Agenda and minutes

To receive submissions from any person who wishes to address the Committee.  The Chairman will select the order of the matters to be received.

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).

Given the extremely limited space in the council chamber due to ongoing social distancing requirements, those wishing to speak on an application are strongly encouraged to submit a written statement which will be read out on their behalf by an officer at the meeting.  Members of the public are advised that 400 words at normal speaking speed equate to a three minute statement. ** If you are attending in person to speak on an application, you MUST register this intent 48 hours before the meeting with the committee clerk named above.

If there is more than one person submitting a statement objecting to an application, the Chairman will invite those persons to agree on a combined statement.  In default of agreement the Chairman may select statement to be read out/person to be heard.

Requests and full statements must be submitted in writing to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, or to the officer mentioned at the top of this agenda letter, by noon two days before the meeting and the request must detail the subject matter of the address.

At the request of the Chairman, the representative of the Assistant Director Legal and Governance read out a statement from Dominic Anderson, Chairman of Long Ashton Scout Group HQ Committee in support of the application for theconstruction of a Scout Headquarters at land to the west of Wild Country Lane, Long Ashton.

At the invitation of the Chairman, local resident Dr David Martin addressed the Committee speaking against the application for planning permission at land to the east of Youngwood Lane, Nailsea.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Jonathan Amos for the applicant Clifton Homes then spoke in support of the application.

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 Chairman 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.

24 June 2021 to approve as a correct record (attached)

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

Section 1 report of the Director of Place Directorate (attached)

The Director of the Place Directorate’s representative drew members’ attention to the update sheet and noted that a further 47 letters of support had been received.  She added that a revision to Section 15 of the National Planning Policy Framework had been issued; that an interim Bat Activity Survey had been received and that ecological surveys for other protected species were still required.

The Committee considered that:

• The Long Ashton Scout Group are a well-established scout group who have been operating within the village for 90 years. The Scouting Association is highly regarded and considered to be an important part of the community, providing an invaluable experience for local children and through the charitable role it provides to the community and the proposal is supported by the Long Ashton Parish Council

• The former Scout HQ in Providence Lane was insufficient to meet the needs of the organisation

• The use of other existing venues is unfeasible due to restricted availability

• That the group has outgrown the former Scout HQ in Providence Lane with a waiting list of 97 children

• The proposed development is supported by the Long Ashton Neighbourhood Plan and Policy LC1 in particular

• The absence of other suitable sites outside the Green Belt have being found during the search for a new site

• The proposal would provide a fit-for-purpose building that would be truly inclusive and accessible to all. The new building will be designed to support the needs of young people regardless of disability, through the provision of suitable access and facilities which allow more to benefit through being involved in scouting.

 and amount to very special circumstances to permit inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

The Committee therefore resolved that the application be APPROVED subject to:

1. submission of the required ecological reports;

2. clarification of the proposed pedestrian access, and determination of the vehicle access point;

3. a suitable s106 agreement between the Scouts, the landowner, and the council safeguarding the site for the proposed development; and

4. appropriate planning conditions to be drafted by officers in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Ward Members.

As the application fell within Section 1 of the agenda it is held over to the next meeting for the decision to be confirmed.

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

The Director of the Place Directorate’s representative drew members’ attention to the update sheet which provided members with additional information from the applicant on the proposed drainage infrastructure in the south western corner and comments from the Council’s flood risk manager.  He noted the additional comments from Natural England and the options to create further habitat units.  He added that the recommendation for approval was subject to the amendments to the recommendation and additional conditions noted in the update sheet.

Resolved; that Subject to –

(a) the completion of the Habitat Regulations Assessment and Appropriate Assessment if required, and provision for any necessary off-site mitigation

(b) submission of amended plans showing additional wildflower grassland planting

(c) The completion of a section 106 legal agreement securing:

                 i.          the delivery of a minimum of 30% on site affordable housing,

                ii.          commitment to there being no access provided through the site to land to the south for road, paths or services

              iii.          financial contributions towards on-going maintenance of fire hydrants and for off-site cycle path links (if required),

the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions and any other additional or amended conditions as may be required in consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman and local member:  

1.The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiry of three years from the date of this permission.

2. The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans and documents to be listed on the decision notice.

3. No dwelling shall be occupied until details of electric vehicle charging ducting, wiring and identified suitable fuse box connection ready to receive a charging socket serving that dwelling have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and implemented in full.

4. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) (or any Order revoking and re-enacting that Order, with or without modification), no extensions resulting in an increase to the height of the dwellings hereby permitted shall be carried out without the permission, in writing, of the Local Planning Authority.

5. All means of enclosure shall be in strict accordance with the approved details and, notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) (or any Order revoking and re-enacting that Order, with or without modification), no additional gates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure shall be erected or constructed forward of any wall of any dwelling which fronts onto a highway without the prior written permission of the Local Planning Authority.

6. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) (or any Order revoking and re-enacting that Order, with or without modification), no garages shall be erected or created from car ports without the permission, in writing, of the Local Planning Authority and the approval by them of the design, siting and external appearance of such garage and  ...  view the full minutes text for item PAR 16

Section 3 report of the Director of Place Directorate (attached)

The Director of Place Directorate’s representatives reported on appeal decisions and appeals that had been lodged since the date of the last meeting. 

Resolved: that the report be noted.

The Committee thanked Judith Porter for all her hard work for the Council and wished her a well on her retirement. Judith was given a well-deserved round of applause in her absence.

The Chairman noted that the Planning Peer Review Working Party’s findings had been agreed at the Council meeting of 19 July.  He thanked Cllr Crockford-Hawley and officers for their work on the report.