06 January 2015 – Minutes

 THAME TOWN COUNCIL
 
Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning & Environment Committee held on 6 January 2015 at 6.30pm In the Upper Chamber, Thame Town Hall.
 
 Present: Cllrs N Champken-Woods, A Dite, N Dixon (Deputy Mayor), D Dodds,
H Fickling (Chairman), V Humphries, D Laver, J Matelot Green (Town Mayor) and M Stiles
Non Voting
Cllr Bretherton
Officers
A Oughton, Committee Services Officer
H Stewart, Town Clerk
 
1 Apologies for Absence
 
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Butler (Personal) and Welply (unwell).
 
2 Declarations of Interest
 
Cllr Dodds declared an interest in 9423 P14/S3879/FUL as the applicant and the family had dealt with business on behalf of Cllr Dodds.  Cllr Dodds left the meeting during discussion of this item.
 
Cllr Stiles entered the meeting during this item.
 
3 Public Participation
 
Mr Sear, Chairman of the Thame Conservation Area Advisory Committee (CAAC) addressed the Committee.  He made reference to the letter sent to councillors requesting that the Council reconsider its decision to withdraw free use of the meeting room at the town hall and that the decision had been based on incorrect information.
 
CAAC continued to represent the interests of the residents and met in the foyer of the town hall to review planning applications but this was not ideal.  The minutes of these meetings were submitted to the Planning & Environment Committee but no reference to them had been included in the Planning & Environment Committee minutes.
 
Mrs Reaston Brown addressed the Committee on planning application P14/S3879/FUL – Land adjacent to Elmfield House, Moreton.  Mrs Reaston Brown was pleased that the Committee had approved the previous planning application in November.  However, this had been withdrawn before determination at the District Council.
 
The architect had produced a new design in line with the applicant’s needs which was the planning application now before the Committee.  It was for a single storey dwelling of contemporary design, unobtrusive and a sustainable development to Code Level 4.  The site lay within the area of 10 dwellings all of which were of mixed use.  The design was of a high standard and sensitive to the local area with landscaping that would hide the development from view.  Mrs Reaston Brown hoped the Committee would feel able to support the application.
 
4 Minutes
 
The Minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2014 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
 
5 Planning Applications
 
 9353
P14/S2242/FUL
 LAND TO THE EAST OF WINDMILL ROAD, TOWERSEY
Amendment No. 3
Erection of a solar farm and associated infrastructure for connection to the local electricity distribution network including security fencing, ecological and landscaping measures and temporary erection of compound.  (As amended by documentation accompanying email from Agent dated 29 August 2014 and additional plans and information accompanying email from Agent dated 28 October 2014).  (As amended by plans accompanying Agents letter dated 9 December 2014).
RECOMMEND NO STRONG VIEWS
 
 9401
P14/S3219/HH 4 QUEENS ROAD
Amendment No. 1
Proposed single and rear extensions together with front canopy porch. (As amended by drawings showing alterations to side and rear extension roof design and removal of balcony received with agent’s email of 9 December 2014).
RECOMMEND REFUSAL
1. The scale of the extension and, in particular, the side wards projection up to the boundary of the site, would harm the character of the area.
 
 9420
P14/S3821/HH
 MORETON FARM BARN, MORETON
Installation of Window in south elevation.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
 
Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ15, ESDQ16, EDSQ20, EDSQ22
SODC Local Plan Policies: D1, CON5, CON7
Core Strategy Policies:
 
 9423
P14/S3879/FUL
 LAND ADJACENT TO ELMFIELD HOUSE, MORETON
Erection of a single dwelling and garage (re-submission of withdrawn application P14/S3239/FUL).
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
1. Low key single storey sustainable dwelling designed to a high standard.
2. Robust landscaping scheme to shield the development.
3. The dwelling would become the last house within the settlement boundary of Moreton
 
Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H5, H7, GA3, GA6, CLW4, ESDQ10, ESDQ11, ESDQ112, ESDQ13, ESDQ14, ESDQ16, ESDQ17, ESDQ18, ESDQ19, ESDQ22, ESDQ26, ESDQ27, ESDQ28, ESDQ29, D1
SODC Local Plan Policies: G5, D1, D2, D4, D11, T1, T2
Core Strategy Policies: CSS1, CSTHA1, CSH2, CSQ2, CSQ3, CSEN3
 
6  Thame Conservation Area Advisory Committee
 
A letter had been received from the Chair of the Thame Conservation Area Advisory Committee requesting that consideration be given to reinstating the free use of the meeting room at the Town Hall for the CAAC group to review planning applications.
 
The Planning & Environment Committee did not have the power to grant this request and it was agreed to refer it to the Full Council meeting in February.
 
Recommended that:
i) The request received from the Conservation Area Advisory Committee that free use of the meeting room be reinstated be taken to Full Council in February for consideration.
 
7 Reports from Town Council Representatives
 
a) Transport Representative – Cllr Stiles
8 For Information
 
The items for information were noted.
 
The meeting concluded at 7.15pm
 
 
Signed ………………………
Chairman, 27 January 2015