Minutes Planning Committee - Monday 1 March 2010
Committee Members Present:
Councillor Mrs M McDonald (Chair)
Councillor A Leech (Vice Chair)
Councillor Mrs K Bickley
Councillor Dr M Ireland
Councillor M Morse
Councillor D Weekes (Town Mayor)
Councillor A Raymond (Chair, Parks)
Other Members Present:
Councillor Ms T Edwards
Councillor C Letchford
Councillor Mrs C Marsh
Councillor Mrs D Smith
Councillor P Stunèll
In Attendance:
D Bent (Town Clerk)
551. Apologies for Absence - There were no apologies for absence.
552. Deferment of Business - (for comment by the public) - There were no members of the public present.
553. Members’ Questions - Councillor Leech commented the new traffic lights and pelican crossing were not working in sequence, Clerk to pursue.
Councillor Mrs Marsh questioned the appearance of the Okehampton Action Plan as an agenda item, Clerk to research.
Councillor Leech commented on the development at Crediton Road with the developer accessing the site from Saddlers Way following the removal of a Devon bank. He explained the liaison meeting referenced this breach of planning permission which had been challenged, however that authority was reluctant to pursue any legal course of action due to potential costs. He expressed disappointment that the Borough would not address this or any similar problems to which Members concurred. Councillor Mrs Marsh responded the developers had not addressed the use of traffic lights in Crediton Road nor the electric cable at the site entrance, the hedge would be reinstated with a close watch on the development by the Borough Enforcement Officer. The meeting noted complaints from residents about low water pressure and brown water occasioned by the contractors working on the site plus acknowledgement of the problem in the Hamlets. On the proposition of the Chair, it was resolved that a letter be forwarded to the Borough Council expressing complaints from residents about disturbance, breach of planning law in the removal of the hedge bank, water pressure, cleanliness and disappointment how the development was managed by the planning department.
554. Minutes - The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 15 February 2010 were approved and signed on the proposition of Councillor A Leech, seconded by Councillor A Raymond.
555. Matters Arising -
555.1 Speeding on Upcott Hill - Correspondence from Devon and Cornwall Police acknowledged the speeding issue at this location, but were unable to carry out any safe speed monitoring or enforcement due to the nature and layout of the road, but were supportive of the proposal to introduce traffic calming measures at this location; noted. It was further noted that the school travel plan for Okehampton Primary School impacted upon this road and the road safety officer would also be involved in these measures.
556. Plans - The Committee examined plans as below and made comments as noted.
00152/2010 258674,94748
CLEUD
Application to determine implementation of planning permission RN.3.22.2119/95/6483/004 for erection of a dwelling house forming part of original permission for 8 houses
Land adjacent to Castleford Houses, Castle Road, Okehampton, Devon
Mr S Essex
The Council objected to this proposal on the following grounds:
access too close to the bridge creating danger for pedestrians and vehicles accessing the property;
Members also considered the development was too close to the riverbank and would seek an opinion from the Environment Agency relative to flood plain factors.
00142/2010 258527,95226
Full
Erection of garage
Middlebury, Ranelagh Road, Okehampton EX20 1JG
Mr & Mrs Crook
The Council supported this proposal.
557. Devon and Cornwall Constabulary - A newsletter from Inspector Hammond advised of policing across West Devon with particular reference to PACT proposals to be operated with the Neighbourhood Policing Team. Members were concerned that owing to the size of the policing area, PACTS may have difficulty in identifying and addressing local problems. Councillor Mrs Bickley agreed to raise this at the liaison meeting.
558. Members’ Reports -
Ockment Centre - Councillor Leech advised that the Jobcentre were assessing a health and safety operation at the Ockment Centre as at 1st March.
G10 - Councillors Weekes and Mrs Marsh referred to working closer arrangements with the South Hams on the sharing of resources and ideas and further that the Core Strategy was delayed.
Meeting closed 7.25 pm.