Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from:

·       Cllr Stuart Wheeler – substituted by Cllr Dominic Muns

·       Cllr Dr Brian Mathew MP – substituted by Cllr Sam Pearce-Kearney

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2024.

On the proposal of Chairman, seconded by the Vice-Chairman, it was:

Resolved

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2024 as a true and correct record.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

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 no later than 10 minutes before the start of the meeting. If it is on the day of the meeting registration should be done in person.

The rules on public participation in respect of planning applications are linked to 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 and others will have had the opportunity to make representations on planning applications and other items on the agenda, and to contact and lobby their local elected member and any other members of the planning committee, prior to the meeting.

Those circulating such information prior to the meeting, written or photographic, are advised to also provide a copy to the case officer for the application or item, in order to officially log the material as a representation, which will be verbally summarised at the meeting by the relevant officer, not included within any officer slide presentation if one is made. Circulation of new information which has not been verified by planning officers or case officers is also not permitted during the meetings.

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 4 July 2024 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 Monday 8 July 2024. 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 Committee noted the rules on public participation.

To receive details of the completed and pending appeals between 31 May and 28 June 2024.

On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by the Vice-Chairman, it was:

Resolved

To note the planning appeals report for the period between 21 May and 28 June 2024.

Erection of one self-build dwelling (outline application relating to access).

Public Participation

·       Mr Colin Smith (Colin Smith Planning Ltd) – spoke in opposition to the application.

·       Mr Alan Watters – spoke in opposition to the application.

·       Ms Charlotte Watkins (LP Planning Ltd) – spoke in support of the application.

·       Mrs Helen Robinson-Gordon – spoke in support of the application.

The Senior Planning Officer, Lucy Rutter-Dowd introduced a report which recommended that the outline application for the erection of a self-build dwelling, with all matters reserved except for access, be refused for the reasons outlined in the report. Key details were stated to include the principle and sustainability of the development, the landscape and visual impacts, as well as the impact on neighbouring amenity.

Attention was drawn to a late representation made by the Agent highlighting that the Route 49, Swindon to Trowbridge, bus ran an hourly service on weekdays between 6:40am and 7:40pm. However, the Senior Planning Officer stated that this did not alter her view that the proposed development was in an unsustainable location being reliant on the use of a private vehicle.

It was highlighted that the proposal sought only to establish the principle of development and means of access, so the drawings provided were merely indicative. The Senior Planning Officer explained that the planning statement indicated that the proposed building would be a detached four-bedroomed dwelling with a separate garage. The drawings suggested that the building would be partly set into the landscape so significant excavation work would be required.

The Senior Planning Officer noted that the general pattern of development in the area comprised of single rows of properties fronting the highway, whereas the proposed development would create ‘back land’ development in open countryside. As the proposed development was not consistent with the pattern of development in the area, it was considered to cause landscape harm and was contrary to Core Policy 51 (Landscape) and Core Policy 57 (High Quality Design and Place Shaping) of the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

Furthermore, the principle of development was not supported, as the proposed development was contrary to Core Policy 1 (Settlement Strategy) and Core Policy 2 (Delivery Strategy) of the Wiltshire Core Strategy. As exception criteria in the Wiltshire Core Strategy were not met, the proposed development was also not in accordance with Policy SP 11 of the Seend Parish Neighbourhood Plan. The proposal was not considered to be infill development, a sort that might have been considered acceptable in small villages such as Seend Cleeve.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the Senior Planning Officer. Details were sought on whether the application would have been recommended for approval if Wiltshire Council was still required to maintain a five-year housing land supply. It was confirmed that the application could only be considered against current policy. It was also noted that 5 The Stocks was the immediate neighbouring property.

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

The Unitary Division Member, Cllr Tamara  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

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.