Agenda and draft minutes

To disclose any pecuniary, other registerable or non-registerable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 1^st October 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 1^st October were confirmed and signed.

Members of the public wishing to speak to the Committee on a planning application should notify the Democratic Services Officer listed on the front of this agenda. This must be done no later than two clear working days before the meeting. Please refer to the Guide to Public Speaking at Planning Committee.  Guide to Public Speaking at Planning Committee

The deadline for notifying a request to speak is 8.30am on Friday 1^st November 2024.

Representations by the public to the Committee on individual planning applications are detailed below. There were no questions, petitions or deputations received on other items on this occasion.

Demolition of barns & erection of up to 30no. dwellings & provision of site for village hall with parking area, wildlife area, attenuation pond & public open space (outline application to determine access only).

The Case Officer provided members with the following update:

• Section 18 recommendation – Change recommendation D) to:

- Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Head of Planning, if the S106 legal agreement was not completed by 05/05/2025 then refuse planning permission for the following reasons: The proposed contributions and benefits of this scheme have not been secured by a S106 legal agreement as such the adverse impacts of the proposed development would not outweigh the harm on the setting of the heritage asset Sandways Farm, nor the harm to the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside in this particular location contrary to North Dorset LP Policies 2, 6 and 20, and paragraph 180, National Policy Framework.

• Section 14.0 – Contributions are also being collected towards:

-       Libraries: £75.00/dwelling

-       Bus service and sustainable transportation: £6072.00 to upgrade bus stop and maintenance

-       Rights of Way enhancements:

o   £3900 surface works to fp N57/16

o   £16,250 surface works to (N57/21) Clay Lane,

o   £52,00 to surface works to N70/16,

o   £379.50 for a pedestrian gate to Clay Lane

-       Note the mis-number of conditions 5 twice.

-       Note condition 11 drawing number has changed to 20083 -24.

With the aid of a visual presentation including plans and aerial photographs, the Case Officer identified the site and explained the proposal and relevant planning policies to members. The Case Officer included details of the indicative layout and explained that the proposal was an outline application for access only. Photographs of the field access, viewpoints looking towards the site and proposed site access were shown. Images of neighbouring properties, street scenes and site boundaries were also included. The Case Officer explained the planning history of the site and provided details of the biodiversity mitigation parameter plan. In addition to this, the Case Officer also noted the site constraints, including details that the proposal was outside the settlement boundary which had been acknowledged and there were two heritage assets of concern. There were also two other listed buildings to the southwest but due to slope of the land and intervening of development it was not considered to be a constraint.

Details of the location plan and site layout were included as well as an overview of the site history which had benefited from comments from urban design and conservation officers, who had formulated an indicative layout which officers supported. Members were informed that the proposed hall would have been situated more centrally within the site and it met policy. A viability assessment had been submitted and the Case Officer reminded members that they were only considering the principle of development and site access. No objections had been received from the Highways team and visibility splays were considered to be in excess of usual expectations. The access included in the officer presentation was in an indicative form which would link to existing footpath. The proposal was considered to be safe and met policy.

Therefore, the officer recommendation was to delegate authority to the Head  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Erect 107 No. dwellings (reduced from 115), garages and electricity substation. Form roads, car parking, public open space and carry out ancillary development. (Reserved Matters application to determine access (in relation to accessibility and circulation within the site), appearance, landscaping, layout and scale; following the grant of Outline Planning Permission No. APP/D1265/W/20/3259308 (LPA Ref. 2/2018/1773/OUT).

The Case Officer updated members on the additional conditions which were not within the report.

• 3. All planting, seeding or turfing comprised in the approved details of landscaping PERSC2412011 Sheets 1 to 7 received 04/11/2024 shall be caried out in the first planting and seeding seasons following first occupation of the development; and any trees or plants which, within a period of 5 years from the completion of this phase of the development, die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless otherwise agreed with the Local Planning Authority.
• 4. The development hereby permitted shall be undertaken in accordance with the details set out in the Abroricultural Method Statement ref. PERSC24120amsA Rev A:27/07/2023 and Tree Protection Plans ref. PERSC24120-03a Sheets 1 to 5. All trees and hedges shown to be retained on the approved Tree Protection Plan shall be fully safeguarded during the course of site works and building operations.
• 4.  A Landscape Management Plan shall be submitted and agreed in writing by the local planning authority prior to the construction of any part of the development above dampproof course level, covering landscaping, including long term design objectives, management responsibilities, maintenance schedules and a timetable for implementation and/or all landscape areas (other than small, privately owned domestic gardens). Thereafter the Landscape Management Plan shall be implemented as approved.
• 5. The construction of the development hereby approved shall be limited to between the hours of 07-00hrs-18:00hrs on Monday to Friday, 08:00hrs-13:00hrs on Saturdays, with no activity on Sundays or Public holidays. 

The Case Officer updated members on the additional conditions which were not within the report. With the aid of a visual presentation including plans and aerial photographs, the Case Officer identified the site and explained the proposal and relevant planning policies to members. The site was on the edge of Shaftesbury in which outline had previously been granted. Members were informed that the proposal before them was for reserved matters only and they were considering appearance, layout and landscaping. The Case Officer identified the approved access which was situated near a signalised junction with pedestrian crossings. Photographs of the front, side and rear elevations were shown as well as ground and first floor plans which would have mirrored the house types of existing neighbouring properties. Images of the existing site and the western neighbouring scheme which would have connections for pedestrian access were also included. The proposal was situated on an allocated site which sat in the Parish of Melbury Abbas and Cann. Objections had been received from the Parish Council and therefore the matter was before members for determination. The Case Officer identified the proposed LEAP to the south of the site and provided details of street planting and larger attenuation to support the site.

The Officer recommendation was to grant consent, subject to conditions set out in the officer report.

Public Participation

The agent, Mr Walker spoke in support of the proposal.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Construction of a slurry lagoon with 1.3m high fence.

With the aid of a visual presentation including plans and aerial photographs, the Case Officer identified the site and explained the proposal and relevant planning policies to members for a County Farm. Photographs of the existing site and views across the site were shown. Members were informed that the proposal was located beyond the field boundary hedge, ensuring that it would have been discreet to mitigate visual impacts. The nearby footpath and bridleway would not have been impacted if members were minded to grant and details of the where the lagoon would have been situated on the site were included as well as further details relating to a manure management plan to reduce odour impacts. The Case Officer informed members that a minor tree was to be removed, however, this had been compensated for and the protection and retention of existing trees and hedgerows and additional planting were secured through conditions. There were no significant concerns relating to flooding or drainage, nor were there any adverse impacts on highway safety as traffic movements would not have increased due to storing the slurry on site. The officer recommendation was to grant subject to conditions set out in the officer report.

Public Participation

The agent thanked the committee for the opportunity to speak. He noted that the recommendation for approval was subject to appropriate conditions and was before members as the farm was owned by Dorset Council. The applicants were tenants of Shortwood Farm and had invested in the necessary slurry infrastructure project in order to ensure that the dairy farm remained viable. The size and features of the lagoon were necessary due to regulation and environmental agency requirements, who have raised no objections to the scheme. The application fully aligned with national and local policies which supported sustainable rural development, as evidenced in the planning officer’s recommendation to approve. Mr Haskell referred to consultees who had raised no objections and supported the proposal. The applicants had worked with the planning officer and colleagues to ensure an acceptable scheme, these included landscaping and ecological enhancements. The slurry lagoon would have ensured Shortwood Farm’s continued compliance with regulatory and environmental standards, as well as benefitting future tenant or business at Shortwood Farm. This was an important piece of infrastructure which would have allowed the continuation of the dairy farm as well as compliance with environmental standards. The agent hoped members would support the proposal. 

Members questions and comments

• Queried the proposed materials.
• Members fully supported the proposal and felt that they should do all that they can to support local farms.

Having had the opportunity to discuss the merits of the application and an understanding of all this entailed; having considered the officer’s report and presentation; the written representatives; and what they had heard at the meeting, a motion to APPROVE the officer’s recommendation to GRANT planning permission as recommended, was proposed by Cllr David Taylor, and seconded by Cllr Sherry Jespersen.

Decision: To grant planning permission subject to conditions set out in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Retain work to the roof and the structural steel beam in the cellar.

With the aid of a visual presentation including plans and aerial photographs, the Case Officer identified the site and explained the proposal and relevant planning policies to members. Members were informed that the proposal was a Grade 2 listed farmhouse building which was situated on a derelict farm. Internal and external photos of the proposal were shown as well as southeast elevations. The Case Officer highlighted that the application was to retain previously completed work to the roof and cellar and detailed the materials. Evidential work had been carried out and no harm had been identified, the proposal would not have harmed the character and historic fabric of the listed building. The ecological team were happy with the proposal before the committee, however an informative was requested in case a further survey was required.

Public Participation

There was no public participation.

Members questions and comments

• There were no questions or comments.

Having had the opportunity to discuss the merits of the application and an understanding of all this entailed; having considered the officer’s report and presentation; the written representatives; and what they had heard at the meeting, a motion to APPROVE the officer’s recommendation to GRANT planning permission as recommended, was proposed by Cllr Carole Jones, and seconded by Cllr David Taylor.

Decision: To grant planning permission subject to conditions set out in the officer’s report.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph x of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.  

There are no exempt items scheduled for this meeting.  

There was no exempt business.