in the report.

The Case Officer drew attention to the relevant planning considerations set out in the report.

Members were invited to ask technical questions of the site. The questions focused on if the garages would be relocated and where.

Members of the public were invited to speak on the application as listed above.

Members then entered debate which focused on: the Rights of Way, concerns about the social club in close proximity to the proposed dwellings and whether the  pathway would become too enclosed. A motion to approve the application was proposed.

At the end of the debate, the Committee;

Resolved:

That Planning Permission be APPROVED subject to the following conditions: