Agenda and minutes

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or personal interest as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct.  In making their decision 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 Wednesday 7^th February 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 7^th February 2024 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 Monday 11^th March 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.

To consider the applications listed below for planning permission

Members considered written reports submitted on planning applications as set out below.

Outline application for erection of a church / community hall & care home with associated parking & an area for biodiversity enhancement (all matters reserved except access and scale)

The Case Officer provided members with the following update:

Changes to officer report:

-       Officer report referred to use class D (1) and should have referred to F1 (f) (For, or in connection with, public worship or religious instruction)

-       Paragraph 15.8.7 and the appropriate assessment referred to ‘close care’, this should have referred to ‘nursing care’.

Dorset Council Adult Social Care comments

               - Comments were received on Tuesday 12^th March.

Conditions to be to be added or amended:

-       Renewable energy condition

-       Water efficiency condition

-       Limit to number of bedrooms (60 bedrooms maximum)

-       Grampian condition required for the removal of the telegraph pole on Station Road

-       Removal of permitted development rights for F1 (f) use class

-       Condition 15 LEMP – addition required in relation to Dorset Heathland fires.

Dorset Council update to Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA):

-       Dorset Council SFRA had been updated and published in March 2024

-       There were no changes to the application site flood risk assessment.

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. Photographs of views looking towards and from within the site were shown. Members were informed that the site was within the urban area of West Moors and was surrounded by the Green Belt. In addition to this, the presentation also provided details regarding the site history and outlined the previous reasons for refusal. The Case Officer also highlighted the number of local objections, responses received by consultees and areas of concerns made by the Dorset Council Landscape Officer.

Details of the indicative plans of the proposed buildings were discussed as well as outlining the site location in relation to settlement boundaries. The Case Officer discussed the impact on neighbouring amenities as well as the proposed site access, surface water drainage, foul drainage, and the scale of the development. In addition to this, members were informed of the noise assessments which had been submitted by both the applicant and neighbours, where reviewed by an independent consultant who advised the Applicant NIA presents a more accurate and reasonable overall assessment compared to the Residents NIA. Local housing need assessments carried out for the Local Plan identified the need for care home beds across the county. Included in the officer’s presentation were details of the revised design which had a reduced footprint, resulting in the proposed care home accommodating 60 bedrooms. The Case Officer highlighted highways considerations, including parking which had been deemed as acceptable and informed members that there were no protected trees on the proposed site but were adjacent to it. Therefore, tree conditions were required.

The application site was adjacent to the heathlands and the proposed would have a likely significant effect on protected sites. The presentation also outlined biodiversity impacts. The officer’s summary of recommendations was to:

A)   Grant permission subject to conditions and the completion of a legal agreement under section 106  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

Retain partial conversion of garage to ancillary living accommodation.

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. Photographs of street views, site photographs, floor plans, and elevations were shown. Members were assured that due to the limited nature of the proposals there would be no impact to the street scene or to the character of the area. The Case Officer also highlighted the available parking provision and advised that if granted, the loss of one off-street parking space would not negatively impact current on-street provision. The recommendation was to grant subject to conditions.

Public Participation

There was no public participation.

Members questions and comments

·       Members were pleased that the garage door was retained.

·       Clarification regarding ancillary use and noise mitigation.

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 Shane Bartlett, and seconded by Cllr David Morgan.

Decision: To grant in accordance with the officer’s recommendation, subject to conditions set out in the report.

Erection of new advertising Totem Pole sign.

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. Photographs of the site location, proposed site plan and proposed elevations were shown. Members were provided with details of the historic and approved signage and were informed that the proposal was within the Green Belt. The recommendation was to grant advertisement consent subject to conditions.

Public Participation

There was no public participation.

Members questions and comments

·       Members noted that there had been no objections raised by highways officers and the benefits of the reduction of illumination levels compared to the extant consent.

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 Shane Bartlett, and seconded by Cllr Robin Cook.

Decision: To grant in accordance with the officer’s recommendation subject to conditions.

Retention of a VDSL sidepod cabinet.

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. Photographs of the site location and proposed pod elevations were shown. Members were informed that the proposal was before committee due to it being on Council owned land. The recommendation was to grant planning permission subject to conditions set out in the report.

Public Participation

There was no public participation.

Members questions and comments

·       Members noted that there had been no objections from the Parish Council or Local Ward Members.

·       The proposal would benefit the community.

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 Shane Bartlett, and seconded by Cllr Barry Goringe.

Decision: To grant in accordance with the officer’s recommendation for approval subject to the suggested condition.

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 3 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.