Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Magnus MacDonald, who was replaced, for this meeting only, by Councillor Gordon King.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2014.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2014 were presented. It was noted that the questions, including the supplement, were included in the minutes.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 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.

Cllr Andrew Davis stated that although he had considered application 6 a) as a member of the Planning Committee of Warminster Town Council, he would be considering the application with an open mind.

Cllr John Knight stated that although he had considered application 6 b) as a member of the Planning Committee of Trowbridge Town Council, he would be considering the application with an open mind.

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 Wednesday7 January 2015. 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.

It was noted that the officer’s response to the supplementary questions asked by Councillor Ernie Clark had been circulated, as a supplement, appended to the minutes of the meeting held on the 17 December 2014.

Cllr Clark expressed his dissatisfaction with the response and the with time it had taken for it to be given.

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:

The meeting’s attention was drawn to the additional information, including the amendment to the proposed condition 14, circulated on the 14 January 2015.

Public participation:

Martin Somervell MBE, Andy Jelly and Rev Denis Brett spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Paul Walsh spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Sue Fraser spoke on behalf of Warminster Town Council

The Senior 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.

Issues discussed in the course of the debate included: impact on ecology and amenity, the location of the site, the access to the proposed development, the proximity of neighbouring buildings, the heights of the proposed buildings, the impact of local plan policies including those for social housing, the density of the development, the amendments made to the plans, the scale of development, and the visual impact. 

At the end of the debate the meeting;

Resolved

To defer consideration of the application to enable further information to be presented to the Committee, and to enable a site visit to take place.

Public participation:

Angela Clements and Roland Smithies spoke in objection to the application.

Councillor Roger Andrews spoke on behalf of Trowbridge Town Council

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

Councillor Steve Oldrieve, as the local member, spoke in relation to the application.

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

Issues discussed in the course of the debate included: the site location, the relationship to existing neighbouring buildings, the revisions made to the original scheme, the height and density of the proposals, the impact of the proposals on privacy and sunlight, vehicular access to the site, the number of parking spaces provided, the impact on the vegetation on the site and the relevant tree preservation orders, the impact on the conservation area and that Trowbridge Town Council had confirmed that they objected to the revised plans.

At the end of the debate the meeting;

Resolved

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

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