Minutes Town Council Planning Committee - Tuesday 15th August 2011
Minutes Town Council Planning Committee - Tuesday 15th August 2011
Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00) Tuesday, 27 September 2011 21:48
Planning Committee Minutes
Minutes of Okehampton Town Council Planning Committee Meeting held on Monday 15 August 2011in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Fore Street, Okehampton at 7.00 pm
Committee Members Present: Councillor P Vachon (Chair)
Councillor Mrs K Bickley (Vice Chair)
Councillor J Stockwell
Councillor Mrs M McDonald (Town Mayor)
Councillor D Weekes (Chair, Parks)
Councillor A Leech (Chair, Property)
Other Members Present: Councillor T Cummings
Councillor Mrs C Marsh
Councillor M Morse
In Attendance: D Bent (Town Clerk)
160. Apologies for Absence- Apologies for absence were presented on behalf of Councillors M Davies and M Ireland.
161. Deferment of Business- (for comment by the public) - C Enderson, representing J Bickley (plan application number 01741/2011) explained the application was for the continuing siting of two caravans at this location which were first installed in 1984 and were part of the rateable value of the premises. He explained this was change of use application from occasional domiciliary use to use in conjunction with ancillary accommodation to the main dwelling. Miss Charlotte Brown supported the application for the caravan. The Chairman noted and advised these comments would be taken into account when the application was considered.
162. Members’ Questions- There were no questions from Members regarding the workings of the Committee.
163. Minutes- The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 18 July 2011 were approved and signed by the Chair on the proposition of Councillor A Leech, seconded by Councillor D Weekes.
164. Matters Arising-
164.1 Provision of On-Street Parking - Devon County Council (Traffic Regulations & Parking Places) Amendment Order 2011- Councillor Mrs Bickley reported she, together with Councillors Ireland and Mrs McDonald, had prepared a paper for submission to Devon County Highways as part of the car parking and integrated traffic plan for Okehampton. She referred to County strategy document plus sustainable transport fund and advised the Borough Council would be involved in this process in due course. Councillor Bickley reported the County was awaited to discuss this paper as part of the community’s
164.2 WDBC LDF Core Strategy Development Plan Document- The Chairman referred to the above document and invited Members to discuss and respond to the same. He acknowledged the timescale, questioned business development reduction and the urgency to deliver houses. The meeting expressed concerns on piecemeal style of housing development, possible reneging on 106 agreements. Members were concerned the benefits offered by section 106 agreements would not be delivered and, whilst flexibility was required in the plan, this may affect future agreements; Councillor Marsh confirmed that any existing section 106 agreements would be honoured by the developers.
In conclusion, Councillor Vachon expressed concerns over future consultation with regard to sustainability for housing development with acknowledgement to 40% affordable, expressed concern over rural regeneration with a loss of services and concluded that the Core Strategy was a very important document for the future of Okehampton and Council should monitor its evolution over the years with a plea to the Borough Members from Okehampton to support the town’s wishes.
164.3 Superfast Broadband Plan- A document from the Principal Councils of the South West advised superfast broadband would be introduced in Okehampton by 2015. The Chairman confirmed the system would be operational in Okehampton by 2012; noted.
164.4 Enterprise Zone Bid- The Chair advised the deadline for submitting Enterprise Zone bids had passed and the Borough Regeneration Officer was not aware of any further opportunity to bid; Members to monitor.
164.5 Okehampton Works- The Clerk reported arising from the DCC Okehampton Employment Support Partnership was a project entitled ‘Okehampton Works’. This was a series of events across the town to promote the business community, with events including launch Monday 5 September at the business centre; business sessions at that location; jobs fair at the Ockment Centre; start-up business taster sessions at the business centre; trading standards; consumer law; skills fair etc. Members noted and it was agreed the information be circulated with an invitation to attend.
165. Plans- Members received plans as per Annex A and commented as annotated there.
166. Concept/Parish Plan- Councillor Mrs Marsh questioned the position on the delivery of a town plan for Okehampton as previously endorsed by Council. Members acknowledged the work being undertaken by Heartlands for a regeneration plan for the area, but were specific on updating the Okehampton town plan. The Chairman acknowledged the work of Heartlands and explained he was currently analysing work carried out by a number of organisations across Okehampton with a view to extracting the Okehampton town plan.
167. New Road, Okehampton - Trees- A letter from G Browne, Borough Tree Officer, referred to the possibility of tree removal or substantial reduction work on eight trees located on the side of New Road, a report on recommendations to follow; noted.
168. HATOC Surgery- Members noted a surgery to be held on 22 September 2011 at the Ockment Centre at 10.00 am.
169. Members’ Reports-
(i) Destination Okehampton - the notes of the meeting held on 21 July 2011 were circulated.
Matters Arising - Strategy for Destination Okehampton - Councillor Mrs Bickley invited a representative from Destination Okehampton to sit on the
(ii) Regeneration Forum - The Chairman referred to his attendance at the Regeneration Forum meeting at which a number of identified issues had been tabled. He explained he was attempting to contact all members of the groups to identify their mechanics, roles and responsibilities without duplication and to identify specific aims including the Okehampton town concept plan.
Concern was expressed over lack of consistency in who attends meetings, lack of agenda and incomplete minutes and concluded he would submit a report to the next meeting of the Planning Committee.
(iii) Senior Council - Councillor Morse reported on the Senior Council’s attendance at the Okehampton Show and the Chagford Show with increasing membership numbers.
Meeting closed 8.08 pm.
___________________
Councillor P Vachon
Chairman
Recommendations – Planning Committee 15 August 2011
OKEHAMPTON
01726/2011 258639,95137
Full
Erection of 1-bedroom, 2-storey residential unit and demolition of outbuilding to provide ancillary space
24 West Street, Okehampton EX20 1HH
Mr I Connock
Council supported this application
01748/2011 258527,95226
Full
Erection of garage
Middlebury, Ranelagh Road, Okehampton EX20 1JG
Mr S Crook
Council supported this application
01741/2011 258132,95645
Full
Retention of existing 2 caravan sitings either for use in conjunction with the existing HMO use of part of the property or/and as ancillary to the main dwelling
Upcott House, Upcott Hill, Okehampton EX20 1SQ
Mr & Mrs Bickley
Council supported this application
01769/2011 259497,95851
Full
Erection of porch
5 Abbey Rise, Okehampton EX20 1PJ
Mrs J Groves
Council supported this application
01768/2011 259733,95277
Tree application
Application to carry out works to trees under Tree Preservation Order for the crown lifting and reduction of lower limbs facing 1 Wadlands Meadow - all from a mature beech as shown on application photographs
1 Wadlands Meadow, Okehampton EX20 1DE
Mr R Rose
Members supported this proposal, but with reservations about precedents on reductions to adjacent trees and minimal effect on moss reduction on roof.