Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 11 May and 2 June 2016. (Copies attached)

Resolved:

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meetings held on 11 May and 2 June 2016.

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

Cllr Bridget Wayman declared a non-pecuniary interest in West Warminster Urban Extension Masterplan (Minute No 43 below) as she was a member of Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB Panel.

Cllr Andrew Davis declared a non-pecuniary interest in West Warminster Urban Extension Masterplan (Minute No 43 below) as he was a member of Warminster Town Council and, as a member of the Town Council’s Planning Advisory Committee, had taken no part in the Committee’s consideration of the matter and had left the committee room during the debate.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

The Chairman reminded members of the public that whilst they had the opportunity to make representations on the West Warminster Urban Extension Masterplan and to contact and lobby their local member and any other members of the planning committee before today’s meeting, he would not allow any last minute lobbying of members once the debate has started, including the circulation of new information, written or photographic which had not been verified by the Council’s planning officers.  He respectfully asked Members and members of the public to please bear this in 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 10.20am 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 8 June 2016. 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 everyone to the meeting.  He then explained the rules of public participation and procedure to be followed at the meeting.

A report by the Associate Director, Economy & Planning is attached.

The following people spoke against the proposal

Mr Jeremy Stadward, a local resident

Mr Tony Nicklin, Chairman, Neighbourhood Plan Working Group

Mrs Tracy Clifford, representing ABC Action Group & a local resident

The following people spoke in support of the proposal

Mr Dennis Barry of GL Hearn – Property Consultants, representing Persimmon and Hannick Homes.

Ms Jenny Mitter of Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners, representing Redrow Homes.

Consideration was given to a report by the Associate Director, Economic Development & Planning requesting the Committee to endorse the draft West Warminster Urban Extension masterplan (WWUE) and to authorise the Associate Director for Economic Development & Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property & Waste, to make any further necessary minor changes in the interest of clarity and accuracy.

It was noted that, at its meeting on 13 April 2016, this Committee had given consideration to adopting this masterplan but during discussion Members had considered that there appeared to be some confusion on the number of houses which should be included in this masterplan. They also requested further detailed information about potential flooding, landscaping, traffic management particularly of West Street and the sighting of the proposed new primary school and had resolved as follows:-

“To defer consideration of the draft West Warminster Urban Extension masterplan and to request the officers:

(1)          to look into how this could be brought into greater conformity with the Wiltshire Core Strategy, and

(2)          to examine further the issues regarding potential flooding, landscaping, traffic management particularly affecting West Street and the position of the new primary school.”

The Associate Director made a presentation in which he explained that the Wiltshire Core Strategy supported the delivery of 900 homes and six hectares of employment land on this site until 2026.  Following a detailed site investigation and an extensive consultation process which included an examination in public, the WWUE site had been identified as the most sustainable location for growth in Warminster. He further explained that the purpose of a masterplan was to manage the development of sites as identified in the Core Strategy. Once endorsed, it provided a template to ensure that developers worked within the framework as set by the Core Strategy.  It was pointed out that although the Core Strategy had identified this site as suitable for the provision of 900 houses until 2026, the site was large enough to accommodate 1550 homes substantiated by detailed robust modelling work. As reported at the April meeting, Members were informed that the intention of the masterplan was that development of the site would extend beyond the Core Strategy plan period to 2026 with estimates showing that 893 dwellings would be delivered between 2016 and 2026, with the remaining figure to be delivered over the following years to 2033.

Following on from the meeting on 13 April 2016, Members were informed that further work had been undertaken to examine the issues regarding potential flood risk, landscape mitigation and traffic management particularly affecting West Street and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To note that the next scheduled meeting of this Committee is due to be held on Wednesday 13 July 2016, at County Hall, Trowbridge, starting at 10.30am.

Resolved:

To note that the next scheduled meeting of this Committee was due to be held on Wednesday 13 July 2016, at County Hall, Trowbridge, starting at 10.30am.

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

There were no items of urgent business.