Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of substitute.

Apologies were received from Cllr G Cochran with Cllr D Wulff substituting and Cllr S Robinson with Cllr J Downes substituting.

To receive any questions relating to items on the agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

Note:   A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

Duncan Manning - Application No.    23/00118/MFUL

Question 1

As Chairperson of the Bampton Allotment Association Ltd. My question is whether a better use for the area of land to the extreme west of the proposed development site would be for allotments rather than a small community wood?  All allotments in the area are fully occupied and this development provides the opportunity to provide more.

Cllr Barry Warren, Chairman of Willand Parish Council Application No.    23/00118/MFUL

The officer report under Proposed Developmentstates: “This application is for the erection of 7 affordable dwellings on disused, Council-owned land off Somerlea, Willand”. This is not a true statement.  There is considerable use of this land which has taken place over a number of years.  We are advised that some of the garage users have recently been granted new leases by MDDC. There are photographs in the Design and Access Statements and in a recent drone shot provided to the case officer by the Parish Clerk which shows some 26 vehicles on the site. 

Question 1

Will members of committee satisfy themselves as to the true position of the use of land before making a decision?

Many of the vehicles on the site will be displaced and have to park on adjoining roads which are already congested with parked vehicles.  There is a suggestion that some of the householders who park on the land at the rear of their properties can park on the road at the front.  That position is close to a busy road junction from Station Road to Somerville Road where there are bus stops either side of the road. See paragraph 5.4 on page 74.

Question 2

Is it sensible for Committee to approve the application for more housing whilst ignoring or dismissing the problems which will be caused to existing residents or infrastructure by potential parking problems caused by the displaced vehicles?

In paragraph 5.4 on page 74 of your papers are these words: “In responding to these concerns, the applicant has also advised that as a result of the tenure type, it is anticipated that the occupiers would have lower car ownership rates, in which case it would be feasible to allocate one space per property and leave the remaining spaces unallocated (albeit this cannot be guaranteed).”

These words are judgemental and discriminatory in respect of potential Council tenants.  Working members of families in occupation may well need to bring home works vans to park as well as their own vehicles.

Question 3

Is it appropriate for an officer to include such comments in his report from an applicant on behalf of the council, particularly taking into account the comments at the end of the report which says: “This report has been prepared in light of the Council's obligations under the Act with regard to decisions to be informed by the principles of fair balance and non-discrimination.”?

Paul Elstone - Application No.    23/01381/FULL

Question 1

Very precisely why  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103.

To record any interests on agenda matters.

Members were reminded of the need to declare any interests where appropriate.

·       Cllr F J Colthorpe referred to Plan List 3 Application No. 23/00118/MFUL and declared a Protocol of Good Practice as her husband used to work with Duncan Manning (who had asked a question during ‘public question time’) a long time ago and she also had dealings with him when she was County Councillor for Tiverton West.

·       Cllr S Clist referred to Plan List 1 Application No. 23/00510/FULL, Plan List 2 Application No. 24/00039/FULL, Plan List 3 Application 23/00118/MFUL and Plan List 4 Application No. 23/01381/FULL and declared that he had an Other Registerable Interest.

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 10 April 2024.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 10^th April 2024 were agreed as a true record and duly signed by the Chairman.

         To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make. 

The Chairman reminded Members of the Committee of the Informal Planning Committee scheduled to take place on the 29^th May 2024.

To report any items withdrawn from the agenda.

There were no withdrawals from the Plans List.

To consider the planning applications contained in the list.

The Committee considered the applications in the *Plans List.

Note: *List previously circulated.

a)    23/00129/MFUL – Erection of 13 affordable dwellings following demolition of 4 existing dwellings and garage blocks with associated parking, landscaping and works at Dwelling Block 2 - 8 Holly Road and Garage Blocks Sycamore Road, Tiverton.

The Area Team Leader outlined the contents of the report by way of a presentation and highlighted the following:-

·         The site currently comprised of 4 existing dwellings and a number of dilapidated garage blocks which would be removed and replaced with 13 affordable dwellings, which would form part of the Council’s affordable housing stock.

·         The site location was on the corner of Holly Road and Sycamore Road.

·         The main issues raised were principle of development, design and impact on surroundings, residential amenity, highways and parking, flood risk and drainage, impact on protected species and habitats/biodiversity and climate change.

·         The properties comprised of 3 terraced houses with 2 bedrooms and a larger block of 10 properties with 1 bedroom.

·         All units built would comply with the National Space Standards.

·         28 parking spaces would be provided and the site also included secure bike storage.

·         The scheme also provided for the storage of waste and recycling through the provision of external storage space with the provision of a communal bin area for the other properties that would not have storage provided.

·         The front elevation would be cream rendered half way with metal standing seam external cladding at the first floor and to the roof.

·         Solar Photovoltaics (PV) panels would be installed on the roof slopes of the building.

·         There was a mix of private gardens and communal landscaped areas.

·         Due to the time that the application was submitted there were no requirements for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) however it would provide a BNG of 13.57% in habitat units and 916.15% in hedgerow units.

Discussion took place regarding:-

·         Whether the units were on a level access as the properties were being built on a slope. 

It was AGREED that delegated authority be given to the Development Management Manager to check the plans in more detail regarding the design of the properties.

·         The communal gardens and who would manage and maintain them going forward for the lifetime of the development and the amendment of a condition regarding this.

It was AGREED that condition 8 would be amended regarding the communal gardens and who would be responsible for the maintenance of them.

·         Recycling and bin storage and the inclusion of a condition regarding this.

It was AGREED that additional conditions would be included regarding recycling/bin storage to ensure provisions were in place prior to occupation.

It was therefore RESOLVED that planning permission be granted subject to conditions and delegated authority be given to the Development Management Manager to check the plans in more detail regarding the decision of the properties and to amend condition 8 to reflect the management and maintenance of the communal gardens and to draft additional conditions regarding the recycling/bin storage to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 108.

To receive a list of major applications and potential site visits.

The Committee had before it, and NOTED, a list *of major applications with no decision.

The Committee agreed that the application remained as per the report.

Note:  *List previously circulated.

To receive a list of recent appeal decisions.

The Committee had before it, and NOTED, a list of appeal decisions.

Note: *List previously circulated.