Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Louie O’Leary and David Shortell.

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 Wheller declared an interest in item 7 and considered herself to be pre-determined on the application and did not take part in the debate or vote.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2025 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 Tuesday 1 April 2025.

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.

Continued use of land as a private residential Traveller site for sole use of the applicants and family, including use of the erected barn as a dayroom/workshop/store, 1 mobile home, 1 touring caravan and a mobile van (Revised description/additional information).

The Chair deferred the application until a later a meeting because a new issue had arisen regarding surface water flooding on the site, which needed to be considered before a decision could be made.

Extend car parking provisions to service industrial units/businesses.

With the aid of a visual presentation including plans and aerial photographs, the Planning Officer identified the site and explained the proposal, which consisted of the extension of a car park.

The existing and proposed site plans were shown to members and the new boundary of the car park was identified on the plans. Photographs of the site from various viewpoints were also provided.

The key constraints were identified and the flood risk throughout the site was explained. The access to the site partially fell within a 1 in 30 year risk of surface water flooding, however the Lead Local Flood Authority had raised no objections subject to conditions.

In response to questions from members the Planning Officer provided the following responses:

·       Standard tarmac was proposed to be used for the surface of the car park, rather than a semi-permeable surface.

·       The location of the tree that was proposed to be removed was identified on a plan of the site.

·       The application was subject to a requirement for bio-diversity net gain and met this through an off-site contribution as there was not the capacity to achieve this on-site.

·       No discussions had taken place with other departments within Dorset Council about the potential development of the land north of the application site.

·       A soakaway was proposed to be used for surface water drainage and it was required by condition that appropriate plans be submitted, should the application be granted.

Having had an opportunity to debate the merits of the application several members raised issue about the surface water drainage on the site, as they were concerned that the additional hard surfacing could potentially overwhelm the current drainage system, resulting in flooding on the site. The proposer and seconder agreed to change the wording of the drainage condition set out within the officer’s report to ensure that the surface water drained into a soakaway.

It was proposed by Cllr Northam and seconded by Cllr Wheller to grant permission, with the suggested changes to condition 5 of the report.

Decision: That authority be delegated to the Service Manager for Development Management and Enforcement and the Area Manager of the Southern and Western Team (Development Management) to grant planning permission subject to planning conditions and subject to amending the wording of condition 5 to include reference to the use of a soakaway, with the amended wording to be first agreed with the Chair of the committee.

Works to repair/refurbish metalwork on parapets and bridge including repainting works.

The Conservation and Design Officer presented the application for Listed Building Consent for works on Weymouth Town Bridge. The application had come to the committee for determination because Dorset Council owned the structure which it related to.

The location of the site was outlined and it was explained that following regular inspections areas of the metalwork on the bridge had been identified as being in need of repair.

The proposal sought to carry out these repairs and although there would be a loss in historic fabric in some cases, it was not considered that there would be any harm to the character of the area and the public benefit of maintaining the bridge was seen to outweigh any loss of historic fabric.

The Conservation and Design Officer provided the following responses to members questions:

·       If the works were not carried out then the corrosion would likely spread and impact the bridge further.

·       The fittings for the panels would need to be altered to allow them to be removed and reinstalled, which would result in some loss of historic fabric.

·       The panels would be removed from the bridge and repaired off-site.

Members were in agreement that there were significant benefits of the proposal and raised no issues with the application.

It was proposed by Cllr Monks and seconded by Cllr Kimber that the application be granted.

Decision: That the application be granted subject to the conditions set 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 is no scheduled exempt business for the meeting.

There was no exempt business.