Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Nick Fogg MBE and Cllr James Sheppard who was substituted by Cllr Christopher Williams.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 2017.

Resolved:

To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 2 November 2017 as a correct record.

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

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

There were no Chairman’s announcements made at the meeting.

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 2.50pm 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 24 November 2017 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on28 November 2017. 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 rules on public participation were noted.

To receive details of the completed and pending appeals, and any other updates as appropriate.

There were no planning appeals or updates reported at the meeting.

To consider and determine the following planning applications.

The following planning applications were considered:-

Installation of Gazebo

Public Participation

Mr Malcolm Denyer, a local resident, spoke against the application

Ms Emma Russell, Headteacher, spoke in support of the application

Cllr David Woolley QC, representing Fyfield & West Overton Parish Council, spoke against the application

The Committee received a presentation from the Case Officer which set out the issues in respect of the application, with a recommendation that planning permission be granted.

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

During discussion, Members considered that the proposed facility was very worthwhile but some felt that the location was wrong, it being close to adjoining properties and therefore causing nuisance to neighbours.  However, it was pointed out that the school and its grounds were secured and locked during non school hours and therefore it was unlikely that nuisance would be caused. It was requested that the school limit the hours of use to 09.00 – 16.30 on school days only to minimise disturbance to neighbours.

On the proposal of Cllr Christopher Williams which was seconded by Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling,

Resolved:

To approve the application, subject to the following informative:-

INFORMATIVE TO APPLICANT:

The development has been approved in accordance with the following plans:

Drg Title: Location and Block Plan. Drg No: 3364-02. Rev: A.

Drg Title: Plan, Elevation and Photograph. Drg No: 3364-01. Rev: A. Received: 15/11/2017.

The school is requested to respect the privacy of the occupiers of neighbouring properties and to incorporate mitigation measures such as the use of rubber floor matting, additional planting and time limits on usage (between 9:00 and 16:30 on school days only).

Single storey dwelling to replace existing storage building

Public Participation

Cllr Peter Deck, representing Pewsey Parish Council, spoke against the proposal.

The Committee received a presentation from the Case Officer which set out the main issues in respect of the application, with a recommendation that planning permission be granted, subject to conditions.

Members then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which they heard a statement from a member of the public as detailed above, expressing the views of Pewsey Parish Council regarding the planning application.

Members then heard the views of Cllr Jerry Kunkler, the local Member, who stated that he concurred with the concerns of the Parish Council regarding disabled access to the proposed building and lack of car parking provision.

During discussion Members agreed with these concerns and furthermore expressed disquiet at the lack of suitable fire exits and stressed the need for suitably lit access to the building from the main road.  Some Members also considered that the north-east corner of the construction would be so close to the adjoining property that its light would be adversely affected.

On the proposal of Cllr Stewart Dobson, which was seconded by Cllr Christopher Williams,

Resolved:

To refuse planning permission for the following reasons:-

The proposed dwelling would have restricted access arrangements,

namely a narrow pedestrian passageway with stairs to navigate.  It would therefore fail to provide safe and suitable access for pedestrians and vehicles, which would be detrimental to the reasonable living conditions of future occupiers of the dwelling. As such, the proposal would be contrary to Wiltshire Core Strategy Core Policy 57 point vii, which requires appropriate levels of amenity to be achievable within the development itself, to point ix which requires development to take account of the needs of potential occupants, through planning for diversity and adaptability and to point xi, which seeks to ensure the public realm, including new roads and other rights of way, are designed to create places of character which are legible, safe and accessible. Furthermore, the proposal is contrary to Paragraph 32 of the National Planning Policy Framework which requires that a safe and suitable access to the site is achievable for all people.

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.