Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Nick Fogg MBE, Mark Connolly and Paul Oatway QPM.

Councillor Fogg was substituted by Councillor Dennis Drewett.

Councillor Connolly was substituted by Councillor James Sheppard.

Councillor Oatway was substituted by Councillor Anna Cuthbert.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2016 were presented for consideration, and it was,

Resolved:

To APPROVE and sign as a true and correct record.

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

During application 16/00736/FUL - The Coach House, High Street, Avebury, Wiltshire, SN8 1 RF - Councillor Drewett declared that on 20 April 2016 he had sat on a Licensing Sub-Committee considering licensing applications from the National Trust. Councillor Drewett also declared he was a member of the National Trust, a nationwide organisation with many members, and his wife had done some volunteer work for the Trust in the past.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

There were no 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 in person no later than 5.50pm 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 no later than 5pm on Thursday 14 April 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.

The procedure on public speaking was noted.

To receive details of the completed and pending appeals.

No update was received.

To consider and determine the following planning applications.

A report by the case officer is attached.

Public Speaking

Mr Peter Casson-Crook spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Tim Willis spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Richard Cosker, agent, spoke in support of the application.

The Area Development Manager presented the report which recommended that permission be granted for the demolition of the existing garage block to be replaced by two pairs of semi-detached dwellings. Key issues included parking, impact upon amenity and design.

The Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officers. Details were sought on drainage issues, ecology and access.  In response to queries it was clarified there were too few dwellings proposed to require affordable housing provision, and that no official footpath existed on the site

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the Committee, as detailed above.

The Committee then debated the application, discussing the extent of ecology assessment for the application, along with the increased parking provision resulting from the replacement of mostly unused garages with new spaces elsewhere. The impact upon amenity was noted in respect of the rear wall of the garages currently forming the back wall of several gardens, and members sought details of the scale and nature of any replacement boundary.

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

To GRANT planning permission subject to the following conditions:

A report by the case officer is attached.

Public Speaking

Christopher Spratt spoke in objection to the application.

Dianne Reynell spoke in objection to the application.

Mary Beale spoke in objection to the application.

Janet Tomlin for the applicants spoke in support of the application.

Eva Stuetzenberger for the applicants spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Andrew Williamson, Chairman of Avebury Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application.

The Area Development Manager presented a report which recommended permission be granted for proposed outdoor seating for use by a food outlet, extended opening hours and erection of a screened refuse area. It was highlighted that the food outlet already had planning permission to operate at the site 365 days a year, and that it had been determined additional signage applied for did not require planning consent from the Committee.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. Details were sought about the refuse area proposed for the site.

The Local Unitary Member, Councillor Jemima Milton then spoke in objection to the application, noting concerns raised by members of the community, in particular around the use of parasols, littering, the need to preserve the world heritage site, and extent of consultation.

The Committee then debated the application, discussing the existing permission on the site and the additional impact of the application upon the character and appearance of the area of the new application.

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

To Grantplanning permissionsubject tothe following conditions:

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

There were no urgent items.