Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from:

·       Cllr Jose Green

·       Cllr Richard Britton

·       Cllr Matthew Dean

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 31 May 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 31 May 2018 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes.

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

There were none.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

The Chairman explained the meeting procedure to the members of the public.

The Chairman noted that application 18/00405/FUL Lloyds Bank at Mere - had been withdrawn.

He also informed the Committee that further written information in the form of a Transport Strategy had been received on Tuesday 26^th June in conjunction with application 18/00457/FUL, this was circulated as late correspondence. As the Committee did not have the Highways response in regard to this new information, he moved the motion that the application be deferred to allow time for the Members and the public to consider the information fully.

This was seconded by Cllr Hewitt.

Decision

Application 18/00457/FUL was deferred to allow time for Highways to provide a response to the Transport Strategy, so that both pieces of new information could be given adequate time for consideration.

The Committee noted the large turnout of local residents who had attended in objection to the application. Cllr Hewitt noted that many of those in attendance had needed to make specific arrangements to enable them to attend.

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 on (4 clear working days, e.g. Wednesday of week before a Wednesday meeting) 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 (2 clear working days, eg Friday of week before a Wednesday meeting). 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.

To receive details of completed and pending appeals and other updates as appropriate for the period of 18/05/2018 to 15/06/2018.

The committee received details of the appeal decisions as detailed in the agenda.

Decision

The Committee noted the Appeals report for the period of 18/05/2018 to 15/06/2018.

To consider and determine planning applications in the attached schedule.

Energy Storage Capacity Mechanism Plant to Support the National Grid.

This application was deferred under Chairman’s Announcements.

Conversion of existing bank to create 3 no. x 1 bed and 1 no. x 2 bed flat with parking.

This application had been withdrawn by the applicant.

Two storey extension to rear of property and new front porch.

Public Participation

Mark Harris spoke in support of the application.

The Planning Team Leader, Richard Hughes presented the application for a two storey extension to rear of property and a new front porch. It was noted that the neighbouring back gardens were relatively open to each other. The property next door has a single storey extension, with a further property further along having a two storey extension.

The application was recommended for approval.

Members then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the Officer where it was that there was a window on the single storey extension on the ground floor. As far as the Officer could tell, the boundary fence would remain the same.

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

The local Member Cllr Chris Devine then spoke on the application and explained that he had called the application in to committee as he felt it was a difficult one to decide either way on. He went on to say that one person’s extension is someone else’s overshadowing. He understood the families need for additional space for their family and that they could not afford another 4 bedroom property in the same area as they were out of their price range.

Cllr Hewitt moved the motion of approval in line with Officer recommendation this was seconded by Cllr Dalton.

Cllr Hewitt noted that he knew the properties well and there had been a mixed level of development in the area already. No one on the Parish Council had come forward to object to the proposal. It was a large extension, but not as large as another in the same area. He felt that the house should be made into a family home.

The Committee then voted on the recommendation to approve the application.

Decision

That application 18/03512/FUL be approved in line with Officer recommendation, 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 and documents:

Location Plan Date rec. 12/04/18

Drg. no. ADS2018/871/1/A Proposed Elevations and Floor Plans Date rec. 12/04/18

Drg. no. ADS2018/871/4 Site Plan/ Block Plan (revised) Date rec. 11/06/18

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

3) The materials to be used in the approved works shall match those used in the existing dwelling.

REASON: In the interests of amenity

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