Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13 December 2023

DM.44/23         

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13 December 2023 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.45/23         

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

Cllr J Hodgson declared an Other Registerable Interest in application 3855/23/CLP (Minutes DM.47/23 (d) below refer), as she was involved with a group supporting the need for a skate park.  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.46/23         

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.47/23         

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

6a) 2306/23/FUL         Ivybridge Motors Ltd, Fore Street, Ivybridge,PL21 9AE                                           Town:              Ivybridge

Development:  READVERTISEMENT (revised plans) Change of use from sale of motor vehicles to sale of building supplies and associated works.

The Case Officer provided an update to the Committee, which included:

•          In para 5.8 in the report should read there would be conflict between users accessing Highlands Health Centre and large vehicles using and moving around the application site.

•          The additional information emailed to Members that included Phase 1 Land Contamination Report and update to plans outlining the parking, elevation of the street scene, proposed fence line and proposed planting.

•          Additional representation raising objection on traffic impacts.

•          At the site inspection, the Tree Officer reiterated their comments regarding the trees and raised no concerns, however, did recommend a pre-commencement condition, if minded to approve because it was unclear on the physical separation of the roots and pressure to prune/fell branches.

The Case Officer summarised the key issues, namely that: 

•          Relationship Highlands Health Centre.

•          Impact of fence and storage area and setting of listed church.

•          On-site turning/parking and visibility splays.

•          Reasons for refusal outlined within the report.

The case officer responded:

•          Forklift trucks would be in operation on the shared access with the public.

•          The slope had a gradient of 1:6.

•          There has been further dialogue with the Highways and they felt this application was not acceptable.

•          Ten parking spaces for customer use.

The Highways Officer reported that a condition to restrict timings for heavy vehicles would not work and conflict with customer parking.  The blocking of highways and relocation of customer parking when deliveries were made not acceptable.  The steep ramp past the health centre was used by pedestrians and vulnerable road users.  Highways had highlighted the need for visibility splays but this concern to be removed.

The Environmental Health Officer reported that dust from the site would not impact on the church.  Any dust related issues should be dealt with if complaints arose. 

A representative from Town Council requested to speak and at the Chair’s discretion this was permitted.  It was made quite clear to the representative that they were speaking on behalf of the Town Council.  It became evident during their speech that the view’s expressed were not on behalf of the Town Council.  The Chair asked the representative to confirm that this was their own personal view, and this was confirmed by the representative. 

Having heard from speakers on behalf of objectors, supporters together with the Ward Councillor, Members debated the application.  During the debate, one Member highlighted the importance of keeping employment within the town, however due to the large number of objections and public representatives  ...  view the full minutes text for item DM.47/23

DM.48/23         

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

DM.49/23         

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