Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Cllr Mollie Groom and Cllr Ian Thorn as the Local Unitary Member.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2020.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 11 November 2020 were presented.

Resolved

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2020 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.

The Chairman explained the procedure should a recess be required.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public. During the ongoing COVID-19 situation the Council is operating revised procedures and the public are able participate in meetings online after registering with the officer named on this agenda, and in accordance with the deadlines below.

Guidance on how to participate in this meeting online.

View the online meeting of the NAPC here.

Statements

Members of the public who wish to submit a statement in relation to an item on this agenda should submit this is electronically to the officer named on this agenda no later than 5pm on Monday 7 December 2020.

Statements should:

·       State whom the statement is from (including if representing another person or organisation)

·       Clearly state the key points

·       If read aloud, be readable in approximately 3 minutes (for members of the public and statutory consultees) and in 4 minutes (for Parish Council representatives – 1 per Parish Council)

Up to three objectors and three supporters are normally allowed for each item on the agenda, plus statutory consultees and parish councils.

Those submitting statements would be expected to join the online meeting to read the statement themselves, or to provide a representative to read the statement on their behalf.

Questions

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions electronically to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on Wednesday 2 December 2020 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 4 December 2020.

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 members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website; they will be taken as read at the meeting.

The Chairman explained the rules of public participation and the procedure to be followed at the meeting.

No questions had been received from Councillors or members of the public.

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

The Chairman moved that the Committee note the contents of the appeals report included within the agenda pack. As such, it was:

Resolved

To note the appeals report for the period of 25 September 2020 to 27 November 2020.

To consider and determine the following planning applications.

The Committee considered the following applications:

Outline application with all matters reserved for residential development of up to 26 entry level dwellings, associated infrastructure, open space and landscaping with creation of new vehicular access from Low Lane.

Public Participation

Mr John Boaler, local resident, spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Andrew Stevens, neighbouring resident, spoke in objection of the application.

A statement in objection of the application from Mr Tony Matthews, neighbouring resident, was read out by a Democratic Services Officer.

Sarah Hamilton-Foyn, on behalf of the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

Councillor Glenis Ansell, on behalf of Calne Town Council, spoke in objection to the application.

Charmian Eyre-Walker, Senior Planning Officer, introduced the report which recommended that authority be delegated to the Head of Development Management to grant planning permission, subject to conditions and the completion of a S106 legal agreement, for an outline application with all matters reserved for the residential development of up to 26 entry level dwellings, associated infrastructure, open space and landscaping with the creation of new vehicular access from Low Lane.

Reference was made to the presentation slides (Agenda Supplement 1 and attached to these minutes) and the late observations (Agenda Supplement 2), with photographs provided by local residents which did not form part of the officer’s presentation, noted. The key criteria and facets of Entry Level Housing, including the salience and provisions of Paragraph 71 to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), was explained; specifically, allowing for the delivery of housing to meet the authority’s area, not merely the local area. An explanation was also made as to the Council’s supply of deliverable housing land.

Key issues highlighted included: principle of the development; design and layout; ecology; landscaping; highways; drainage; and S106 requirements.

Members of the Committee had the opportunity to ask technical questions to the officer. The main points of focus included: the nature of Entry Level Housing; the access point; and the mature trees and hedges bordering the site. In response, officers noted the separation and distinction between Entry Level Housing and local community neighbourhood plans, highlighted that the internal road layout would be considered under reserved matters, and emphasised that the trees and hedges would be retained as part of the ecology requirements.

Members of the public, as detailed above, had the opportunity to address the Committee and speak on the application.

As Local Unitary Member Councillor Ian Thorn had given apologies, Councillor Gavin Grant read a statement of objection on his behalf and stated that despite this he would participate in the debate and vote with an open mind. The main points of focus in the statement were: that Calne had already fulfilled the housing allocations as required in Wiltshire Council’s five-year land supply; biodiversity concerns on the site; loss of privacy for existing Low Lane residents; increased levels of traffic and safety of pedestrians. Wiltshire Core Strategy Policies (CP) 1, 2 and 8; North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 Policy H4; and Calne Community Neighbourhood Plan Policies H1, H2 and H4, were cited.

Officers reiterated the nature of Entry Level Housing and how it was considered as a separate entity from any other local community plans as it had been brought forward after  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

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.