Agenda and minutes

*DM&L.22                            

 Apologies were received from Cllr C Mott for who Cllr P Kimber substituted and Cllr T Leech for who Cllr M Ewings substituted.

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&L.23       

  There were no declarations of interests.

To consider those items which, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be considered by the Meeting as matters of urgency (if any). 

*DM&L.24       

  There was no urgent business brought forward to this meeting.

Meeting held on 3 October 2023

*DM&L.25       

The minutes from the Committee meeting held on 3 October 2023 were approved as a true and correct record.

To see Letters of Representation and further supplementary information relating to any of the planning applications on the agenda, please select the following link and enter the relevant Reference number: https://apps.westdevon.gov.uk//PlanningSearchMVC/

Ward:                               Tavistock North

Application number:      1318/23/FUL

Location:                         The Kiosk, Bus Station, Plymouth Road,

                                         Tavistock,

                                         PL19 8AY

*DM&L.26     

 The Committee proceeded to consider the reports that had been prepared by the relevant Planning Officer on the following applications and considered also the comments of the Town and Parish Councils together with other representations received, which were listed within the presented agenda report and summarised below:

(a) Application No. 0466/23/FUL           Ward: Exbourne

Site Address: Westacre, Sampford Courtenay EX20 2SE

      Development: Erection of farm shop with on site parking and

                           landscaping.

 Recommendation: Refusal

Key issues for Committee consideration:

•  Principle of development/sustainability

•  Design/landscape

•  Biodiversity

•  Neighbour amenity

•  Highways/access

•  Drainage

•  Low carbon development

The Planning Officer reiterated that it was the suitability of the location that needed to be addressed first before looking at policy DEV 15 which addressed supporting business start-up in rural areas.

The Head of Development Management stated that had an application been presented whereby the building was clustered with the other farm buildings it may have been more favourable with regard to any impact on the local environment and landscape.

Speakers included the applicant, and two statements from the two

Ward Members, Cllrs Casbolt and Watts.

The applicant stated that she and her husband ran a dairy farm and currently employ several local people within their dairy production business, which included milk and ice-cream production and delivery.Currently there was an honesty box shed on their driveway at Westacre Where the Applicant sold their milk in reusable glass bottles. They also sold grass fed beef and pork along with logs and kindling wood which are all produced on their farm.

In pre-application talks the Applicant said that they were advised to move the proposed shop away from the junction where the current farm shed was. The access point was on a bus route and popular cycle route. Solar panels would be used for energy and the building clad with wood from their farm. She stated there would be tables for use by those using the shop, but food was not being served and therefore no toilet facilities would be provided. The Applicant explained that they have around 65 stockists for their products in the area and they deliver to them.

In the statement from Cllr Casbolt,he stated that he felt the application would be a great asset for the local economy. He felt it would reduce carbon emissions for those not travelling to the nearby town of Okehampton.

In Cllr Watts comments she felt Members should support local farming communities and supported the comments Cllr Casbolt had  stated.

In debate Members wrestled with Policy DEV 15 whereby support is given to supporting local businesses in rural areas and why the site was described as isolated in the officer report. One Member felt DEV15 had several objective requirements but the overriding caveat seemed to be whether the site was suitable and sustainable. They made the comment that the Council had secured funding from the UK Prosperity Fund to help businesses and farms to diversify. Government Policy was about stewardship and diversification  ...  view the full minutes text for item *DM&L .26/23

*DM&L.27    

 The Head of Development Management took Members through two Appeal decisions. 1047/22/FUL, construction of a 3-to-4-bedroom house at Station Road, Bere Alston. The application was refused. The Inspector noted and agreed with the reasons for refusal, however he did not consider the cottage to be a non-designated heritage asset and felt the Council had not given enough information to demonstrate that it was. She said she would be looking at whether a list of non-designated heritage assets should be drawn up moving forward. The second appeal was 3072/22/HHO, a householder application for a storage enclosure in the back garden. The back garden was located over the West Devon World Heritage Site. The application was refused for this reason and the Inspector agreed with the decision.

*DM&L.28    

There were no questions on this item.