Agenda and draft minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings of this Committee held on 15^th December 2016 and 9^th May 2017.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 15^th December 2016 and 9^th May 2017 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any personal, disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Councillors Jeff Beck, Hilary Cole. Clive Hooker, Anthony Pick and Garth Simpson declared an interest in Agenda Item 4(1), but reported that, as their interest was a personal or an other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, they determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillor Alan Law introduced the Committee to the Officers present and advised that this was a quasi-judicial committee with formal set procedures and conduct. Firstly, the Planning Officer would introduce the application. Only those persons who had pre-registered would be allowed to speak and the time limit of five minutes for each category of speakers would be strictly adhered to. All speakers were requested to remain in their seats to answer any questions from Members of the Committee seeking clarification of what had already been said. It was not permissible for Members or speakers to introduce any new topics during this time. Following all presentations the Planning Committee Members would consider, question and seek clarification on the application in order to reach a decision which might or might not agree with the Planning Officers’ recommendation.

The District Planning Committee considered recommendations deemed by the Development Control Manager and/or his representative to have:

•        A possible conflict with a policy that would undermine the Local Plan or the Local Development Framework;

•        A district-wide public interest; or

•        The possibility for claims for significant costs against the Council.

(Councillor Clive Hooker declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he had been lobbied. As his  interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.)

(Councillors Clive Hooker, Jeff Beck, Hilary Cole, Anthony Pick and Garth Simpson declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that they had been present at the Western Area Planning Committee when this item had first been discussed on 9^th August 2017. They confirmed that they would listen to all evidence afresh prior to making a decision on the application. As their  interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, they determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.)

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 17/01235/COMIND in respect of the erection of a free range egg laying unit.

The Western Area Planning Committee considered a report on 9th August 2017 regarding the application as identified above. This was an application for the erection of a free range egg laying unit as well as associated egg collection and packing facilities, two feed bins and external hard standings and concrete aprons. Planting was proposed around the building. It was proposed that the building would operate a multi-tier system and would accommodate 16,000 hens.

The application site was located in the countryside in the North Wessex Downs AONB. To the south of the site were two existing units, and a third, but mobile unit was also located on the farm.

The Western Area Planning Committee had been made aware that Officers considered the proposal to be contrary to the Development Plan and National Planning Policy due to the harm arising from the proposal on the NWD AONB, but Members at the Western Area Planning Committee had considered that the proposed landscaping would provide sufficient screening. There was also support from the Committee for the economic benefit that would result from the unit. The Development Control Manager under his delegated powers determined that approval of the scheme would comprise a departure from the Development Plan, and therefore the policy issues involved should be considered by the District Planning Committee.

Derek Carnegie, the Planning Officer, confirmed that the application sought outline planning permission for the erection of a free range egg laying unit, as well as associated egg collection and packing facilities, two feed bins and external hard standings and concrete aprons. It was proposed that the building would operate a multi-tier system and would accommodate 16,000 hens. The application site was located in open countryside outside of any defined settlement boundary, approximately 0.8km north of Chieveley and 1.3km south east of Peasemore. It was within the North Wessex Downs AONB, and was bordered on all sides by public rights of way. To the south of the site were two existing free range egg laying units  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.(1)