Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Stewart Dobson, who was substituted by Cllr David Halik.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2018.

Resolved:

To confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28 February 2018.

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

Cllr David Halik declared a non-pecuniary interest in application no. 15/04736/OUT by virtue of being a member of Trowbridge Town Council.  He stated that he would consider the application on its merits and with an open mind.   

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

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 by phone, email or in person no later than 10.20am on the day of the meeting.

The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are detailed in the Council’s Planning Code of Good Practice. 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.

Members of the public will have had the opportunity to make representations on the planning applications and to contact and lobby their local member and any other members of the planning committee prior to the meeting. Lobbying once the debate has started at the meeting is not permitted, including the circulation of new information, written or photographic which have not been verified by planning officers.

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 18 April 2018 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on Friday 20 April 2018. 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.

There were no questions or statements submitted.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

The Committee received a presentation from the Head of Development Management which set out the issues in respect of the application. He also summarised late representations which had been received following publication of the agenda papers. The purpose of the report was to assess the merits of the proposals against the policies of the Development Plan and other material considerations with a recommendation to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

Members then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which they heard a statement from Dr Simon Ruston, the agent, in support of the application. 

The Chairman reported that Cllr Chuck Berry, the local Member and also Minety Parish Council had both registered their objections to the proposal.

During discussion, Members noted that a previously approved site was less than 200 yards away from the proposed site and it was underused.  It appeared, therefore, that there was not a demonstrable need for a further two pitches on a separate site so close.  It was also suggested that the site was outside the limits of development of the village and would not obtain normal residential permission as the building would be on agricultural land in a rural setting.

It was noted that the key issues were as follows:-

·         Principle of the development.

·         Impact on character and appearance of the area.

·         Flooding and drainage

·         Highway matters

·         Residential amenity

Members were informed that the application was considered acceptable when measured against the criteria in Wiltshire Core Strategy Policy 47 and the government advice in Planning Policy for Traveller Sites.

On the proposal of Cllr Andrew Davis, which was seconded by Cllr Fred Westmoreland

Resolved:

To grant planning permission, 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:

Flood Risk Assessment (ref: 407.05774.00001, version 2,V.2) SLR (dated September 2017)

SLR letter (dated 14th February 2018)

1553/02D

1553/04

1553/03B

BC16-SLP

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

3          No development shall commence on site until the exact details and samples of the materials to be used for the external walls and roofs of the 'Day Room' 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: The application contained insufficient information to enable this matter to be considered prior to granting planning permission.

4          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.

REASON: The application contained insufficient information to enable this matter to be considered prior to granting planning permission and the matter is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

Public Participation

Mrs Rosie Fell, representing Larkrise Community Farm, spoke against the application.

Mr Patrick Kinnersly, Secretary, White Horse Alliance, spoke against the application.

Mr John Cox, Chairman, Wiltshire West District Scout Council, spoke against the application.

Mr Glenn Godwin, agent, spoke in support of the application.

The Committee received a presentation from the Case Officer which set out the issues in respect of the application, with a recommendation to grant planning permission, subject to the completion of appropriate section 106 legal agreements and conditions. He also summarised late representations which had been received following publication of the agenda papers.  

The Case Officer explained that on 17 April 2018 the Environment Agency had withdrawn its holding objection to the planning application following its consideration of additional flood compensation modelling information provided by the applicant.

Members then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which they heard statements from members of the public as detailed above, expressing their views regarding the planning application.

During discussion, Members generally supported the proposals but did express concern regarding:-

·         The perceived increased traffic implications at the Yarnbrook junction following completion of the project.

·         The danger resulting from increased traffic on Road A350 at the existing accesses to Larkrise Community Farm and the scout camp.

The officers explained that any changes to the Yarnbrook junction were outside the scope of this application and would have to be considered separately by the Highway Authority.

In response to concerns raised in representations by the Larkrise Community Farm and the scouts relating to their vehicular accesses from West Ashton Road and the A350 respectively, the presenting officer re-stated that there were no highway safety objections to the proposals.  However, the committee requested that discussions should continue between officers and the applicant to consider potential further improvements in any event, this essentially as a gesture of goodwill.

The Highways Engineer was satisfied that the proposals would not cause any new danger at the junction of Road A350 and the accesses to Larkrise Community Farm and the scout camp.

After further discussion, on the proposal of Cllr David Halik, which was seconded by Cllr Fred Westmoreland

Resolved:

To grant planning permission, subject to the following Section 106 legal agreements being entered into and also the following conditions, including any subsequent changes agreed with the Head of Development Management :-

1.      an obligation under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 between the applicant and Wiltshire Council requiring provision of the following:

·       30% affordable housing with suitable mix;

·       Two new primary school sites of at least 1.8 ha each.  Primary education financial contribution (of £9,509,390 (2017 figure) based on 2,500 dwellings; adjusted accordingly depending on final numbers) completion of two schools;

·       One new secondary school site of 5.24 ha.  Secondary contribution (of £8,463,708 (2017 figure) based on 2,500 dwellings; adjusted accordingly depending on final numbers);

·       ‘Early Years’ education contribution (of £3,863,313 (2017 figure) based on 2,500 dwellings; adjusted accordingly depending on final numbers) or on-site provision;

·       Health  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

To note that the next scheduled meeting of this Committee is due to be held on Wednesday 23 May 2018 in the Council Chamber at County Hall, Trowbridge, starting at 10.30am.

Resolved:

To note that the next scheduled meeting of the Committee was due to be held on Wednesday 23 May 2018 in the Council Chamber 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.