Erection of single 300kW wind turbine (maximum height 66.7m) andassociated infrastructure and access track.

Deferred pending a site visit.

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application and updates / additional representations received following the publication of the agenda were provided; the schedule of committee updates is appended to these minutes.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr Sinclair, representing the local residents, spoke in objection to the application and Mr Thomas, the applicant, spoke in support.

The Chairman advised Members that Councillor JW Millar, the Local Ward Member, could not be present at the meeting as he was currently out of the country.

Members discussed the application. A number of Members were of the opinion that the application should be approved contrary to recommendation. However they noted that due to the requirement of the Committee to make an assessment on the visual impact of the proposal it would be beneficial for them to visit the site.

In accordance with paragraph 5.13.4.1 of the Council’s constitution, the Committee decided to undertake a site inspection as the felt that the setting and surroundings were fundamental to the determination or to the conditions being considered, and could not reasonable be made without visiting the site in question.

In response to a question, the Democratic Services Officer advised that all speakers who had registered to speak at the meeting would be given the opportunity to speak again at the meeting of the Planning Committee on 29 June 2011 when the application was reconsidered. He also advised that the site inspection would take place on the morning of 28 June 2011.

RESOLVED

That the determination of the application be deferred pending a site inspection on the following grounds:

1.         The setting and surroundings are fundamental to the determination or to the conditions being considered, and connot reasonable be made without visiting the site in question.