Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Cllr Sam Pearce-Kearney and Cllr Stuart Wheeler.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2022 were presented for consideration.

Resolved:

To approve and sign the minutes 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 Chairman’s 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 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 Thursday 19 May 2022 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 23 May 2022. 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 Chairman detailed the procedure for the meeting and the procedures for public participation which were set out at item 5 of the agenda.

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

Resolved:

To note the report on completed and pending appeals.

To consider and determine the following planning applications.

The following planning application was considered:

Development of a coach, minibus and taxi crop off/pick up area and associated infrastructure.

Public Participation:

·       Peter Storey – spoke in objection to the application

·       Philip Richardson – spoke in objection to the application

·       Mark Lascelles – Head Teacher - spoke in support of the application

·       Brett Farmery – Highways Consultant - spoke in support of the application

·       Cat White – Turley Planning - spoke in support of the application

·       Julia Ford, West Lavington Parish Council – spoke in objection to the application

Ruaridh O’Donoghue, Senior Conservation/Planning Officer introduced the addendum report and reminded the Committee that the planning application had been deferred at its last meeting on 24 March 2022 for additional highways information, which included the highways impacts associated with the development. The addendum report recommended that planning permission be approved, for reasons detailed in the report, for the development of a coach, mini-bus and taxi drop-off / pick up area and associated infrastructure.

The officer advised that the main issues to be considered by the Committee related to whether the proposal would have a negative effect upon highway safety including if there is sufficient parking for the proposed development and what the fallback position is. All other issues raised in the previous report  remained the same and these were detailed in the appendix to the addendum.

The Committee noted that currently 14 vehicles entered the school through the main drive and exited onto the B3098 with the majority routing back to the A360 High Street as the B3098 would not be suitable for use by coaches due to the inadequate carriageway width to enable two coaches to pass side by side. In the opinion of the Local Highway Authority the proposed additional movements on the A360 would not have a negative impact on other users. In addition, the officer commented on the school’s fallback position, in that the proposal does not constitute a change of use, and the existing hardstanding could be replaced without the need for planning permission.

The officer explained that his conclusion is that the scheme is considered to accord with the development plan policy and is acceptable, therefore planning permission is recommended subject to the conditions set out below.

The report detailed the additional responses to the further information supplied in respect of the highway impacts.

In response to technical questions asked by the Committee, the officer confirmed that only one minibus turns left onto the B3098 from the school, whilst all other coaches/midi coaches / minibuses turn right and route back to the A360; officers are unable to insist on mature planting on site by the applicant; the lighting condition allows for an agreed lux level, allowing the school to function and have minimum impact on local residents and detail about turning vehicle engine and lights off when stationary would be included in the Travel Plan.

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

The unitary division member, Cllr Dominic Muns spoke on the application. Cllr Muns indicated that he supported the schools drive to improve the safety  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

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.