Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Trevor Carbin who was replaced by Cllr Gordon King for that meeting only.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2014.

The minutes of the meeting held on  the 5 November 2014 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2014.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

There were no Chairman’s Announcements.

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.

Councillor Magnus MacDonald stated that he had previously registered a pecuniary interest in item 6 a – 14/04399/FUL, and would not take part in the deliberations of that item.

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 19 November 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:

Public Participation:

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

Paul Walsh spoke in support of the application.

The Planning Officer outlined the report which recommended the application for approval subject to conditions. Reference was made to the site visit undertaken by the Members of the Committee prior to the meeting. 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 Jon Hubbard as the local member, spoke in objection the application.

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

Issues discussed including the position of housing units in relation to existing properties, the elevation and size of the proposed housing units, the ecological impacts of the development, the location of the site in relation to service, the siting of the open space area, the access to the main site and the landscaping plans. Members suggest that, to mitigate the impact on neighbouring properties, that the landscaping be starting once construction work had begun rather than at the point of occupation or completion. At the end of the debate the meeting;

Resolved

1.            That Planning Permission be granted at a future date in the event of the Development Control Manager being satisfied as to the prior completion a legal Agreement to secure:

a)    An index-linked financial contribution towards secondary education infrastructure expansion of 2 places; and

b)   The transfer of ownership of the proposed public open space to the Melksham Town Council and to secure the provision of the play equipment on that site.

2.            That Permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

       I.       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.

      II.       The materials to be utilised within this development shall accord with the schedule of materials as described within the planning application form, registered 16 April 2014 and the revised drawings received on 12 August 2014.

     REASON: In the interests of visual amenity and the character and appearance of the area.

   III.        Subject to the further requirements of Condition 4, all soft landscaping comprised in the approved details of landscaping on Plan 3731/01 Rev K 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 the local planning authority.  All hard  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134.

Public Participation:

Paul Oakley spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Andrew Pearce spoke on behalf of Holt Parish Council.

The Planning Officer outlined the report which recommended the application for approval subject to conditions.

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

Chair stated that the local Member, Councillor Carbin, had had to tender his apologies as he had been called to other Council business.

Issues discussed included: the position of the proposals, the height of the panels, the access to the site, the intended use of the power generated to support agricultural business, the quality grading of the agricultural land and the impact of existing landscaping. Following the debate the meeting;

Resolved to approve the application 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. The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

• Design and Access Statement – Received 23 June 2014
• Location Plan – Received 23 June 2014
• Proposed Photovoltaic’s – Received 23 June 2014
• Solar Panel Details – Received 23 June 2014
• Email from agent - Received 15 September 2014
• Site Plan Rev E Barn One – Received 25 September 2014
• Site Plan Rev E Barn Two – Received 25 September 2014
• Shading Report Barn One - Received 25 September 2014
• Shading Report Barn Two - Received 25 September 2014
• Shading Report Letter - Received 25 September 2014
• Tree Line Photos - Received 25 September 2014
• Agricultural Classification Report – Received 17 October 2014
• Agricultural Land Classification Map – Received 17 October 2014

REASON: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

3. The development hereby approved shall be discontinued and the land restored to its former condition on or before 26 November 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.

4. In the event that the development ceases to be operational for the generation of energy before the end of the period defined in condition 3 above, 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 to 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 and the circumstances of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 135.

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