Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting.

It was proposed by Councillor C Parker and seconded by Councillor Sanders that the minutes of the previous meeting were agreed but with amendments to add in the omitted names of Councillors from minute items 61, 65a and 65b.

A vote was taken – the result was 9 in favour, 2 against and 2 abstentions.

Resolved

That the minutes of the previous meeting were agreed but with amendments to add in the omitted names of Councillors from minute items 61, 65a and 65b.

If Councillors have any questions relating to predetermination or interests in items on this Agenda, please contact the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

Councillor Bradford declared an interest in agenda item 6a. She considered herself predisposed but not predetermined as she had been part of the Newton Says No protest group. She spoke and voted on this item.

Councillor Bullivant declared an interest in agenda item 6a as he _ . He left the room during consideration of this item and so did not speak or vote on it.

Councillor P Parker proposed, and Councillor J Taylor seconded, a vote of no confidence in the Chair as he had denied Cllr Daws’ request to speak on the application. It was stated that Cllr Daws was not the ward member but represented the adjoining ward, and he had not advised the Chair beforehand but had advised the Vice-Chair.

The result of this vote was 4 in favour, 8 against, and 2 abstentions and so the vote is lost.

The Principal Planning Officer introduced the item to the Committee. He provided updates on the following:

·       In accordance with the Devon Flood Officer’s own consultation response of 10th June, the detail of the drainage infrastructure has already been approved on 11th June, under reference 17/01542/COND14. Members were advised to read paragraph 6.16 on page 40 with this in mind.

·       In an email received on the preceding Friday, the Police Liaison Officer re-stated his earlier response that he has no objection to the scheme. Officers responded to other aspects of the email by noting that

o   The location is consistent with the Masterplan and Design Code

o   It is considered that the play area would be overlooked from the approved bar, restaurant and hotel in the west; the shops and facilities to the south west, community hall immediately to the  south; and the primary school in the south east.

o   The play area is not situated at a one-way dead end; in contrast,  in addition to the main path through the site running to the east, access is also intended to be provided to the hotel and restaurant complex to the west; and to the community hall, the school and the local centre to the south – so footfall levels in the vicinity can be anticipated to be high.

o   Officers considered the there are many successful examples of play areas set within existing parkland open space areas – it is not considered essential from an urban design view that all new play areas should be surrounded by housing.

·       In accordance with the late response from the Highways Officer, the Pumping Station Access plan has been revised. Plan SK 57A is superseded and replaced with plan SK 58C. This included pages 28 and 41 in the report.

Public Speaker, Supporter – Spoke on:

·       Benefits for wildlife

·       Biodiversity enhancements

·       Green spaces provides health benefits to local residents

·       The application accords with all relevant documents such as the Masterplan

·       No objections from statutory consultees

·       Local planning authority will have powers in place to protect the fen.

·       50 percent of the dwellings on site are to be inhabited before construction begins for this application.

Comments from Councillors during the debate included:

·       The proposed play park should have more surveillance.

·       Magazine lane is pedestrian only.

·       High amount of traffic along coach road.

·       Preservation of the trees and hedges on site is to be commended.

·       The proposed cycle path will be connected to the wider cycle path grid which will provide improved transport options.

·       Coach road needs a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70a

This item was withdrawn by officers before the start of the meeting.

The Committee noted the appeals decisions made by the Planning Inspectorate.

The Committee noted the Major Decisions Summary Sheet.