Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Andrew Davis, who had arranged for Councillor Mike Sankey to attend as a substitute. Additionally, apologies were received from Councillor David Vigar.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2021 were presented for consideration, and it was;

Resolved:

To approve and sign as a true and correct record of the minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2021.

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

Councillor Bill Parks, Councillor Christopher Newbury, Councillor Pip Ridout declared that they had been lobbied on the application.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

The Chairman made those in attendance aware of the Covid regulations that were in place for the meeting.

Statements

Members of the public who wish to submit a statement in relation to an item on this agenda should submit this in writing to the officer named on this agenda no later than 5pm on 17 January 2022.

Submitted statements should:

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

·       State clearly whether the statement is in objection to or support of the application;

·       Be readable aloud in approximately three minutes (for members of the public and statutory consultees) and in four 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

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 electronically to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on Wednesday 12 January 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 14 January.

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. Questions and answers will normally be taken as read at the meeting.

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

The Chairman welcomed all present. He then explained the rules of public participation and the procedure to be followed at the meeting.

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

The update report on planning appeals was received from Development Management Team Leader, Kenny Green with details provided of appeals dating back to September 2021.The Committee was notified that since the agenda for the meeting on 19 January 2022 being published, two appeals in Bradford on Avon and at Cowards Farm at Brokerswood had been determined and were dismissed.

Kenny Green also informed the committee that two appeals relating to land at Stokes Marsh Lane, Coulston and land to the west of Jasmine House, Hilperton Road had been allowed; and in the case of the Coulston appeal, the appellant’s application for costs against the Council had been successful defended and was dismissed.

Councillor Ernie Clark clarified that regarding the appeal relating to the land west of Jasmine House, Hilperton Road, was now part of Paxcroft having moved out of the Hilperton division following the ward boundary changes.

Resolved:

To note the Planning Appeals Update Report for 19 January 2022.

To consider and determine the following planning application.

The Committee considered the following planning application:

Change of use of existing annex to a standalone residential dwelling (Use Class C3).

Public Participation

Niki Wagstaff spoke in objection of the application.

Zoe Wilkinson spoke in support of the application.

Christina Stewart spoke in support of the application.

David Bond spoke on behalf of Heytesbury, Knook and Imber Parish Council.

Senior Planning Officer, Steven Sims, presented the report which outlined the key planning considerations pertaining to the proposed change of use of an existing annex to a standalone residential dwelling (Use Class C3).

Details were provided of the site and issues raised by the proposals, including the principle of development, impact on heritage assets, impact on the amenity of neighbouring residents, and highway, parking and drainage issues.

Members of the Committee had the opportunity to ask technical questions regarding the application with members querying the size of the garage and whether it complied with the Council’s adopted standards to count towards being a recognised vehicular parking space.

In response the planning officer clarified that the existing integral garage was smaller than the current adopted standards.  The committee was advised that in 2016 when the annexe was granted planning permission, the integral garage was not identified as being necessary for car parking purposes on the basis that there was adequate external parking space at the front of the annexe for three motor vehicles and at the front of No.72 High Street. The garage space could nevertheless still be used for the storing and parking of small cars of motor bikes as an additional provision.

Members sought additional clarification over the existing parking requirements for the host property and questioned the officer on the number of bedrooms within No.72 High Street, and in addition, asked the officer if the integral garage within the annexe could be converted to habitable rooms.

In response, the officer confirmed that the garage could be modified to be used as additional ancillary accommodation and understood that the host property at No.72 High Street had 4 bedrooms as set out within the committee report.

Following further questions relating to the Councils car parking standards and the potential future internal changes to the annexe, Kenny Green reminded members that the annexe benefitted from extant planning permission and that the Council had approved the existing car parking provision and advised that it would not be reasonable to reconsider the car parking needs for the existing dwelling and the annexe. 

Members were also advised that the car parking standards should be considered alongside a full appreciation of the on-site parking provision, any available unrestricted parking opportunities along the highway and that any application being considered for potential refusal on highway grounds must be tested against NPPF paragraph 111 which would require the decision maker to evidence that the proposal would result in unacceptable impacts on highway safety, or that the residual cumulative impacts on the road network would be severe.

The committee was reminded by officers that the application proposal would not result in any additional parking requirements and acknowledged that any additional displaced parking would not result in unacceptable impacts on highway  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

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.