Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Kate Wheller and Susan Cocking.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registerable or non-registrable interest 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.

Cllr Clayton declared an interest in item 5a, due to previously sitting as chairman of Transition Town Bridport and item 5d due to being the co-applicant of this application, as such he withdrew from the meeting during the consideration of both of these items.

Cllr O’Leary declared an interest in item 5b, due to member of his family being the applicant and withdrew from the meeting during the consideration of this item.

Cllr Bolwell declared an interest in item 5d, due to chairing the Bridport Town Council meeting, where this application was discussed, he withdrew from the meeting during the consideration of this item.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2023 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.  GuidanceforspeakingatPlanningCommittee.doc.pdf (dorsetcouncil.gov.uk).

The deadline for notifying a request to speak is 8.30am on 21 February 2023.

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.

Installation of ground mounted photovoltaic (PV) units on galvanised steel table frameworks arranged into 12 arrays, with inverter in GRP enclosure, fencing, cameras, revised access, landscape and biodiversity mitigation

The Senior Planning Officer presented the application for the installation of ground mounted photovoltaic units on land west of Atrium Road.

Members were shown the location plan of the site, displaying the boundaries of the site in question and the surrounding area, as well as an ariel view of the site. Landscape proposals were shown to members, indicating the planned landscape mitigation around the border of the site, with the intention of screening views from the North and West of the site.

The Senior Planning Officer presented photographs of the site from various viewpoints in the surrounding area, including a nearby public footpath.

The main planning issues were:

·       The impact on residential amenity was considered to be limited due to the modest scale of the development providing no major overbearing impact on neighbouring residential properties and a condition which restricted the view of cameras away from properties.

·       The effect on agricultural land was thought to be modest due to the 40 year life-span of the PV panels and the ability for the continued use of the land for grazing.

·       There was thought to be no major impact on local heritage sites due to the listed buildings being situated an appropriate distance from the development.

·       There were no objections from the Highways Department and a Traffic Management Plan had been included with the application to mitigate impacts during the construction phase.

Oral representation in opposition to the application were received from Mr John Davies, Mr Clive Faircloth and Mr John Dean.

Their concerns focused on the negative impact that the development would have on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the loss of use of suitable agricultural land and the limited benefits in terms of renewable energy production.

Oral representations in support of the application were received from Mr Peter West, Mr Malcom Drew and Ms Lisa Jackson, the agent for the applicant.

In response to questions from members the Senior Planning Officer informed the committee that:

·       The development could provide energy to around 200 homes.

·       The site would require limited maintenance consisting of a weekly visit from an engineer.

·       There was no fund set aside for the decommissioning of the site after the 40-year timeframe should the applicant no longer be trading.

·       It was not certain that the land on the site was grade 1 agricultural land due to there being insufficient data, however it was likely that the land was of a high quality for agricultural use and could be reinstated for agricultural use once the panels have been removed.

Cllr Clayton left the Council Chamber and did not take part in the debate or vote.

Several members expressed support for the application, noting the need to produce more energy, particularly renewable energy and the benefits that this would provide to the local community, in respect to rising energy bills.

One member expressed concern over the impact on the AONB and the loss of high-grade agricultural land should the development be approved and noted that it would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69a

Retain change of use from Club parking to Cafe' area, placing of a steel box container and fencing.

Cllr Clayton returned to the Council Chamber.

This application had been brought to committee as Dorset Council was the freehold owner of the site.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the retrospective application to retain a change of use from Club parking to Café area, placing of a steel box container and fencing.

Members were shown the site location via a map and ariel image, indicating the sites boundaries, the surrounding area and the part of the site relevant to the application. These images showed the current usage of the site as a café, which consisted of a steel box container, surrounding fencing and hard standing surface with picnic benches.

The Senior Planning Officer provided a detailed image displaying the front, rear and side views and elevation of the steel box container and fencing. As well as an interior view of the steel box container.

The main issues of development were:

·       The character and appearance of the development, which was considered limited, due to the modest scale of the structure and fencing and the fact that they are made with natural materials and are not permanent structures, so can be removed easily if necessary.

·       The impact on amenity was considered low – although there had been objections from local residents regarding noise and odour, it was not considered that this development created any additional noise to the rugby club and only limited cooking of food was observed during a site visit.

·       There was no impact on access and parking, due to there being sufficient parking at the rugby club already and due to the fact that the portion of the carpark used for the site was overgrown and unused as parking before the development was erected.

·       The applicant had provided a Flood Risk Assessment as small portions of the site were in Flood Risk Zone 2 & 3.

Oral representation in opposition to the application was received from Mr Robert Smith, Ms Linda Skelton and Mrs Anne Hall.

They had no objection to the existence of the café in principle, however the orientation and location provided significant disruption to the enjoyment of their properties and affected their privacy and the lack of additional toilet facilities also posed a concern.

In response to questions from members the Senior Planning Officer confirmed that the rugby club’s toilet facilities were not available to users of the café and there were no other toilet facilities on site, as such the only drainage required was from the sink in use in the kiosk.

Several members expressed concerns over the application, in particular due to the harm that has been caused to local residents in regard to intrusive noise, odour and lack of toilet facilities on the site.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:16 in order for the planning officers to provide suitable wording for the committee proposal put forward. It reconvened at 12:25.

Proposed by Cllr Worth and seconded by Cllr Kimber.

Decision: That permission be refused for the reasons outlined in the appendix to these minutes.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69b

Replace existing double-sided internally illuminated 6-sheet Bus Shelter advertising display with double-sided digital display.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the application for the replacement of an existing double-sided bus shelter advertisement board with a digital display.

Members were shown the location of the application site within the surrounding area, as well as views of the site from the East and West and close-up images of the existing bus shelter in question. Members were also shown front, rear and side views and the elevation of the proposed new advertisement board.

The Senior Planning Officer noted that there would be a 10 second refresh time on the digital display and the luminance levels would be adjusted to the time of day and season, so as not to be obtrusive.

The key planning issues of the application were:

·       The principle of development, which was considered to be acceptable.

·       The visual amenity, this was considered acceptable due to the orientation of the advertisement board being side-on to the residential properties nearby.

·       There were no objections from Dorset Council’s Highways department, due to the development being fully compliant with all guidance regarding luminosity and refresh times of the digital display.

Most members felt that this application posed no issues, although one member raised a concern about the potential safety hazard of the advertisement board, as it could be distracting to drivers.

Proposed by Cllr Pipe and seconded by Cllr Kimber.

Decision: That permission be granted subject to conditions laid out in the appendix to these minutes.

Replace front and rear doors. Replace existing roof light with conservation roof light. Remove existing sloping ceiling to attic and fit insulation between and under rafters and plasterboard and skim. Remove cement raised strap pointing and replace with lime mortar. Relocate kitchen.

Cllr Clayton left the Council Chamber for the consideration of this application.

The Senior Conservation and Design Officer explained that this application had been brought to the committee for determination, because the applicant was a member of the committee.

Members were shown the location of the property in relation to the surrounding area via a site plan, as well as images of the property showing the existing rooflight and frontage of the property.

The Senior Conservation and Design Officer noted that the building was in a conservation area and showed members the location of other nearby listed buildings, however the proposed works were not considered to cause harm to the conservation area.

Members had no objections to this application.

Proposed by Cllr Ireland and seconded by Cllr Pipe.

Decision: That permission be granted subject to conditions laid out in the appendix to these minutes.

Display of 1no. sign board.

Cllr Clayton returned to the Council Chamber.

The Planning Officer presented the application for the installation of a new sign for the Chesil Beach Visitor Centre, which had come to the committee for determination because Dorset Council were the landowners.

Members were shown the location of the proposed sign in relation to the surrounding area. Members were also shown a digital image of what the proposed signage would look like, including the scale of the sign and a photoshopped image of the sign in its proposed location.

The scale, design and impact on character and appearance were all considered to be acceptable by the Planning Officer, who also noted that the sign had been moved back since the initial application to address concerns raised by Dorset Council’s Highways department that the sign could impact the visibility of drivers.

A concern was raised about the impact the sign could have on the visibility of the road, however the Planning Officer assured that, following Highways advice this was no longer a significant concern.

No other concerns were raised regarding this application.

Proposed by Cllr Kimber and seconded by Cllr Worth.

Decision: The application is granted subject to conditions laid out in the appendix to these minutes.  

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 was no exempt business.