Agenda and draft minutes

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

There were no apologies or substitute members.

Cllrs J Buczkowski, A Glover, S Keable and D Wulff attended via teams.

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.

There were no public questions.

To record any interests on agenda matters

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

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 14 June 2023.

         To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make. 

The Chairman advised the Committee that there would be a site visit for the Planning Committee for Planning Application 22/00907/FULL – Retention of disused quarry for use as two firing ranges at Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, Pondground Quarry, Holcombe Rogus, Devon.  The Committee Clerk would confirm the date to all Members.

To report any items withdrawn from the agenda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.

To receive a report from the Head of Planning and Regeneration presenting the Tree Preservation Order 22/00005/TPO for 3 English Oak, 1 Austrian Pine, 3 Scots Pine, 2 Copper Beech, two groups of 2 English Oak, two groups of 3 English Oak and a group of 2 Scotts Pine and 1 Austrian Pine trees.  Land bordering Station Road and Lakeridge, Newton St Cyres, Devon.

The Committee had before it a *report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration presenting the Tree Preservation Order (TPO) for land bordering Station Road and Lakeridge, Newton St Cyres, Devon

The Arboricultural Officer outlined the contents of the report by way of a presentation which highlighted the site location plan and photographs of the site and the trees.  He also outlined the following:-

·         The TPO also included two copper beach trees T8 and T9 within the order.

·         The trees were included due to the obvious visibility within the order due to the contrasting colours of foliage and were a prominent natural feature which were clearly visible.

·         An objection had been received regarding:-

a)    Lack of consultation

b)    Low visibility amenity of the trees

c)    The minimal contribution to the character of the area as the trees were non-native and

d)    The additional cost of having trees with TPOs.

·         These issues were addressed in the report. 

a)    The period of consultation occurred once the provisional order was made and before the order was confirmed. This period allowed for interested parties to make their representations.

b)    The trees had been assessed using the standard amenity evaluation method and were viewed to merit a TPO.

c)    The beech trees were native and contributed to the character of the area.  However a tree being native or non-native should not be a significant influencing factor when deciding if a tree merits a TPO.

d)    There were no financial costs when submitting an application.

·         The trees add good amenity and were likely to contribute to the local area for the long term and should be included in the order.

Consideration was given to:-

·         Whether the trees impinged upon any properties in the area and whether there were any possibilities of them damaging properties.

·         The importance of retaining the colour and contributing to the landscape in the future.

It was RESOLVED that:  the Tree Preservation Order be confirmed to include the two copper beech trees.

(Proposed by Cllr F J Colthorpe and seconded by Cllr S Clist).

Reason for the decision:  As set out in the report.

Notes: *Report previously circulated copy attached to the minutes.

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

To receive a list of recent appeal decisions

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

Note: *List previously circulated, copy attached to the minutes.

(The meeting finished at 15.04pm).