Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brine, Jones, Schoemaker, Smith and Gray.

To receive Declarations of Interest in relation to planning matters.

There were none.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 20 July 2021 as a correct record.

The Chair announced there had been a discrepancy within the minutes under item DC.011 St Marys, Eastcombe, Stroud. Lesley Greene was speaking on behalf of Bisley Parish Council and the minutes referenced Eastcombe Parish Council. It was confirmed that the minutes would be amended accordingly.

RESOLVED               That the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 July 2021 were to be approved with the amendment above.

(Note: For access to information purposes, the background papers for the applications listed in the above schedule are the application itself and subsequent papers as listed in the relevant file.)

Representations were received and taken into account by the Committee in respect of Applications:

Erection of open fronted agricultural building (retrospective) (376559, 196595)

The Development Team Manager introduced the report and advised that it was for retrospective planning permission for an open-sided agricultural building ‘Barn 2’. He explained that the Barn had been erected to support the agricultural use of the land. It was also confirmed that an error have been included in the report and the planning application references should have been S.19/0596/FUL not S.19/0576/FUL. The Development Team Manager informed the Committee the site was beyond any defined settlement limits, was in the open country side and fell within the Cotswold’s Area of Natural Beauty (AONB). The woodland surrounding the site was also a key wildlife site and had been designated as an ancient woodland.

The Development Team Manager informed the Committee that, after the first application was refused, the applicant provided more information regarding the use of the barn to house livestock, due to barn 1 being unsuitable. A specialist rural planning and land management consultant reviewed the application and concluded that on the basis of the additional information provided, there was a reasonable need for the building. The Officer assessment was that, the agricultural need for barn 2 had been justified, the building met acceptable design standards and it conserved the natural beauty of the area. He directed the Committee to consider whether there was an essential need for Barn 2 and whether the development was of an acceptable design standard and conserves the natural beauty of the landscape.

Councillor Braun spoke as a ward member against the application. She stated that the main objection was the effect this site would have had on biodiversity and on the landscape character. The other concerns raised included:

·         The sustainability of the agricultural business given the change over recent years to a mixed use involving camping, equestrian uses, events and woodland activities.

·         Was an additional barn required for such a small holding when a previous application had been refused due to the size and location not being justified.

·         Page 7 of the report stated planning officers were made aware of barn 1, also built without planning consultation, being used for non-agricultural events. There was a record on the Council website of eight temporary event notices for events that took place at the site between March 2021 – September 2019.

·         Several camping pods had been erected on the opposite end of the site and a hardcore track had been created.

·         Two previous applications rejected for the change of use for barn 1 from agricultural to mixed use and for a premises licence for the sale of alcohol and recorded and live music.

·         Local lanes around the AONB are insufficient to deal with large scale events.

·          

Councillor James spoke as a ward member against the application. He agreed with Councillor Brauns’ concerns and highlighted some additional concerns. He drew the Committees attention to 3 policies from the local plan and explained their relevance to this application:

·         Policy ES6 – Biodiversity

·         Policy ES7 – Landscape Character

·         Policy ES8 – Trees, Hedgerows and Woodlands

Councillor James  ...  view the full minutes text for item DCC.016