Agenda, decisions and minutes

When the continuous alarm sounds you must evacuate the building by the nearest available fire exit. Members and visitors should proceed to the visitors’ car park at the front of the building and await further instructions (during office hours staff should proceed to their usual assembly point; outside of office hours proceed to the visitors’ car park). Please do not re-enter the building unless instructed to do so.

In the event of a fire any person with a disability should be assisted in leaving the building.

41.1           The evacuation procedure, as noted on the Agenda, was advised to those present.

41.2           Members were reminded that, at its meeting on 17 May 2016, the Council had confirmed the Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committee as a permanent arrangement.  The Chair gave a brief outline of the scheme and the procedure for Planning Committee meetings. 

42.1           Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D T Foyle, J Greening,                      T A Spencer and D J Waters.  Councillor P W Awford would be acting as a substitute for the meeting.

43.1           The Committee’s attention was drawn to the Tewkesbury Borough Council Code of Conduct which was adopted by the Council on 26 June 2012 and took effect from 1 July 2012.

43.2           The following declarations were made:

43.3           No further declarations were made on this occasion.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2017.

44.1           The Minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2017, copies of which had been circulated, were [after some initial discussion as to their accuracy in respect of a Minute No. PL.39.27] approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

45.1           The Development Manager submitted a Schedule comprising planning applications and proposals with recommendations thereon.  Copies of this had been circulated to Members as Appendix A to the Agenda for the meeting.  The objections to, support for, and observations upon the various applications as referred to in Appendix 1 attached to these Minutes were presented to the Committee and duly taken into consideration by Members prior to decisions being made on those applications.

17/00783/APP – Land Off Nup End, Ashleworth

45.2           This was an application for the approval of reserved matters in relation to appearance, landscaping, layout and scale, pursuant to outline planning application 15/00965/OUT as allowed under appeal APP/G1630/W/16/3150236 for the erection of 35 dwellings. 

45.3           The Chair invited the representative from Ashleworth Parish Council to address the Committee.  He explained that the Parish Council took the view that the development did not respond to National Planning Policy Framework requirements in terms of design.  It did not reflect local character or history, did not add to the overall quality of the area, or establish a strong sense of place.  It was considered that the rather uniform design lacked unique characteristics and was far more suited to an urban environment.  In terms of road traffic, the application did not address problems relating to the entire section of road through Nup End and down the hill to Lawn Road.  The narrow lane was already hazardous for road users with several pinch points, four bends and little footpath provision.  Unreported minor collisions and near misses were not infrequent and the additional traffic from 35 dwellings would make the road significantly more dangerous, even with the proposed lay-by.  The Parish Council took issue with the fact that the road traffic audit was based on a 30 minute site visit at 10:45am on a weekday, when traffic was lighter and slower than in early morning and late afternoon when commuters travelled.  It was incorrect to infer that, despite the absence of signed speed limits, vehicle speeds were self-enforcing due to the character of the village.  Drainage and flooding were matters of considerable concern to the community as, despite the attention of Severn Trent and County Highways for many years, drainage and sewerage systems around the village continued to be unable to cope with heavy - let alone extreme – rainfall.  The Parish often experienced closed roads, sewage being deposited on the public highway and damage to road surfaces and verges.  A major problem area was close to the pumping station at Nup End Lane where, after heavy rainfall, clean and foul water burst through their respective drain covers causing flooding polluted by sewage; this was the point where storm and foul water from the new development was intended to pass.  The Parish Council could foresee severe consequences in times of extreme rainfall; 15cm of rain in 12 hours was not unprecedented and would result in over 50 litres per second running off the new impermeable area.  The applicant stated that the “restriction” process could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45a

To note the following decisions of Gloucestershire County Council:

46.1           The following decisions of Gloucestershire County Council were NOTED:

47.1           Attention was drawn to the current appeals and appeal decisions update, circulated at Pages No. 41-47.  Members were asked to consider the current planning and enforcement appeals received and the Department for Communities and Local Government appeal decisions issued.

47.2           It was

RESOLVED          That the current appeals and appeal decisions update be NOTED.