Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies were received from:

·         Cllr D J Knowles who was substituted by Cllr Mrs C Daw

·         Cllr R F Radford

·         Cllr B Warren who was substituted by Cllr R J Dolley

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.

The following members of the public attended the meeting to ask questions in relation to the Creedy Bridge application:

Liz Goodman stated that Crediton RFC is one of the largest Community Clubs in Devon, 500 members and 18 teams including Walking Rugby along with a school holiday Club and a preschool Saturday morning Club.

We want and need to relocate.  Ouroutgrown current site is allocated for housing.

An ageing Clubhouse with insufficient changing rooms for the safeguarding safety of our young people.  A small Club car park means road parking, a dangerous hazard and a welfare concern, for children crossing.

Training nearly every night of the week and matches Saturday’s and Sunday’s for up to 18 teams and opposition teams along with spectators.  Our season ends in April/May and pre-season starts in July.  Hence a ball strike assessment is necessary.

Although we are grateful for our inclusion in the new Lidl store site deal, formally our leased pitch, we have not received any of the Section 106 funding.  We are struggling for playing & training spaces and rely on hiring match day pitches without changing & toilet facilities.

The reserve matters application is being discussed today for Bellway, who now own our relocation land.

We requested that our allocated land be offered to us on Grant of Consent, this was ignored.  We provided Bellway with a RICS valuation and the Council confirmed to them, we were the Nominee.  For over 12 months we have tried but Bellway and the still involved previous landowner’s agent have refused to negotiate outside of the Section 106.  This lack of Community spirit and willingness to engage is alarming.  Do they have another agenda?

The relocation of the Club is within the Councils own adopted Playing Pitch Strategy and Local Plan.  We would love to be the Nominee but are concerned if the Reserved Matters are approved as proposed, the details in it won’t enable a satisfactory relocation site to be provided.  That would mean CRFC can’t vacate their current site, and the current Development Plan for Crediton will, in part, fail.

Other concerns for our members’ safety, will there be a pedestrian crossing to access our training pitch opposite the relocation site?  Will the 30 MPH limit be extended to the end of the relocation site? 

The rugby Club could not afford to pay into any management or maintenance company set up by the developer for the upkeep of the housing estate.

All the money that Crediton Rugby Club produces goes immediately back into the local economy.  It enhances community spirit and cohesion, promotes widespread physical & mental health. 

We really do need and want to move but we feel we have not been consulted throughout this entire process.   Many of our members and members of our local Community supported the outline application for the housing development back in 2008.  We expected the promised workable relocation site to be presented to the Rugby Club, not one that has since been changed by the developers, now  ...  view the full minutes text for item 110.

To record any interests on agenda matters

Members were reminded of the need to make declarations where appropriate.

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 18^th January 2023

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 18^th January 2023 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 a Special Committee meeting to be held on 15^th March 2023 at 2.15pm.

To report any items withdrawn from the agenda

There were no withdrawals from the agenda.

To consider the planning applications contained in the list.

The Committee considered the applications in the *Plans List.  

Note: *List previously circulated and attached to the minutes 

RESOLVED that the following applications be determined or otherwise dealt with in accordance with the various recommendations contained in the list namely:

a)    Application 22/02321/TPO - Application to fell one Common Beech tree (T001) protected by Tree Preservation Order 96/00015/TPO close to ground level at All Saints Church, Fore Street, Culmstock.

Consent be granted and delegated authority be given to the Development Management Manager to discuss the trees used for the replacement with the relevant parties.

(Proposed by Cllr S Clist and seconded by Cllr Mrs C Daw)

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

Note: Cllr L Cruwys requested that his abstention from voting be recorded.

b)   Application 22/02120/FULL - Creation of 2 car parking spaces at Land at NGR 301997 107506, St Andrews Estate, Cullompton.

Planning permission be granted.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

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

Note: Cllr R J Dolley made a declaration in accordance with protocol of Good Practice for Councillors dealing with planning matters as he had connections with Cullompton Cricket Club.

c)    Application 22/00063/MARM - Reserved matter for the erection of 257 dwellings and up to 5 Gypsy and Traveller pitches; associated works in connection with 8.6ha of land to facilitate future Crediton Rugby Club and up to 1.1ha of land for future primary school; details of landscaping, public open space and other associated infrastructure and engineering operations and access and highway work following outline approval 17/00348/MOUT at Land at NGR 284185 101165 (Creedy Bridge), Crediton, Devon.

The Principal Planning Officer outlined the application by way of presentation which highlighted:

·         The fact that the application did not include the rugby club land or school land.

·         The principles of permission had been agreed at the Outline application stage. Reserve Matters needed to focus on layout, scale, appearance and landscaping.

·         A number of photographs showing the location of the site and the topography of the land.

·         The original scheme had been revised by the developer following advice from the Local Planning Authority which included providing a range of house types and the need to be sensitive to local distinctiveness.

·         The revised scheme was landscape led and was accessible by foot and cycle paths.

·         Different roof heights were proposed bearing in mind the topography of the landscape.

·         There would be a hierarchy of streets providing better treatment of traffic.

·         Larger dwellings would have chimney stacks.

·         The area allocated for a Gypsy and Traveller site was shown.

In response to public questions asked he stated:

·         Land had been secured through a S106 agreement.

·         Footpaths did form part of the application, Rugby Club land did not.

·         The Rugby Club would need to address issues of concern relating to dog fouling and fencing.

·         Issues relating to drainage concerns on Bellway land had been conditioned for.

·         Concerns regarding ballstrike, Risk Assessments and Sports England would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 115.

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:

1.    23/00208/MFUL – remain delegated

2.    23/00073/MFUL – To Committee if officer was minded to approve – No site visit required

3.    23/00101/MARM – remain delegated

4.    23/00043/MARM – remain delegated

5.    23/00040/MFUL – remain delegated

6.    22/02374/MFUL – To Committee

7.    22/02386/MARM – To Committee if minded to approve

Note: *list previously circulated and attached to the minutes

To receive a list of recent appeal decisions

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

Note: *list previously circulated and attached to the minutes

To receive the Planning Performance Report from the Development Management Manager

The Committee had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Development Management Manager providing the Committee with information updating it on the performance of aspects of the planning function of the Council.

The following was highlighted within the report:

·         This was a good news story with improved performance data.

·         The presentation of information within the report had been revised to show all quarters as well as data with targets and without.

·         The speed with which officers and applicants had worked to progress major applications had improved.

·         Figures in relation to non-major applications also demonstrated how hard the officers had worked.

·         By the end of March 2022, Mid Devon was the top Local Planning Authority for the South West.

·         The quality of decision making had also improved.

·         Vacancies were and had been advertised and recruitment was progressing well.

The Chairman requested that the Committee’s thanks and appreciation of the officer’s hard work be reported back to them.

Note: *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes