Clerk: Mrs L J Rampton

Parish Council Office:

Winscombe Community Centre

11 Sandford Road, Winscombe, North Somerset BS25 1JA

Tel: 01934 844257    Fax: 01934 844292

 

A meeting of the Planning Committee, was held on

Monday 23rd January 2006,  at 7.30p.m.

The Mawson Room, Winscombe Community Centre

 

Present:  Mrs. A Brading, Mr S Bridges, Mr A Forbes, Mr G Luckett (chairman), Mr K Symons, Mr. J Westlake

                                               

Clerk:                          Mrs L Rampton

Members of the public:        None               

 

Apologies for absence:        Mrs P Cram, Ms D Powell, Mr C Sampson, Miss S Tucker, Mrs P Witter

 

114.     Approval of minutes from the previous planning meeting dated 3rd January 2006

            The minutes were approved as a correct record

Proposed:        Mr A Forbes                           Seconded:     Mr S Bridges

All in favour

 

115.     Declarations of Interest - none

 

116.     Matters arising from previous minutes.

            Min 107 (d.) – 05/P/3037/F San Field, Sidcot Junior School

As this field is within the AONB, approval should have been obtained from English Nature as to the adjustment of the ground level and the method used.

Min 113 – 05/P/0756/F Five Springs, 18 Church Road

This application will be considered by the South Area Committee at the March meeting. Mr J Beale, Senior NS Planning Officer outlined his requirements to the applicant at a site meeting held on 20th January 2006 to enable the application to be recommended for approval. Mr Pearson’s agent, District Councillor Harley and Mr Luckett were also present at this meeting. In order to meet the requirements of a wildlife garden, the following conditions would need to be complied with:

o        A letter justifying the size of the existing shed and polytunnel submitted.

o        The Wendy house should be relocated away from the garden.

o        The bamboo and pampas grass should be replaced with indigenous species.

o        The breeze house should be removed.

o        Lights should be removed.

o        Domestic style landscaping should be replaced with plants more appropriate to a wildlife garden.

Mr Pearson may appeal.

 

117.     Public Participation - none

 

118.     Planning Applications

(a.)    06/P/0032/F       Mr & Mrs D Avery, Channel Farm, Oakridge Lane, Sidcot, Winscombe BS25 1NJ Conversion of existing outbuilding to workshop and stables following demolition of part of the outbuilding.                                                                                                                              JB

No objection

Proposed:        Mrs A Brading                       Seconded:     Mr A Forbes

All in favour

 

         

(b.)    06/P/0093/F       Mr & Mrs Richards, Shutefield, Oakridge Lane, Sidcot, Winscombe BS25 1LZ

Erection of a single storey kitchen extension and a rear sun lounge to replace conservatory.         GW

No objection

Proposed:        Mr A Forbes                           Seconded:     Mr K Symons

All in favour

 

119.     Pre & Post Decision Amendments for Comment - none

 

120.     Planning Approvals

Application no

Name

Address

05/P/2696/F

Mr B Whitcombe

5, Lynchmead

05/P/2717/F

Mr & Mrs A Balch

Ashcot, Mead Lane

05/P/2830/F

Mr & Mrs A Martin

Point Four, Parsons Way

 

            Planning Refusals/Planning Amendments for Information Only – none received.

 

121.     Accumulation of Rainwater at Ashley Close Car Park

A letter from Richard Mead, on behalf of D R Mead was read to the Committee requesting the support of the Parish Council in their application to North Somerset Council for a permanent drainage outfall connection to the surface water sewer on Woodborough Road. A large puddle remains in front of the shops for several days following heavy rain as the soak away system, built in the rock is unable to deal with this. A discussion ensued in which it was considered that as this directly effects all users of this local business, that this be an exception to the normal rule for new developments in which surface water drainage cannot be connected to a road surface drain system.

 

Resolved: The Parish Council is disturbed by the amount of surface water at times in front of the shop entrance which makes access difficult. The current soak away system is ineffective and the Parish Council support the application made by DR Mead for a surface water drain in this area to be joined to the road surface system.

Proposed:      Mr G Luckett                         Seconded:     Mr S Bridges

All in favour

 

122.     Statement of Community Involvement

Mr Luckett considered that a schedule of supplementary planning documents that may include Parish Plans should be available for reference to the Parish when applications are considered.  Some Parish Councils considered that one hard copy of a planning application was insufficient for all Councillors to view when making decisions on Planning Applications. The NS web-site was not available to all to view and this could effect the six week consultation period allowed to planners. A lengthy debate followed on the influence of Parish Plans and the substantial amount of paperwork involved in this.

Resolved: the matter should be referred to the full Parish Council again for consideration after obtaining copies of Parish Plans produced by other Parishes.

 

The Inspectors Interim report on the North Somerset Council Replacement Local Plan and Bristol International Airport report was now available to view on the NSC web-site or at Somerset House. As the interim Inspectors document consists of 185 pages, a paper copy of this has been ordered for the Parish Office, a copy of the BIA report has been printed and issued to the Planning Committee Chairman. A brief check on the NS web-site of the interim report by Mr Luckett indicated that no land for housing beyond Weston-Super-Mare will be available until 2011 at the earliest. The safe guarding of the Banwell Bypass route is retained including the spur to Winscombe & Sandford, although it is considered that this will not be built.

Mr Luckett read extracts from the BIA report to the Committee concerning surface access (by road) to the airport and car parking.

 

123.     Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) Enforcement Policy Consultation

It was considered that this document was produced as a guide for internal NSC purposes and that each complaint would be classified on individual merits. If the Parish Council is aware of the NSC targets, checks can be made that our individual cases are complied with according to this document.

The following comments on this consultation should be submitted to North Somerset Council:

o        An Enforcement Register of complaints should be available to view on the North Somerset Council web-site so that Parishes are aware of complaints submitted and action currently being taken.

o        A schedule of time limits for various types of enforcement complaints should be issued.

o        Annex A, item 7. ‘Unauthorised development which is the source of significant public complaint’  should be considered along with priority 3, 4 & 5 for action.

Proposed       Mr G Luckett                         Seconded:     Mr S Bridges

All in favour.

 

124.     Schedule of Planning Committee Meetings

Mr Luckett advised that after discussion with other Parish Council representatives at various workshops, all other Councils appeared to issue a calendar of scheduled meetings for the entire year. Some Councillors of this Parish had shown a preference for such a system to be adopted by this Council.

Various options for meetings of the Planning Committee were considered for the second quarter of 2006. Although preference was shown by the Chairman for meetings to be held bi-weekly on the 2nd and 4th Monday or Thursday of each month, Committee members were not in favour of this. It was  thought that neighbours to some planning applications would not have been consulted before the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting took place – others stated that NSC failed in a number of cases to notify the neighbours of planning applications altogether. Notices were not posted in conspicuous places until the first visit of the Planning Officer.

Resolved: the meeting schedule for the second quarter of 2006 for the Planning Committee should include meetings to be held on a Monday evening every 21 days, bank holidays allowing for this.

 

125.     Any Other Business.

Complaints have been received from members of the Tennis Club about the retention of surface water outside the changing rooms at the WMRG that blocks footpath access to the Tennis Club following heavy rain. This matter has been investigated by Mr Luckett and Mr Fountain (WMRG Orderly) and is due for consideration by the WMRG Committee at their next meeting to be held 9th Feb 2006.

 

The through road from Winscombe to WSM at Banwell will be closed 13th March – 6th May for essential drainage scheme works and road resurface to take place.

 

The Weston Area Action Plan workshop to be held at the Winter Gardens on the evening of 26th January 2006 will be attended by Mr Bridges on behalf of the Parish Council. All other Councillors were welcome to attend the drop-in session held 1.30 – 5.30pm the same day. Mr Bridges will report back to this Committee.

 

Meeting Closed:                    20.40 pm

Date of next meeting:        Mon 13th Feb 2006

 

Minutes: LR

            Checked: GLU/AF

Signed _____________________________________ (Planning Chairman)

Date ______________________