Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 6 July 2022 and 27 July 2022;

DM.24/22

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6 July and 27 July 2022 were confirmed as a correct record by the Committee subject to the following amendments to the 6 July minutes (DM.13/22 and DM.15/22 refers) underlined below.

·           Cllr B Taylor declared an Other Registerable Interest in applications 5(a), (b), (c) (d) and (f) (minutes DM.15/22 below refer), he is a member of the Member of the South Devon AONB Partnership Committee. The Member remained in the meeting and took part in the debate and vote thereon.

·         The Ward Members thanked Members for attending the site visit, they said that this is not just a commuter town, it was their home. 

·         An Aldi built on the significant car parks in towns like Totnes, Kingsbridge, Salcombe or Dartmouth would take away from each town.

·         Experts were saying two different things regarding the veteran tree and it is crucial to understand whether the tree is veteran before development takes place.  

·         Members, when stood by the Co-op store, saw green landscape and this will be replaced by a two-storey building. 

·         Ivybridge has regenerated: do not take away the livelihood of retailers and there will be a significant impact on the loss of car park for the Breast Screening Unit and the Thursday market.

·         Speakers included:Objector – Jo Burgess (slides); Supporter – Martin Simpson; Parish Council – Cllr Hladkij (slides); Ward Members - Cllrs Abbott (slides) and Pringle

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, Members are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registerable Interests and Non-Registerable Interests including the nature and extent of such interests they may have in any items to be considered at this meeting;

DM.25/22             

Members and officers were invited to declare any interests in the items of business to be considered and the following were made:

Cllr B Taylor declared an Other Registerable Interest in applications 6(a), (c), (d) and (e) (minutes DM.27/22 (a), (c), (d) and (e) below refer) because he was a member of South Devon AONB Partnership Committee. The Member remained in the meeting and took part in the debate and vote thereon.

Cllr K Pringle declared an Other Registerable Interest in application 6(f) (minute DM.27/22(f) below refers), by virtue of being a member of Ivybridge Town Council.  The Member remained in the meeting and took part in the debate and vote thereon.

The Chairman to advise the Committee on any requests received from members of the public to address the meeting;

DM.26/22             

The Chairman noted the list of members of the public, Town and Parish Council representatives, and Ward Members who had registered their wish to speak at the meeting.

To see Letters of Representation and further supplementary information relating to any of the Applications on the agenda, please select the following link and enter the relevant Planning Reference number: http://apps.southhams.gov.uk/PlanningSearchMVC/

DM.27/22             

The Committee considered the details of the planning applications prepared by the Planning Case Officers as presented in the agenda papers, and considered also the comments of Town and Parish Councils, together with other representations received, which were listed within the presented agenda reports, and RESOLVED that:

6a)      4318/21/FUL      Shelter 21m From Station Restaurant, South Embankment, Dartmouth

Parish:  Dartmouth

Development:  Change the use of parts of the South Embankment Promenade to facilitate 9 discrete 'pitches' which can be used by hospitality businesses to provide outdoor seating.

Case Officer Update:   The Case Officer reported that SHDC was the applicant and shared images showing the outline of where the pitches would be located across the promenade.  An objection had been received from Devon County Highways and a condition had been recommended to ensure that each business supervised crossings.  It was proposed that, if granted, a temporary consent would be appropriate in order that the situation could be monitored.

In response to questions raised by Members, the Case Officer informed that:

-        all of the canopies would be the same colour and the pitches set back to allow people to continue to walk along by the edge of the water; and

-        there would be a requirement that, when not in use, the pitches would be removed and stored away.

Speakers included:             Supporter – Mark Readman; Ward Member – Cllr R Rowe

Members felt that the proposed condition 3 was very onerous for the businesses and questioned whether it was the responsibility of each individual business to ensure the safety of the public.  Members felt this condition was to satisfy Devon County Council’s objections and were minded to remove it.  It was also highlighted that the supervised crossing was for the public and staff.

The Ward Member reported that traders worked together to co-ordinate the pitches and there was space for the public to walk alongside the riverside.  Instances of the public crossing the road would happen regardless of the pitches and there had been no accidents during the last 3 years of operation.  This had created a great ambience in this part of Dartmouth and the Member was confident that, if approved, the pitches would thrive over the next three years.

During the debate, Members questioned whether it was necessary for a temporary application and moved for this application to be made permanent and for the removal of condition 3.  Members felt strongly that it was not the responsibility for the businesses to oversee supervised crossings.

Having been proposed, Members sought advice from the Monitoring Officer on the alternative proposition.  In so doing, the Monitoring Officer informed that Members were entitled to grant planning permission with conditions subject to the conditions passing the usual tests.  If Members view that a proposed condition was not necessary to make the proposal acceptable in planning terms, then it was within their gift to not impose that condition.  The Monitoring Officer also stated that it was clear that Members had considered the view of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item DM.27/22

DM.28/22             

Members noted the list of appeals as outlined in the presented agenda report. 

DM.29/22             

Members noted the update on undetermined major applications as outlined in the presented agenda report.

DM.30/22             

Members noted the planning performance indicators outlined in the agenda report.