Minutes of the Meeting of the Planning Committee

Date:

Wednesday 15^th November 2017

Time:

7.30pm

Place:

Bramley Room, Bramley Village Hall

Present:

Cllr Flooks (Chair)

Cllr Tomblin

Cllr Bell

Cllr DiMascio

In Attendance:

Maxta Thomas (Clerk)

1 members of the public

Apologies:

Cllr Venetia Rowland (Borough)

Cllr Nick Robinson (Borough)

1

Apologies for Absence

As listed above.

2

Declarations of Interest

None.

3

Minutes of the last Planning Committee Meeting

3.1

The minutes of the meeting held on 13^th September 2017 were unanimously agreed to be a true and accurate record.  The minutes were signed by the Chairman.

3.2

Matters arising – Cllr Tomblin noted that builders are starting work on site at Razors Farm earlier in the morning than they should.  He has raised the issue with BDBC. 

4

Planning Applications

4.1

New Applications

1. T/00447/17/TPO - 7 Oakmead Bramley

T1 Oak: reduce limbs that encroach over property (conservatory) by 1.5-2m back to good growth points

Councillors felt that there was not enough information to make an informed decision.  Clerk to enquire if the tree is endangering the property, and also if it is diseased.  Clerk also to point out that the NP highlights various trees as being part of the vista in the village. 

1. 17/03717/VLA - The Lodge Cufaude Courtyard Cufaude Lane Bramley

Discharge of legal agreement to remove the tie which restricts the garages/store approved under BDB/54128 being used and/or sold as a separate unit of accommodation

No comments unanimously agreed.  Clerk to process.

1. 17/03624/LDEU - The Lodge Cufaude Courtyard Cufaude Lane Bramley

Application for Certificate of Lawfulness for the continued use of The Lodge as a single dwelling house (Use Class C3)

No comments unanimously agreed.

1. 17/03248/RES - Little Bowlings Goddards Lane Sherfield-on-Loddon

Reserved matters application for details of access, appearance, landscape, layout and scale, pursuant to outline planning permission 15/01460/OUT, for the erection of 4 no. 5 bed dwellings, office building and new access

It was unanimously agreed to fully support comments made by Sherfield on Loddon Parish Council, and by the BDBC Principal Conservation Officer.  Clerk to process.

1. Other new applications

17/03692/HSE - 5 German Road Bramley

Conversion of half of garage to additional living space

Objections based on loss of parking to the area unanimously agreed.  Clerk to process.

17/03745/ROC - Razors Farm Cufaude Lane Chineham

Variation of condition 1 and removal of condition 7 of 15/02513/RES to remove the LEAP area from phase 1

To be considered at full council when more documentation available. 

17/03725/HSE - 1 The Maltings Bramley

Conversion of garage to living accommodation

No objections, but comment that parking spaces should be carefully considered.  Unanimously agreed.  Clerk to process.

T/00472/17/TCA - Malden House The Street Bramley

1 Scots pine: fell

1 Spruce: fell

No objections unanimously agreed.  Clerk to process.

Clerk

Clerk

Clerk

Clerk

Clerk

Clerk

Clerk

4.2

Approvals/Refusals/Pending – these were noted.   See appendix A. 

4.3

Update on Land North of Sherfield Road (17/00936/FUL) – the review on waste water in the Parish is awaited from Thames Water.  The Parish Council have requested that the BDBC planning officer does not make a decision until the review is complete at the end of November.  The planning officer has contacted Thames Water to find out if they have any reason to delay any decision.  Cllr Bell to take forward.

Cllr Bell has put in a personal objection to amendments. 

Clerk to submit PC objections to BDBC.

Clerk

4.4

Update on Land South of The Street (15/02682/OUT – the Parish Council have met with representatives of Taylor Wimpey regarding the application.  The developer seems keen to work within the framework set out in the Neighbourhood Plan, and took on board various comments and suggestions made by the PC, particularly with reference to the appearance of houses.

Cllr Flooks noted a letter from a resident – Clerk to respond as per Cllr Flook’s written draft response.  Unanimously agreed.

Clerk to ask developers for report on the public session on earlier in the week. 

Clerk

Clerk

4.5

Local Plan housing policy in relation to Upper Cufaude Farm (16/04519/FUL) – the Parish Council originally had no objections, subject to the view from English Heritage, who have come back with no objections.

The planning agent for the application, Edward Dawson, explained that they have hit difficulties with Local Plan policy SS6 (e) and its intent to stop unacceptable development and damage to the countryside.  He asked whether the Parish Council would be willing to consider submitting a statement to BDBC in support of the application.

Councillors noted issues with consistency with other small scale developments outside the settlement boundary.  Mr Dawson noted that each application should be judged on its own merits.  He does not believe that such a statement would be setting a precedent. 

It was unanimously agreed that ‘no objections’ should still stand, but that an active statement of support is unlikely to be agreed when amended plans are submitted.    The issue was recommended to full council for a final decision. 

Amended plans will be submitted by the agent to BDBC. 

Clerk

5

Update on Planning Enforcements

5.1

17/00206/ADV - Bramley Post Office Sherfield Road

Display of 1 no. externally illuminated Fascia Sign and 3 no. window graphics

The Clerk has again chased this issue with the planning officer, but has received no reply.  She will continue to chase.

Clerk

5.2

 17/00942/FUL - Land Adjacent To The Oaks Cufaude Lane

Change of use of site as a private gypsy site for one family comprising a mobile home, utility room and touring caravan

The Clerk has again chased this issue with the enforcement officer at BDBC, but has received no reply as the officer in question is on leave until next week.  She will chase for a response for the PC meeting on 21^st November. 

Clerk

5.3

17/00449/RET – 29 -30 Farriers Close, Bramley

Change of use of open space land to land within residential land (Retrospective)

The appeal for this application is still ongoing and is awaiting a visit to site by the Inspectors. 

6

Minchens Lane issues

6.1

Completion of s.106 obligations – Persimmon and BDBC are currently trying to establish exactly who is responsible for carrying out the Clift Meadow car park improvements – the issue is currently with BDBC for a decision.  Persimmon has stated that they are happy to do the work on behalf of BDBC if necessary. 

It also appears that work on the Clift Surgery car park will begin soon, although this needs to be checked.

Clerk to investigate legal redress re slippage of s.106 obligations. 

Cllr Flooks to draft an email/letter to Sue Tarvit and Jon Bishop for an update on s.106 tasks.

Clerk

Cllr Flooks

6.2

Highways issues – Concerns have been raised with Highways and Persimmon about the quality of finish on the recent highway work at Minchens Lane, and also about the junction into the new development.

Responses from planning officers and Highways would indicate that work on the road has not been completed as yet – engineers had delays over the summer which meant the work could not be completed.

7

Consultations

7.1

Draft Statement of Community Involvement

This consultation from BDBC deals with community engagement with regards to planning consultations.

Link on website.

Cllr Tomblin to read through and recommend a response. 

Cllr Tomblin

8

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 6^th December.

The meeting closed at 21.01