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

38.2           Members were reminded that the Council had resolved to introduce a Scheme of Public Speaking at Planning Committee for a 12 month period, starting with the new term of the Council in May 2015, which had therefore commenced with the meeting on 9 June 2015.  The Chairman gave a brief outline of the scheme and the procedure for Planning Committee meetings.

39.1           Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R A Bird and Mrs M A Gore.  Councillors Mrs R M Hatton and H A E Turbyfield would be acting as substitutes for the meeting.

40.1           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.

40.2           The following declarations were made:

40.3           It was noted by the Chairman that all Members of the Committee would have received correspondence in relation to various applications on the Planning Schedule but they did not need to declare an interest where they had not expressed an opinion.

40.4           There were no further declarations made on this occasion.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2015.

41.1           The Minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2015, copies of which had been circulated, were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 

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42.1           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 them prior to decisions being made on those applications.

15/00242/OUT – Manor Farm Buildings, Alstone

42.2           This was an outline application for 15 dwellings, including four affordable homes, with all matters reserved apart from access.  The Planning Officer explained that there had been a late request from the applicant to make an amendment to reduce the number of dwellings to six with all matters reserved.  It was considered that this was a significant change which would require a fresh application to be submitted as the supporting information would all need to be updated and relevant consultees would need to be consulted on the amended scheme, which would also be subject to public consultation.  Clear advice had been provided throughout the application process and the Officer view was that the application which should be determined by Members was the one before them on the papers.

42.3           The Chairman invited Phil Collins, speaking against the application, to address the Committee.  Mr Collins indicated that he had been a resident of Alstone for over 40 years and had chaired the Parish Council for over seven years.  The Planning Officer’s report covered a wide range of issues and he wished to emphasise those which would particularly impact on the village environment.  Over the last 15 years there had been pressure to build outside Alstone’s established limits, both at the north west end, where this application was proposed, and at the south east end.  The village boundary and Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty were under threat and, so far, the Council had resisted that pressure and its decisions had been vindicated at appeal.  If Members were to grant permission at this site it would surely be used as a precedent to permit even further encroachment.  The average size of a plot in Alstone was about half an acre, or 0.2 hectares.  The proposal before Members was to locate no less than 15 dwellings on just under 0.6 hectares which was five times the density of the existing population of houses; the proposal was to increase the number of houses by 38%.  The existing houses were stone, Bradstone, half-timbered, brick and wood clad construction, with 15% of them being listed, and the proposed high density design of uniform modern houses was totally alien to the setting.  The Planning Officer’s report exposed the flaws in the so called ‘public participation’ carried out by the applicant.  The Parish regularly saw new barns and yard areas being constructed for cattle accommodation and yet this proposal was to demolish farm barns and hardstanding which he felt surely could not be right.  The proposal before  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42a

To consider current Planning and Enforcement Appeals and Department of Communities and Local Government Appeal Decisions.

43.1           Attention was drawn to the current appeals and appeal decisions update, circulated at Pages No. 42-44.  Members were asked to consider the current planning and enforcement appeals received and the Communities and Local Government (CLG) appeal decisions issued.

43.2           A Member felt that there had been some heartening decisions and he was sure that Officers were pleased with the results.  It was

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

To note those applications which have been identified as being subject to a Committee Site Visit on the Friday prior to the Planning Committee meeting at which they will be considered. 

44.1           Attention was drawn to the Advanced Site Visits briefing, circulated at Pages No. 45-46, which set out those applications that had been identified as ones which would be subject to a Committee Site Visit on the Friday prior to the Planning Committee meeting at which they would be considered.  Members were asked to note the applications in the briefing.

44.2           It was

RESOLVED          That the Advanced Site Visits briefing be NOTED.