Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Louie O'Leary.

To receive any declarations of interest

Cllr John Worth declared that he had predetermined application WD/D/20/001703 - Land Adjacent to Buckland House, Buckland House Lane, Buckland Ripers, DT3 4FT.  He would speak as the Ward Member and not take part in the debate or vote on this application.

Cllr Jean Dunseith declared that she had predetermined application WD/D/20/001703 - Land Adjacent to Buckland House, Buckland House Lane, Buckland Ripers, DT3 4FT.  She would speak as the Ward Member and not take part in the debate or vote on this application.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2020 were confirmed and would be signed at a future date.

To receive questions or statements on the business of the committee from town and parish councils and members of the public.

Public speaking has been suspended for virtual committee meetings during the Covid-19 crisis and public participation will be dealt with through written submissions only.

Members of the public who live, work or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area, may submit up to two questions or a statement of up to a maximum of 450 words.  All submissions must be sent electronically to denise.hunt@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by the deadline set out below.  When submitting a question please indicate who the question is for and include your name, address and contact details.  Questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda.

Questions will be read out by an officer of the council and a response given by the appropriate Portfolio Holder or officer at the meeting.  All questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.  The deadline for submission of the full text of a question or statement is 8.30am on 5 January 2021.

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.

Use of land to site toilet/shower block and erection of decking and steps (retrospective).

Cllr Jean Dunseith and Cllr John Worth did not take part in the debate or vote on this application.

The Committee considered a retrospective application for use of land to site a a toilet/shower block and erection of decking and steps.

The Senior Planning officer presented the proposal for a permanent toilet and shower block.  A temporary block had been a condition of an original planning permission granted under officer delegation in 2019 in connection with use of the field for camping between 23 June - 8 September each year. 

The Committee was advised that this was a new planning application for a permanent structure that needed to be considered on its own merits and was not a variation of conditions approved as part of the previous permission in 2019.

Plans and photographs showed the location and appearance of the toilet/shower block and its visual impact on the rural area, in particular, from different points along Nottington Lane drawing nearer to the site.

The key planning issues were outlined including principle of development, visual amenity and biodiversity, as well as a summary of the conditions in connection with the application, if approved.

Public written representations received, some of which were also read out at the meeting, are attached to these minutes.

Cllr John Worth, speaking as the Ward Member - Chickerell, highlighted the lack of regard for the planning process or adherence to the original permission by the applicant; the permanency and increased size of the structure, impact on visual amenity and the weakness of the Covid pandemic as a reason for its size given its presence on the site since September 2019.

Cllr Jean Dunseith, also speaking as the Ward Member - Chickerell, highlighted that conditions existed to put a boundary around the planning permission and those attached to the original permission had been disregarded.  In her view this would be a judgement on the importance of conditions.

Whilst appreciating the desire to achieve an award winning camping site, the Committee expressed concerns relating to a lack of respect for the planning process in the way the development had been carried out; the need for a Biodiversity Plan including impact of lighting on wildlife ; the adequacy of the soakaway and septic tank to support a larger block and the need for disabled access.

Members requested additional conditions including the requirement for a Biodiversity Plan and disabled access.

The Committee was advised that the lighting associated with the block was switched off during periods when not in use and that the efficacy of the soakaway / septic tank would be a private matter for the applicant and that any complaints was a separate issue to be dealt with by the Environmental Health department.

Subject to the inclusion of the suggested additional conditions, it was proposed by Cllr Kate Wheller, seconded by Cllr Nick Ireland

Decision: That authority be delegated to the Head of Planning to approve subject to the planning conditions as set out in the officer’s report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

Breach of Planning: Demolition of original farmhouse and Erection of a dwelling not in accordance with planning approval WD/D/17/002888 as amended via the approved non material amendment approvals WD/D/19/000355/NMA & WD/D/19/000624/NMA.

The Committee considered an update on enforcement action in respect of a breach of planning - demolition of the original farmhouse and erection of a dwelling not in accordance with planning approval WD/D/17/002888 as

amended via the approved non material amendment (NMA) approvals

WD/D/19/000355/NMA & WD/D/19/000624/NMA.

The Senior Enforcement Officer confirmed that a Section 78 appeal had been submitted by the applicants that would be dealt with by a planning inquiry.  If this appeal was dismissed, the Planning Inspector would provide a view on the harm created by the development that could underpin any future enforcement action.  He therefore advised that enforcement action should not be undertaken before the appeal decision was known.

The public written representations were read out at the meeting and are attached to these minutes.  The Senior Enforcement Officer responded to the points raised during public participation.

The Committee expressed concern regarding the measurements contained in the various plans and were assured that the "as built" measurements were correct and that plans submitted as a result of the various NMAs and as part of the appeal documentation would be vigorously checked by officers over the coming weeks.

A request was made to not lose sight of the fact that the building footprint had altered meaning that it was closer to Main Street and higher up the slope. 

Proposed by Cllr Jean Dunseith, seconded by Cllr Bill Pipe. 

Decision: That committee agrees that no formal enforcement action be taken at this time pending the determination of the appeal lodged by the owner, which if refused gives the Council support in taking formal enforcement action and being able to successfully defend that decision at any subsequent challenge.

Should the appeal be dismissed and the Council’s refusal of planning permission be upheld, then a further report will be presented to the next available committee seeking authority to enforce against those elements refused consent, and/or, those elements identified by the Inspector’s decision letter as being harmful to amenity.

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.