Minute of the meeting of the Ross, Skye and Lochaber Planning Applications Committee held in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, High Street, Dingwall on Tuesday 12 July, 2011 at 10.30 am.
Committee Members Present:
Mr Billy Barclay
Mr Donald Cameron
Mrs Isabelle Campbell
Mr Michael Foxley (by video conference from Fort William)
Mr Hamish Fraser
Mr Eddie Hunter
Mrs Isobel McCallum
Mr Ian Renwick
Mrs Audrey Sinclair
Non-Committee Members Present:
Mr Bren Gormley (Local Member Vote for Item 4.1)
Officials in attendance:
Mr Alaisdair Mackenzie, Legal Manager (Clerk)
Mr Dafydd Jones, Area Planning and Building Standards Manager
Mrs Julie Ferguson, Team Leader, Planning and Development
Mr Mark Crowe, Acting Area Roads and Community Works Manager
Mr David Baldwin, Planner
Mrs Alison MacArthur, Acting Administrative Assistant
Ms Ellen Morrison, Administrative Assistant (by video conference from Fort William)
Business
In the absence of Mr David Chisholm and Mr Bill Clark, the Chair and Vice Chair respectively, the Committee unanimously agreed to nominate Mrs Isobel McCallum to chair of the meeting.
1. Apologies for Absence and Declarations of Interest
Apologies were received from Mr David Chisholm and Mr Bill Clark.
Mr Billy Barclay declared an interest in Item 5.7 as he was involved with running the Fortrose Youth Café.
2. Confirmation of Minutes
There had been circulated for confirmation the minute of the meeting of the Committee held on 31 May 2011.
The minute was held as read and approved.
3. Delegated Decisions
The Committee agreed to note the list of delegated decisions on planning applications from 23 May to 3 July 2011 which was available on the Members’ Bulletin and via the Highland Council website.
4. Continued Items
4.1 Applicant: Mr Peter Dykes (11/00144/FUL) (PLR-052-11 (1531kb pdf) | PLR-038-11 (805kb pdf))
Location: Land 60 m North of Leven House, North Ballachulish, Onich
Nature of Development: Erection of House
Mr Bren Gormley had requested and been granted a local member vote for this item pursuant to Standing Order 13.2.
As Councillors Donald Cameron and Michael Foxley had not taken part in the meeting of the Committee on 19th April 2011 when this application had first been considered they could not participate in the determination of the application.
There had been circulated Report No PLR/052/11 by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager recommending the refusal of the application for the reasons detailed therein.
Following discussion, Mr Bren Gormley, seconded by Mr Eddie Hunter, moved that the application be granted subject to conditions to be agreed by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager in consultation with the local members present and the Chairman to include a condition covering the concerns of TEC Services regarding the culvert and water course maintenance.
Reason: This proposal represents a natural extension to the settlement pattern forming part of the family croft which given the physical relationship with adjacent buildings allows it to be considered as a minor departure from policy. Whilst technically outside the Development Area and therefore a minor departure from Policy, it does not prejudice the Development Plan.
There being no amendment, the motion became the finding of the meeting.
5. Planning Applications to be Determined
5.1 Applicant: Tesco Stores Limited (10/04132/FUL) (PLR-053-11 (1927kb pdf))
Location: Tesco Stores Limited, Mart Road, Dingwall
Nature of Development: Erection of Extension to Retail Store to Form Bulkstore and Ancillary Accommodation
There had been circulated Report No PLR/053/11 by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager recommending the refusal of the application for the reasons detailed therein.
The Team Leader advised the committee that the reason that this Application had been referred to Committee was Manager’s discretion.
The Committee agreed the recommendation.
5.2 Applicant: Mr Angus Campbell (10/04496/FUL) (PLR-054-11 (939kb pdf))
Location: Plot 1, Land 120 m West of Braeside Cottage, Achdalieu, Fort William
Nature of Development: Erection of House and Garage
There had been circulated Report No PLR/054/11 by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager recommending the approval of the application subject to the conditions detailed therein.
Following discussion Mrs Isobel McCallum, seconded by Mr Eddie Hunter, moved that the recommendation be agreed with an amendment to condition 3 as follows:
3. Prior to the commencement of works on the construction of the house or garage hereby approved a finalised landscaping and planting plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. Such details shall show a minimum of 12 saplings of native species capable of early growth within the site. The tree planting shall be excluded from the eastern end of the northern site boundary to allow open views from the rear property to be retained. Such details as are approved shall be fully implemented no later than the first planting season following the first occupation of the dwellinghouse hereby approved. Any plant failures through disease, weather exposure, neglect or damage shall be replaced with equivalent species within one year of such failure.
Reason : To ensure suitable integration with the landscape setting of the site.
Mr Michael Foxley moved as an amendment that the application be deferred to allow the Applicant to consider moving the house further down the slope towards the A830.
There being no seconder the amendment fell and accordingly the motion became the finding of the meeting.
5.3 Applicant: The Highland Council (11/01779/FUL) (PLR-055-11 (736kb pdf))
Location: Lochbroom Leisure Centre, Quay Street, Ullapool
Nature of Development: Erection of Floodlighting Installation at Tennis Courts
There had been circulated Report No PLR/055/11 by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager recommending the approval of the application subject to the conditions detailed therein.
The Committee agreed the recommendation.
5.4 Applicant: Mr Ewen Grant (11/01204/FUL) (PLR-056-11 (1333kb pdf))
Location: Land South of 3 Carbostmore, Carbost, Isle of Skye
Nature of Development: Erection of House and Garage
There had been circulated Report No PLR/056/11 by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager recommending the refusal of the application for the reasons detailed therein.
Prior to hearing the presentation of the Report, the Committee agreed to defer consideration of the application to allow the Applicant to amend the design to provide for a more traditional design and finish with the scale reduced to ensure it is in keeping with the landscape setting and to satisfy TECS concerns regarding the Access.
5.5 Applicant: Mr and Mrs C Keith (11/01277/LBC and 11/01283/FUL) (PLR-057-11 (1095kb pdf))
Location: 18-20 Church Street, Cromarty
Nature of Development: Erection of House, Including Partial Demolition of Lean-to Outbuildings and Boundary Wall and Erection of Replacement External Access Stair
There had been circulated Report No PLR/057/11 by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager recommending the refusal of the application for the reasons detailed therein.
Additional information from the Applicants had been circulated to the members of the Committee prior to the meeting.
Prior to hearing the presentation of the Report, the Committee agreed to defer consideration of the application to allow for a site inspection to be held at 10.30am on 16th August 2011 to be followed by a special meeting of the Committee to determine the application at 12 noon in the Chamber, Council Offices, Dingwall.
(Note: Mr Michael Foxley left the meeting at this point)
5.6 Applicant: The Highland Council (11/01298/FUL) (PLR-058-11 (1214kb pdf))
Location: Land 540 m North East of Car Park, Storr Lochs, Portree
Nature of Development: Creation of Forestry Access at Storr Woodland
There had been circulated Report No PLR/058/11 by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager recommending the approval of the application subject to the conditions detailed therein.
The Committee agreed the recommendation.
Mr Billy Barclay had declared an interest in item 5.7 following as he was involved in the running of the Youth Café and left the meeting while the application was determined.
5.7 Applicant: Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council (11/01718/FUL) (PLR-059-11 (425kb pdf))
Location: Fortrose Youth Café Site, Fortrose
Nature of Development: Erection of Youth Café Building and the Provision of Associated Footpath Links and Landscaping
There had been circulated Report No PLR/059/11 by the Area Planning and Building Standards Manager recommending the approval of the application subject to the conditions detailed therein.
The Committee agreed the recommendation.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 11.55 am.