Agenda and draft minutes
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Contact: Democratic Services
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Apologies To receive any apologies for absence. The quorum for the Planning and Licensing Committee is 3 members.
Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillor Michael Vann. |
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Substitute Members To note details of any substitution arrangements in place for the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no substitute Members. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Mark Harris informed the Committee that he had been acquainted with one of the speakers from the Parish Council. Councillors Mark Harris and
David Fowles declared their candidacy
for the County Council division relevant to the first
application. |
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To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Wednesday 12 March 2025. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2025 were discussed. Councillor Ray Brassington indicated for the Chair and Vice-Chair positions to be labelled in the Members present list. Councillor Patrick Coleman proposed accepting the amended minutes and Councillor Mark Harris seconded the proposal which was put to the vote and agreed by the Committee.
RESOLVED: To APPROVE the amended minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2025.
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Chair's Announcements To receive any announcements from the Chair of the Planning and Licensing Committee.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair, on behalf of the Committee, thanked Gary Selwyn who had recently stepped down as a Councillor, for his dedicated service, attention to detail, and valuable contributions. His diligence in reviewing minutes and planning applications had been greatly appreciated, and he would be missed.
Helen Martin was introduced as the new Director of Communities and Place, alongside Geraldine LeCointe, Assistant Director for Planning Services. The Chair welcomed them both and extended best wishes for their time at Cotswold District Council.
The Chair informed Members that a training session titled “five-year housing and land supply” was scheduled for 14 May 2025 at 12pm.
The Chair announced that, after nearly four years of service, he would be stepping down as Chair of the Committee. Councillor Brassington’s final Planning and Licensing Committee meeting as Chair would take place in May.
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Public questions A maximum of 15 minutes is allocated for an “open forum” of public questions at committee meetings. No person may ask more than two questions (including supplementary questions) and no more than two such questions may be asked on behalf of one organisation. The maximum length of oral questions or supplementary questions by the public will be two minutes. Questions must relate to the responsibilities of the Committee but questions in this section cannot relate to applications for determination at the meeting.
The response may take the form of: a) A direct oral response (maximum length: 2 minutes); b) Where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication; or c) Where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner. Additional documents: Minutes: Questions were asked by Mr Geoff Tappern, Deputy Chair of the Down Ampney Neighbourhood Plan, a former Parish Councillor and resident of Down Ampney.
Question 1
Mr Tappern extended an invitation to the Chair and all committee members to visit Down Ampney, where three developments were currently underway. He highlighted issues arising from poor planning decisions in recent years, resulting in long-term problems such as serious flooding. He emphasised the need for collaboration to address these concerns and offered to demonstrate how poor site layout, decision-making, and lack of enforcement had negatively impacted the village. He asked whether the invitation would be accepted?
It was noted that the Chair would consult the Legal Department to determine whether approval could be given.
Question 2
At the Planning and Licensing Committee meeting on 12 March 2024, an application for 13 affordable houses near the football club was approved. Concerns were raised that the Down Ampney Neighbourhood Plan had not been given sufficient weight in the decision, with policies such as Cotswold District Council (CDC) Local Plan Policy H1 and Neighbourhood Plan Policy HP2 reportedly overlooked. Issues relating to housing density were also highlighted, with the Parish Council having proposed a lower number of dwellings. While the village supported development, it was emphasised that planning decisions should align with the Neighbourhood Plan, CDC policies, and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Further concerns were raised about the handling of sewage and surface water issues, as well as the underrepresentation of resident objections. A question was raised as to why key planning documents, including the CDC Local Plan, Down Ampney Neighbourhood Plan, Design Guide, and NPPF, had not been fully considered in the decision-making process, and whether this set a precedent for future applications.
The Chair responded that all relevant factors are taken into consideration when making a decision including local plans, the NPPF and design codes. Each application was judged on its own merits and decisions were not based on precedent. Councillor Fowles declared that he knew the public speaker as a Parish Councillor. A written response was offered to Mr Tappern who declined the offer. |
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Member questions A maximum period of fifteen minutes is allowed for Member questions. Questions must be directed to the Chair and must relate to the remit of the committee but may not relate to applications for determination at the meeting.
Questions will be asked in the order in which they were received, except that the Chair may group together similar questions.
The deadline for submitting questions is 5.00pm on the working day before the day of the meeting unless the Chair agrees that the question relates to an urgent matter, in which case the deadline is 9.30am on the day of the meeting.
A member may submit no more than two questions. At the meeting the member may ask a supplementary question arising directly from the original question or the reply. The maximum length of a supplementary question is one minute.
The response to a question or supplementary question may take the form of: a) A direct oral response (maximum length: 2 minutes); b) Where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication; or c) Where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no submitted Member questions.
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24/03864/FUL Grove Piece Duntisbourne Leer Cirencester Proposal Convert an existing stable building to a two-bedroom residential dwelling.
Case Officer Joanne Reeves
Ward Member Councillor Julia Judd
Recommendation Permit Additional documents:
Minutes: The application was to convert an existing stable building to a two-bedroom residential dwelling.
Case Officer: Joanne Reeves Ward Member: Councillor Julia Judd
Original Recommendation: PERMIT
The Chair invited the Case Officer to introduce the application:
Public Speakers:
Public Speaker 1 Jane Edwards – Parish Council Chair.
Duntisbourne Parish Council maintained its strong objection to this application on the following grounds:
Given the building’s short lifespan, its deviation from approved plans, and inconsistencies in the application’s justifications, the Parish Council expressed concerns that the proposal may represent an incremental strategy to secure residential development, contrary to established planning policy.
Public Speaker 2 Claudia Jones – Agent
The applicant sought to live on-site to provide continuous care for her horses, which had ongoing health issues requiring frequent attention. The horses had been relocated to an approved storage barn elsewhere on the site, rendering the stable building surplus to requirements. The building was reported to be structurally sound and capable of conversion without significant alteration or extension. The proposal made use of existing openings to create a modest two-bedroom home using locally appropriate materials. The speaker stated that the principle of development was supported by Policy EC6 and the NPPF, both of which allowed residential conversions of existing rural buildings. The design was said to comply with the Cotswold Design Code, incorporated energy-efficient measures, and was supported by a Landscape Mitigation Strategy demonstrating no harm to the Cotswolds National Landscape. Although the Highways Authority had objected on grounds of sustainability and pedestrian safety, the representative noted that Policy ... view the full minutes text for item 121.
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24.03740.FUL Land Parcel Adj To 10 De Havilland Road Upper Rissington Proposal The erection of a 5 bed, two-and-a-half-storey detached dwellinghouse, including new entranceway.
Case Officer Amy Hill
Ward Member Councillor Andrew Maclean
Recommendation Permit subject to completion of S105 legal agreement to secure self-build.
Additional documents:
Minutes: The application was for the erection of a 5 bed, two-and-a-half-storey detached dwellinghouse, including new entranceway.
Case Officer: Amy Hill Ward Member: Councillor Andrew Maclean.
Original recommendation: PERMIT – Subject to completion of S106 legal agreement to secure self-build.
The Chair invited the Case Officer to introduce the application:
Member Questions:
Members asked questions of the Case Officer, who responded as follows:
Councillor David Fowles proposed accepting the officer recommendation to permit the application, and Councillor Daryl Corps seconded the proposal. The proposal was put to the vote and agreed by the Committee.
Resolved: To Permit the application subject to the completion of S106 legal agreement to secure self-build.
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Sites Inspection Briefing Members for 7 May 2025 (if required)
Councillors Ray Brassington, Patrick Coleman, David Fowles, Andrew Maclean, Michael Vann Additional documents: Minutes: There were no site inspection briefing planned. |
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Licensing Sub-Committee Members for 24 April 2025 (if required)
To be confirmed. Additional documents: Minutes: A meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee (Taxis, Private Hire and Street Trading Consent) was expected to be required on 24 April 2025.
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Carried