Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 September 2022;

DM.31/22             

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 September were confirmed as a correct record by the Committee.

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.32/22             

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

Cllr R Foss declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in application 6(d) (minutes DM.34/22 (d) below refer) because the applicant to known to him.  The Member left the meeting and did not take part in the debate or vote.

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

DM.33/22             

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.34/22             

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)      3027/21/FUL      “Vineyard North of Lower Aunemouth", Bantham

             Parish:  Thurlestone

Development: Temporary installation of two rows of Paraweb Fencing to protect planted Windbreaks

Case Officer Update:   The Case Officer reported that this application was approved by the Committee on 7 September 2022. However, member’s agreement to amend the wording of the reason for condition 6 was not secured. The purpose of bringing the application back to committee is to secure such approval.

Recommendation:             Conditional approval.

Committee decision:        Conditional approval.

Conditions:                           1) Time limit

2) Approved drawings

3) Ecology recommendations

4) Nesting birds

5) Planting

6) Temporary condition / removal after five years

6b)      1614/21/VAR         "Brutus Centre", Fore Street, Totnes

Parish:  Totnes

Development: Application for variation of condition 2 (approved plans) of planning consent 2560/21/FUL

Case Officer Update:          The Case Officer reported this is a variation of previously approved application which includes a contentious amendment for the addition of a substation.  Objections received from residents regarding the impact of noise and public health.  No objections from environmental health and Western Power can build a substation under permitted development if this application is refused.

Members raised concerns on the proximity of the substation to dwellings and whether the substation could be located in a different area.  Questions were raised with regard to Western Power installing the substation if application refused.

Speakers included:             Objector – Isabel Carlisle; Ward Member – Cllr J Birch.

The Ward Member raised concerns on the health impact of this application and the non-compliance of DEV1 and DEV2.  Outlined in DEV1 it states ‘ensuring new development provides for protection of noise for new and existing residents’.  The application lacked evidence to support health and environmental impacts and requested that this application is deferred.  A deferment will allow Members to undertake a site visit, for a health impact assessment to be produced and response from environmental health.

In response to questions raised, the Head of Development Management reported that it would be a judgement for members on whether they can defend a refusal on what can done under permitted development.

The Environmental Health Officer reported that they had previously worked on a development with the same scenario of a substation located next to an existing property.  The substation was not encased in a brick structure which caused night time vibrations felt by residents.  This resulted with the equipment being mounted on vibration pads and encased in a brick structure.  This resolved the issues.  What has been proposed here is the solution that has been used elsewhere.

Some Members still had concerns on noise and impact on residents and moved for the application to be deferred.

A vote was taken to defer the application.  The vote was lost.  ...  view the full minutes text for item DM.34/22

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.