Agenda and minutes

The Chairperson welcomed everyone to this face-to-face meeting of the Planning & Regulatory Committee in Castlewood, Clevedon.

He explained the arrangements in place for speaking on planning applications under Standing Order 17A, with speakers to be invited to address the committee immediately before an application rather than at the start of the meeting.

The Chairperson then introduced those officers present at the meeting.

Please note that following changes to SO17A, public speaking about applications for planning permission will be at the start of relevant agenda items rather than at the start of the meeting.  Time limits and notification deadlines remain unchanged, as set out below.

To receive and hear any person who wishes to address the Committee. The Chairperson will select the order of the matters to be heard. Each speaker will be limited to a period of five minutes for public participation on non-planning matters (up to a maximum of 30 minutes) and three minutes for the applicant/supporters and three minutes for objectors on a planning application (up to a maximum of 30 minutes).

If there is more than one person wishing to object to an application, the Chairperson will invite those persons to agree a spokesperson among themselves. In default of agreement the Chairperson may select one person to speak.

Requests to speak must be submitted in writing to the Assistant Director Legal and Governance and Monitoring Officer, or to the officer mentioned at the top of this agenda letter, by noon on the day before the meeting and the request must detail the subject matter of the address.

Please ensure that any submissions meet the required time limits and can be read out in five minutes for public participation on non-planning matters (up to a maximum of 30 minutes) and three minutes for applicant/supporter statements and three minutes for objector statements on a planning application (up to a maximum of 30 minutes). Members of the public are advised that 400 words at normal speaking speed equate to a three minute statement.

It was noted there were no speakers under Standing Order 17 (public participation on non-planning matters).

Two requests to speak had been received under Standing Order 17A and the speakers would be invited to address the committee immediately prior to the consideration of the application in question (agenda item 6).

A Member must declare any disclosable pecuniary interest where it relates to any matter being considered at the meeting. A declaration of a disclosable pecuniary interest should indicate the interest and the agenda item to which it relates. A Member is not permitted to participate in this agenda item by law and should immediately leave the meeting before the start of any debate.

If the Member leaves the meeting in respect of a declaration, he or she should ensure that the Chairperson is aware of this before he or she leaves to enable their exit from the meeting to be recorded in the minutes in accordance with Standing Order 37.

None

19 July 2023 to approve as a correct record (attached)

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting be approved as a correct record.

(Section 2 report of the Director of Place Directorate (attached)

At the invitation of the Chairperson, Rory Stracey, addressed the committee, on behalf of local residents, speaking against the application.

At the invitation of the Chairperson, Christian Samuel, Applicant, addressed the committee speaking in favour of the application.

The Head of Planning (representing the Director of Place) presented the report. He also drew members’ attention to the update sheet which had been published the previous day.    He referred to the fact that since the update sheet had been circulated a further legal opinion had been received from King’s Counsel on behalf of the applicant which concluded that the officers report was based on lawful judgments. 

At the invitation of the Chairperson, the ward member, Councillor Jenna Ho Marris, addressed the Committee.

Following debate it was:

Resolved: that the application be REFUSED contrary to the officers’recommendation for the following reason:

Due to its degree of permanency and the change it causes to the nature of the ground and extending over an extensive area the car parking surface constitutes an “other operation” for which planning permission is required.

Section 3 report of the Director of Place Directorate

The Head of Planning reported on appeal decisions and appeals that had been lodged since the date of the last meeting. 

Resolved: that the report be noted.

For a matter to be considered as an urgent item, the following question must be addressed: “What harm to the public interest would flow from leaving it until the next meeting?” If harm can be demonstrated, then it is open to the Chairperson to rule that it be considered as urgent. Otherwise the matter cannot be considered urgent within the statutory provisions.

None

The Chairperson explained to the Committee that it was Michele Chesterman’s last day with North Somerset and her last committee meeting. He thanked Michele for all her help and support in the short time he had known her. He wished her well in her new role on behalf of the committee who then gave Michele a round of applause.