To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Dave Boulter, Mark Millmore, Felicity Norman and Ann-Marie Probert.

To receive details of any Member nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

Councillor Toni Fagan acted as a substitute for Councillor Felicity Norman

Councillor John Stone acted as a substitute for Councillor Ann-Marie Probert

To receive declarations of interests in respect of Schedule 1, Schedule 2 or Other Interests from members of the committee in respect of items on the agenda.

Councillor Jeremy Milln declared an other interest in respect of agenda item no. 7, applications 210865 and 210866 – Canon Frome Court; the applicant and the agent were known associates.

Councillor Toni Fagan declared an other interest in respect of agenda item no. 7, applications 210865 and 210866 – Canon Frome Court; the applicant and the agent were known associates.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6 May 2022.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 May 2022 be approved.

To receive any announcements from the Chairperson.

The Chairman welcomed Ingrid Lekaj, the new legal representative, to the meeting.

Proposed installation of a photovoltaic solar farm with associated infrastructure including inverters/transformers, battery storage and substation with client and DNO switching equipment with underground connection to the adjacent Dormington substation.

The application was approved with an amendment to the Case Officer’s recommendation.

(Councillors Paul Andrews and John Hardwick left the committee to act as local ward members for the next application.)

The principal planning officer gave a presentation on the application and the updates/representations received following the publication of the agenda as provided in the update sheets and appended to these minutes.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Ms Cotton, spoke on behalf of Dormington and Mordiford Group Parish Council, Mr Williams, local resident, spoke in objection to the application and Mr Hall, applicant, spoke in support of the application.

In accordance with the council's constitution the local ward members spoke on the application. The local ward member for the Backbury ward explained the central issue concerning the application was the impact of the development on the Landscape and whether the proposed planting and landscaping was adequate to mitigate the impact. The application presented benefits in terms of power generation and biodiversity with the reduction in phosphates in the Frome Valley. The local ward member for the Hagley ward explained that the visual impact of the development was a concern. The planting scheme and landscaping which would mitigate the impact of the development must be implemented in accordance with the conditions. It was noted that the Bartestree and Lugwardine Parish Council had not objected to the application. The development would be located on grade 3 agricultural land which was prone to flooding; the application would remove phosphate pollution from the land. The application was an important contribution to the expansion of green energy and the need to reduce carbon. The committee discussed the application.

The committee discussed the application.

Councillor Polly Andrews proposed and Councillor Elizabeth Foxton seconded a motion that the application be approved consistent with the case officers recommendation.

The committee raised a change to condition 6 to require ongoing monitoring of the impact of the development on wild birds.

The committee further raised the inclusion of an informative to encourage the applicant to undertake ongoing engagement with the local Parish Councils.

The lead development manager provided clarification and explained that the inclusion of the following wording in the recommendation, to provide a delegation to officers, would allow those changes sought by the committee to be implemented: ' and any other further conditions considered necessary by officers named in the scheme of delegation to officers.'

The inclusion of the wording 'and any other further conditions considered necessary by officers named in the scheme of delegation to officers' in the recommendation was confirmed as acceptable by proposer and seconder.

The local members closed the debate.

The motion to approve the application assistance with the case officers recommendation and including the addition of the wording 'and any other further conditions considered necessary by officers named in the scheme of delegation to officers' was put to the vote and was carried.

RESOLVED – that:

That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions, the varied condition above and any other further conditions considered necessary by officers named in the scheme  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

210865 - Proposed conversion of two outbuildings to create three new dwellings. Works include: lean-to extension to former workshop to be replaced with single storey extension and open courtyard attached to former dairy to be enclosed with a new flat roof. Proposed works to upgrade existing storage building.

210866 - Proposed conversion of two outbuildings to create three new dwellings. Works include: lean-to extension to former workshop to be replaced with single storey extension and open courtyard attached to former dairy to be enclosed with a new flat roof. Proposed works to upgrade existing storage building.

Application 210865 was approved with an amendment to the Case Officer’s recommendation.

Application 210866 was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

The senior planning officer gave a presentation on the application and the updates/representations received following the publication of the agenda as provided in the update sheets and appended to these minutes.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Ms Tully, local resident, spoke in support of the application.

In accordance with the council's constitution the local Ward member spoke on the application. He explained the application provided affordable homes in a rural area and was a well-thought-out scheme. It was noted the application had the support of the parish council. The application contributed to meeting local housing need. The need for a section 106 agreement was questioned: it was felt this applied an unnecessary legal framework to a development of this scale.

The committee discussed the application.

The committee expressed concern regarding the requirement for a section 106 agreement and requested this requirement be withdrawn.

Councillor Tony Fagan proposed and Councillor Paul Andrews seconded a motion that the application be approved, consistent with the case officer’s recommendation.

The committee raised the objections of the conservation officers with reference to the material proposed for conditioning of the material selected.

The lead development manager provided clarification. Consistent with the recommendation and the delegation to officers, an additional condition, requiring the treatment of the openings in the curved wall to be agreed in writing with the planning team, would be added to the permission.

The lead development manager explained an alteration to the recommendation to insert the wording 'or planning condition' after section 106 would allow the planning team to review the requirement for a section 106 agreement in respect of the application.

The alteration to the recommendation to insert the wording 'or planning condition' after section 106 was confirmed as acceptable by the proposer and seconder of the motion.

The local member closed the debate.

The motion to approve the application consistent with the case officer’s recommendation and including the insertion of the wording 'or planning condition' after section 106 in the recommendation was put to the vote and was carried.

RESOLVED:

Subject to the completion of the S106 Agreement or planning condition to secure the delivery, retention and availability for local people of the affordable element of the scheme in perpetuity, that planning application P210865/F be granted planning permission subject to the following conditions and any other further conditions considered necessary by officers named in the scheme of delegation to officers:

1.     C01 – Time Limit for Commencement

2.     C06 – Development in accordance with approved plans

3.     CBK – Restriction on hours during construction

4.     CNS – The ecological protection, mitigation, compensation and working methods scheme including the detailed bat mitigation measures and management of any new lighting features, as recommended in the ecology report by Focus Ecology dated February 2021 shall be fully implemented and hereafter maintained in as stated unless otherwise approved in writing by the local planning authority.

Reason: To ensure that all species are protected and habitats enhanced having regard to the Conservation of Habitats  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.