Agenda and draft minutes

To receive the Minutes from the meeting held on 20 July 2023.

It was proposed by Councillor Leather, seconded by Councillor Smith and –

Resolved:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20 July 2023 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

(Vote: For 7, Abstentions 2)

Members with interests to declare should refer to the Agenda item and describe the nature of their interest when the item is being considered.

Elected Members of Devon County Council and Town/Parish Councils who have considered a planning application by virtue of their membership of that Council hold a personal interest and are deemed to have considered the application separately and the expressed views of that Council do not bind the Members concerned who consider the application afresh.

The Chair reminded Members to declare their interests when the relevant item was up for discussion.  Declarations of interest were made as indicated below and in accordance with the previously agreed arrangements for “dual-hatted” Members.

That the Agenda as circulated be agreed.

Information to be brought forward with the permission of the Chair.

With the permission of the Chair the Planning Manager advised Members that the second application No. 1/1292/2022/FUL – Cherrywood Park Business Centre, Langtree – had been withdrawn.

The Chair to advise the Committee of any prior requests to speak made by members of the public and to advise of the details of the Council’s public participation scheme.

The Chair advised the Committee and members of the public of the details in respect of the Council’s public participation scheme.

The information, recommendations and advice contained in the reports are correct as at the date of preparation which is more than ten days in advance of the Committee meeting.   Due to these time constraints any changes or necessary updates to the reports will be provided in writing or orally at the Committee meeting.

The following Councillors had attended the site visit listed below:

Ground floor extension to side of property - 12 Pincombe Road, Bideford, Devon.

The following Councillors had attended the site visit listed below:

Councillors:  R Lock, P Hames, P Christie, S Gibson, C Leather,

K Hepple, D Smith and C Wheatley

Application No. 1/0574/2023/FUL - Ground floor extension to side of property - 12 Pincombe Road, Bideford, Devon

Interests:  None

Officer recommendations:  Grant

The planning application had been referred to Plans Committee because the applicant’s mother is an employee of Torridge District Council, and father and aunty are both Elected District Councillors.

The Planning Officer presented the report and advised Members of the main planning considerations.

It was proposed by Councillor Christie, seconded by Councillor Hepple that the application be Granted.

A recorded vote was taken.

(Vote:  For – Unanimous)

RESOLVED:

That the application be Granted subject to the conditions as set out in the report.

Extensions and alterations to existing commercial business units to incorporate office and storage on the ground floor and 1no. dwelling at first floor - Cherrywood Park Business Centre, Langtree, Torrington.

The following Councillors had attended the site visit listed below:

Councillors:  R Lock, P Hames, P Christie, S Gibson, C Leather,

K Hepple, D Smith and C Wheatley

Application No.1/1292/2022/FUL - Extensions and alterations to existing commercial business units to incorporate office and storage on the ground floor and 1no. dwelling at first floor - Cherrywood Park Business Centre, Langtree, Torrington

Interests:

Officer recommendation:  Refuse

As previously reported by the Planning Manager the application had been withdrawn.

Change of use of land to domestic and erection of summer house/orangery - Sanctuary Lodge, Bridgerule, Holsworthy.

The following Councillors had attended the site visit listed below:

Councillors:  R Lock, P Hames, P Christie, S Gibson, C Leather,

K Hepple, D Smith and C Wheatley

Application No. 1/0378/2023/FUL - Change of use of land to domestic and erection of summer house/orangery - Sanctuary Lodge, Bridgerule, Holsworthy

Interests:     None

Officer recommendation: Refuse

The planning application had been called into Plans Committee by the Leader of the Council, Councillor James.

Prior to the presentation Members were informed of the following update:

·         A revised location plan had been submitted – the red line had been amended to include the residential curtilage of Sanctuary Lodge and not just the proposed site.

The Development Management Team Leader presented the report and advised Members of the main planning considerations and the reasoning for the recommendation of refusal.

When debating the application, concerns/points raised included:

·         It is clear the proposed site is a garden area and not an enclosed paddock as stated in the report.

·         Internal layout of the proposal – It was confirmed there would be no bedroom or kitchen in the building, and its use was for a summerhouse only and not as an annexe.

·         The retention of existing trees and hedges on the boundary.

The Planning Manager advised Members that if minded to approve the application, clear and robust planning reasons would be required.

Councillor Lock recommended that if the application was to be approved, a condition be imposed - “that the summerhouse could not be used for any residential purpose”.

The Planning Manager gave advice on conditions to be imposed and the wording to be delegated to Officers in conjunction with the Chair and Vice Chair.

It was proposed by Councillor Hepple, seconded by Councillor Leather that the application be approved.

A recorded vote was taken.

(Vote:  For – Unanimous)

RESOLVED:

That the application be Granted and for the conditions to be delegated to Officers in conjunction with the Chair and Vice Chair

Councillor James, Ward Member, addressed the Committee.

Appeal Decision Summary and Reports of Planning Inspectorate

Summary

Appeal Decision – Application No. 1/0573/2022/OUT

Appeal Decision – Application No. 1/0734/2021/FUL

Appeal Decision – Application No. 1/1118/2021/FUL

Enforcement Appeal Decision – E/21/0080/UMOB

Enforcement Appeal Decision – E/20/0206/UND

Enforcement Appeal Decision – E/20/0004/UCU

Councillor Christie referred to the Cost Decision awarded to Torridge District Council and asked that information be publicised to make applicants aware of the potential costs involved should their appeal not be approved. 

The Planning Manager agreed to discuss publicising the information with the Senior Management Team and Communications Team.

The Committee noted the Appeal Decisions.

There are no Costs on Appeals

There were no Costs on Appeals.

AGMB Decisions from 10.07.2023 and 23.08.2023

The Committee noted the Delegated Decisions for the period 10.07.2023 - 23.08.2023.

List of Delegated Planning Decisions, Consultee Abbreviations and Application Types enclosed 10.07.2023 to 23.08.2023.

RESOLVED

The Committee noted the Planning decisions for the period 10.07.2023 – 23.08.2023.