Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Magnus MacDonald.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2014.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2014 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2014 with the following amendment: that the start and finish time of the meeting be noted in the minutes.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

The Chairman gave details of the exits to be used in the event of an emergency, and asked that mobile phones be turned off or set to silent.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

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 (acting on behalf of the Corporate Director) no later than 5pm on Wednesday 5 November. 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.

Admin Note: Cllr Magnus MacDonald arrived in the chamber.

Public participation:

Francis Morland spoke in objection to the application.

Richard Covington spoke on behalf of the West Ashton Parish Council.

The Right of Way Officer presented the report which outlined the need to regularise the definitive map in the light of an issue that had come to the council’s attention following a land purchase. There was an objection to the order which means it comes to the Committee. Officers planned to address the issue under powers delegated to officers in the Highways Act.

The Officers thanked Mr Morland for bringing certain issues to the attention of the Council which would allow them to be addressed. Councillors commended the hard work of the officers in trying to resolve the matter. A motion was put forward to move the officer’s recommendation as set out in the report.

RESOLVED That the Wiltshire Council West Ashton 1 (Part) Rights of Way Modification Order 2014 be forwarded to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for determination with the recommendation that the Order is not confirmed.

To consider and determine the following planning applications:

Public Participation:

Karen Munroe and David Timbrell spoke in objection to the application.

Paul Walsh and Sally Hewins spoke in support of the application.

The Planning 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 Planning Officer outlined the

relevant planning policy, consultation and relevant planning considerations.

Councillor John Hubbard as the local member, spoke in objection to the

application. He also commented that the developers had consulted with the public and had made changes to the original plans, but that there were still a number of objections to the development. The main issues were noted as: impact of changes to landscaping on neighbours and the density and proximity of the development. The debate focused on the impact of the proposed development on the character of the area. A motion was put forward to refuse the defer the application for a site visit. At the end of the debate it was;

Resolved

To defer consideration of the application to allow for a site visit to take place.

Admin Note: Cllr MacDonald having declared an interest in this item did not participate in the meeting for the duration of the item.

Public Participation:

Julian Sully spoke in objection to the application.

Peter Grist spoke in support of the application.

Tony Doel spoke on behalf of Southwick Parish Council.

The Planning Officer outlined the report which recommended refusal.

The site description and an overview of the proposed development were also given. The Planning Officer outlined the relevant planning policy, consultation and relevant planning considerations.

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

Councillor Horace Prickett, as the local member, spoke in relation to the application. The main issues were noted as: the level of objection in the community, whether the issues given in the previously refused application had been address, and the position of the proposal in relation to the village boundary.A motion was put forward to refuse the application. At the end of the debate it was;

Resolved to refuse the application for the following reasons:

1      The proposed residential development is located outside of the defined village policy limits. No rural occupation or other exceptional circumstances have been presented which would outweigh the harm associated with the development. The proposals therefore constitute an unwarranted extension of urbanisation into the countryside to the detriment of the visual openness and quality of the countryside contrary to policies C1 and H19 of the West Wiltshire District Plan 1st Alteration (2004), and Core Policies 1 and 2 of the emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy.

2      The proposal, located outside of village policy limits, is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (Section 4 paras. 29, 30 & 37) and the emerging Core Strategy for Wiltshire (Policy 60), which seek to reduce the need to travel, influence the rate of traffic growth and reduce the environmental impact of traffic overall in support of sustainable development.

Public Participation:

Peter Steven spoke in support of the application.

The Planning 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 Planning Officer outlined the relevant planning policy, consultation and relevant planning considerations.

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

Councillors questioned why the application had been called-in to Committee given that the apparent low level of objection. A motion was put forward to approve the application. At the end of the debate it was;

Resolved

To approve the recommendation subject to the following 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 details and samples of the materials to be used for the external walls and roofs 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. No development shall commence on site until a scheme of hard and soft landscaping has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, the details of which shall include:-

a) location and current canopy spread of all existing trees and hedgerows on the land and immediately adjacent;

b) full details of any to be retained, together with measures for their protection in the course of development;

c) a detailed planting specification showing all plant species, supply and planting sizes and planting densities;

d) finished levels and contours;

e) means of enclosure;

f) car park layouts;

g) other vehicle and pedestrian access and circulation areas;

h) all hard and soft surfacing materials;

i) minor artefacts and structures (e.g. furniture, play equipment, refuse and other storage units, signs, lighting etc);

j) proposed and existing functional services above and below ground (e.g. drainage, power, communications, cables, pipelines etc indicating lines, manholes, supports etc);

     REASON: To ensure a satisfactory landscaped setting for the development and the protection of existing important landscape features.

4.  All soft landscaping comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding season following the first occupation of the building(s) or the completion of the development whichever is the sooner;  All shrubs, trees and hedge planting shall be maintained free from weeds and shall be protected from damage by vermin and stock. Any trees or plants which, within a period of five years, die, are removed, or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of a similar size and species, unless otherwise agreed in writing by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 125.

Public Participation:

Paul Pursey spoke in objection to the application.

Howard Walters spoke in support of the application.

Richard Covington spoke on behalf of the West Ashton Parish Council.

The Planning 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 Planning Officer outlined the relevant planning policy, consultation and relevant planning considerations.

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

Councillor Horace Prickett, as the local member, spoke in objection to the application. The main issues were noted as: impact of the proposals on neighbours, whether the issues given in the previously refused application had been address, that the Committee had previously visited the site and the position of the proposal in relation to the streetscene. A motion was put forward to refuse the application. At the end of the debate it was;

Resolved to refuse the application for the following reason:

1.      The proposed dwelling by reason of its siting, size, height and design would have an adverse impact upon the character and appearance of the street scene and neighbouring amenity, contrary to Saved Policies C31a and C38 of West Wiltshire District Local Plan (Adopted 2004).

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