Apologies for absence were received from Councillor C. Leaver.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 10 January 2024 (circulated previously) be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There were no items brought forward which in the opinion of the Chair should be considered by the meeting as a matter of urgency.

Please telephone the Corporate and Community Services team to prepare a form for your signature before the meeting. Interests must be re-declared when the item is called. A declaration of interest under the Code of Conduct will be a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, an Other Registrable Interest or a Non-Registrable Interest.  If the item directly relates to your interest you must declare the interest and leave the room for the item, save in the case of Other Registrable Interests or Non-Registrable Interests where you may first speak on the item as a member of the public if provision has been made for the public to speak.  If the matter does not directly relate to your interest but still affects it then you must consider whether you are affected to a greater extent than most people and whether a reasonable person would consider your judgement to be clouded, if you are then you must leave the room for the item (although you may speak as a member of the public if provision has been made for the public to speak) or, if you are not, then you can declare the interest but still take part).

The following declarations of interest were announced:

Councillor Davies – Planning application 78096, disclosable pecuniary interest as the agent.

Councillor R. Knight – Planning application 77944, non registerable interest as a near neighbour and friend of the applicant.

Erection of new dwelling.  Report by the Senior Planning Officer (attached).

The Committee considered a report by the Senior Planning Officer (RB) regarding planning application 77944 (circulated previously).

Kate Nolan (objector) and Graham Townsend (agent) addressed the Committee.

The Highways Officer (PY), Devon County Council Highways Authority addressed the Committee.  He advised the following:

·       The Highways Authority had raised significant objections to the application.

·       As a Highways Authority, it could not prioritise improvements to smaller junctions and access over other priorities.

·       The visibility of the access onto the classified highway A377 was restricted by third party boundary walls, with it being 7m and 11m each way.  This was below the standard for visibility.

·       The applicant’s proposal to marking the junction into the carriageway did not make the access safe.

·       The reduction in the width of the A377 to such an extent would force vehicles to go over the double white lines which was illegal.

·       It was not condoned for a vehicle to have to give way to another vehicle on the A377 when using the junction.

·       The access road was a private road and there was no likelihood that this road would become adopted in the future.  This would give rise to potential neighbourhood disputes in the future.  The responsibility of maintenance of this road would remain with the occupiers.  Further development of this site would exasperate the current issues.

·       The private access road was only suitable for 3 dwellings and any further development would not result in the access road being adopted.

·       There was no scope to make improvements to the access on to the A377.

In response to questions by the Committee, the Senior Planning Officer (RB) advised the following:

·       That in terms of whether there had been any changes made to this application following the withdrawal of the application last year, there were no proposed changes in relation to highways and traffic generation. Post application discussions had taken place following the withdrawal of the previous application. It was effectively the same scheme as before.

·       In relation to design, discussions had taken place with the applicant to ensure that there was continuous building flow.

The Legal Advisor advised Councillor R. Knight, that he would need to leave the room during deliberations and not able to take part in the vote following his declaration of a non registerable interest.

In response to questions from the Committee, the Highways Officer (PY) advised the following:

·       The double white lines straddled the A377.  It was illegal for vehicles to park opposite the junction and was an offence for vehicles to pass over the double white lines.

·       The Highways Authority was not suggesting that vehicles should park opposite the junction.  Vehicles should be parked further away from the junction.

·       The width of the A377 had been measured at between 1.5 - 2m at the location of the junction.  Any domestic or commercial vehicle would straddle the double white lines.

·       The A377 had become a more secondary route to Exeter since the opening of the North Devon  ...  view the full minutes text for item 82.

Application under Regulation 3  of the T & C P General Regulations 1992 notification by NDC of update of site drainage layout to comply with Environment Agency drainage regulations and reinstate the excavated area to the East with a new footpath. To ensure the process hall meets the necessary standards to enable the NDC Fire Prevention Plan (FPP) to be approved. To make the recycling operation quicker and safer for staff and contractors, including new glass collection zone to the East and new covered glass collection area, relocation of textile collection area zone to the East. To provide a new modular building for Operations staff. To update the process hall equipment. Relocation of the weigh bridge from the North of the site to the East of the site. Report by Senior Planning Officer (attached).

The Committee considered a report by the Senior Planning Officer (RB) regarding planning application 78056 (circulated previously).

The Senior Planning Officer (RB) reported that since the publication of the agenda, a consultee response from the Lead Flood Authority had been received.  He summarised the response to the Committee.

Councillor Crabb left the meeting room and was therefore unable to take part in the vote.

Councillor Denton left the meeting room and was therefore unable to take part in the vote.

In response to questions from the Committee, the Senior Planning Officer (RB) advised the following:

·       Currently staff used the footpath that was marked yellow on the proposed site layout plan in the report. Due to the location of the weighbridge, it was proposed that the footpath would be relocated.  This would improve the current situation and create a safe footpath for staff.

·       Highlighted the proposed safe route for pedestrians on the plan.

In response to a question, the Head of Environmental Enhancement advised that there was currently a marked footpath for staff as marked yellow on the plan which went to the top of the site and provided a safe walkway from the offices to the current modular building.  This would be removed and replaced with a footpath on the opposite side of the road.

In response to questions from the Committee, the Service Manager (Development Management) advised the following:

·       That there was permission to locate solar panels on the roof of the main building and the Council was currently in the process of applying for grant funding.  Separate permission would be required to locate solar panels on the roof of the proposed new building, and it was not part of this application. 

·       Environmental Health had advised that it was not expected that there would be any contamination, however should any unexpected contamination of soil or groundwater be discovered during the development of the site there was a proposed condition which would cover this.

Councillor Walker addressed the Committee in her capacity as Ward Member.

RESOLVED (11 for, 0 against, 0 abstained) that the application be APPROVED as recommended by the Senior Planning Officer (RB).

RESOLVED that it being 11.15 am that the meeting be adjourned for a short comfort break.

RESOLVED that it being 11.20 am that the meeting be reconvened.

Approval of details in respect of discharge of conditions 8 (ground contamination) and 11 (CEMP) attached to planning permission 71782 (change of use of ground floor to 2 bed unit, conversion of outbuildings to x3 garages & conversion of storage buildings to x2 residential units. Erection of x1 residential unit with additional access). Report by Senior Planning Officer (attached).

Councillor Davies re-declared his disclosable pecuniary interest and left the meeting during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Lane took the Chair.

The Committee considered a report by the Senior Planning Officer (DB) regarding planning application 78096 (circulated previously).

The Committee noted a typographical error within the report and that the name of the agent should have stated “Kevin Davies” and not “Kevin Nursey”.

RESOLVED (unanimous) that the application be APPROVED as recommended by the Senior Planning Officer (DB).

Application under Regulation 3 of the T & C P General Regulations 1992 notification by NDC for Erection of public WC facilities & bus shelter. Report by Planning Officer (attached).

Councillor Davies returned to the meeting room and took the Chair.

The Committee considered a report by the Planning Officer (KW) regarding planning application 78163 (circulated previously).

The Planning Officer (KW) reported the receipt of a consultation response from Devon County Council Highways Authority since the publication of the agenda.  Devon County Council Highways Authority had advised that the relocation of the bus stop would have a detriment to both pedestrians and the highway and raised concerns regarding safety.  Therefore, the bus stop would remain in the same location and not moved and that the plans had now been amended to reflect this.

In response to questions from the Committee, the Planning Officer (KW) advised the following:

·       The proposed seating would be set back from the road and therefore there would be pavement space for pedestrians to pass.  This was a great improvement as there was currently no seating provided for the bus stop.

·       The location of the current bus stop.

·       The walls would be rendered blockwork. The finials would be cement and the concrete pad would remain as existing.  The design, materials and appearance were considered prior to the submission of the application in consultation with the Heritage and Conservation Officer and the Designing Out Crime Officer to ensure that it was functional, safe, usable and sustainable.

In response to questions from the Committee, the Service Manager (Development Management) advised the Committee that consideration would be given to which plans were included within committee reports in future, however it was not possible to include all plans within reports.  All plans were available on the planning portal for Members to view.

Councillor Williams addressed the Committee in her capacity as Ward Member.

RESOLVED (unanimous) that the application be APPROVED as recommended by the Planning Officer (KW) subject to the inclusion of conditions regarding the construction hours and a construction environment management plan.

To consider the report by the Senior Planning Support Officer (attached).

Councillor Crabb returned to the meeting.

The Committee considered and noted the appeal report by the Senior Planning Support Officer (circulated previously).

The Service Manager (Development Management) provided an update in relation to planning appeals 76435 and 74488.

There were no Planning Site Inspections required.