Agendas, reports and minutes

Committee Members Present:

Mrs I Campbell; Mr G Farlow; Mr B Fernie; Mr M Finlayson; Mr C Fraser; Mr D MacKay; Mrs A MacLean; Mr Alex MacLeod; Mrs I McCallum; Mrs Margaret Paterson; Mr Graham Phillips (from Item 5.4); Mr I Renwick and Mrs A Sinclair. 

Non-Members Present: 

Ms G Coghill (local member vote for items 5.1 and 5.3)
Mr W MacKay by video conference (local member vote for items 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3)
Mr J Rosie

Officials in attendance:

Mr A Mackenzie, Legal Manager (Regulatory Services) and Clerk
Mr D Jones, Area Planning Manager North
Mr D Mudie, Team Leader, Team Leader - Development Management
Mr M Harvey, Team Leader, Portree
Mr K McCorquodale, Principal Planner
Mr B Robertson, Principal Planner
Mr C Kemp, Area Roads and Community Works Manager
Mr R Patton, Principal Officer (Land)
Mrs A MacArthur, Administrative Assistant

Business

Mrs Isobel McCallum in the Chair

The Chairman confirmed that the meeting would be filmed and broadcast over the
Internet on the Highland Council website and would be archived and available for
viewing for 12 months. 

1. Apologies
Leisgeulan

Apologies were intimated on behalf of Mr D Millar, Mrs F Robertson and Ms M Smith.  

Local Member Votes had been granted to:

Mr W MacKay (Items 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3)
Mr D Bremner (Items 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3)
Mrs G Coghill (Items 5.1 and 5.3)

2. Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Item 5.4 – Mrs I Campbell (Applicant)
Item 5.2 – Ms G Coghill (non-financial interest due to her involvement as a community councillor)

3. Confirmation of Minutes
Dearbhadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais

There had been submitted for confirmation as a correct record the minute of meeting of the Committee held on 18 June 2013 which was APPROVED.

4. Major Applications
Iarrtasan Mòra

There had been circulated Report No PLN-072-13 (121kb pdf) by the Head of Planning and Building Standards providing a summary of all cases within the “Major” development category currently with the Planning and Development Service for determination.

Members had the following questions:

• What is the status of the Braemore application?
• When is the Fairburn application likely to come to committee?
• What is the progress on the Kinnairdie Link Road application?

Mr Mudie responded that the Braemore application had been dealt with under delegated powers with a report of handling submitted to local members. It had now been sent to the Scottish Government and a decision awaited.

It was not known when or if the Fairburn application would come to Committee as it was still at a relatively early stage.

A revised Traffic Impact Assessment for the Kinnairdie link road application was currently with TEC Services  and the application would be brought to committee later in the year, possibly October. 

The Committee NOTED the Report.

5. Planning Applications to be Determined
Iarrtasan Dealbhaidh rin Dearbhadh

5.1  Applicant:  Scottish Power Renewables (UK) Ltd (09/00399/FULCA) (PLN-073-13 Part 1 (1677kb pdf)|  PLN-073-13 Part 2 (949kb pdf))
Location:  Halsary Forest, Watten (Ward 4)
Nature of Development:  Construction of a wind farm containing 15 (as amended) wind turbines, crane hardstandings, site accesses from the A9(T), fenced substation and switchgear compound, on-site underground cabling, on-site access tracks and associated pipe bridges and watercourse crossings, removal of forestry, one permanent steel lattice or tubular tower anemometry mast, two temporary power performance assessment masts, and ancillary construction development including two temporary construction compounds/lay-down areas.
Recommendation:  Grant.

There had been circulated Report No PLN/073/13 by the Area Planning Manager recommending the grant of the application subject to the conditions detailed therein.

Mrs A Sinclair requested a site visit for this and the following two items given their close proximity to the Causeymire windfarm and the resultant cumulative impact.  Not all members were familiar with the site and a site visit would be advantageous.

Members were opposed on whether a site visit was relevant given the quality of the visualisations.  As Mrs Coghill had declared an interest in Item 5.2 a vote would be taken for each item.

Mrs A Sinclair, seconded by Mrs Margaret Paterson moved that consideration of the application be deferred to the next Committee and that in the meantime a site visit be held.

Mr A MacLeod, seconded by Mrs A MacLean moved as an amendment that the committee determine this application without a site visit.

On a vote being taken, votes were cast as follows:

For the Motion (8)

Mrs I Campbell
Mrs G Coghill
Mr M Finlayson
Mr D MacKay
Mr W MacKay
Mrs I McCallum
Mrs M Paterson
Mrs A Sinclair

For the Amendment (6)

Mr G Farlow
Mr B Fernie
Mr C Fraser
Mrs A MacLean
Mr A Macleod
Mr I Renwick

The motion therefore became the finding of the meeting and the Committee AGREED to defer consideration of the application to the next meeting and in the meantime to hold a site inspection on Monday 9 September 2013. 

Mrs G Coghill had declared an interest in the following item and accordingly did not take part.

5.2  Applicant:  RWE Npower Renewables Ltd (12/02868/FUL) (PLN-074-13 Part 1 (1322kb pdf) | PLN-074-13 Part 2 (805kb pdf) | PLN-074-13 Part 3 (1030kb pdf))
Location:  Bad a Cheo, Achkeepster, Spittal (Ward 4)
Nature of Development:   Erection of 13 wind turbines, hard standings, anemometer mast, wind farm control building, temporary construction compound, lay down area and access tracks
Recommendation:  Grant.

There had been circulated Report No PLN/074/13 by the Area Planning Manager recommending the grant of the application subject to the conditions detailed therein. 

Mr W MacKay, seconded by Mrs Margaret Paterson moved that consideration of the application be deferred to the next Committee and that in the meantime a site visit be held.

Mr A MacLeod, seconded by Mrs A MacLean moved as an amendment that the committee determine this application without a site visit.

On a vote being taken, votes were cast as follows:

For the Motion (7)

Mrs I Campbell
Mr M Finlayson
Mr D MacKay
Mr W MacKay
Mrs I McCallum
Mrs M Paterson
Mrs A Sinclair

For the Amendment (6)

Mr G Farlow
Mr B Fernie
Mr C Fraser
Mrs A MacLean
Mr A Macleod
Mr I Renwick

The motion therefore became the finding of the meeting and the Committee AGREED to defer consideration of the application to the next meeting and in the meantime to hold a site inspection on Monday 9 September 2013. 

5.3  Applicant:  Mr Jeffery Bannerman (12/04399/FUL) (PLN-075-13 Part 1 (1815kb pdf) | PLN-075-13 Part 2 (414kb pdf))
Location:  Land 240 m SE of Balmore Farm, Dounreay (Ward 4)
Nature of Development:   Erection of single wind turbine 78 metres to blade tip, 49 m to hub with 58 diameter blades, formation of access track and new road junction along with ancillary electrical switchgear housing
Recommendation:  Refuse.

There had been circulated Report No PLN/075/13 by the Area Planning Manager recommending the grant of the application subject to the conditions detailed therein. 

Mr W MacKay, seconded by Mr D MacKay moved that consideration of the application be deferred to the next Committee and that in the meantime a site visit be held.

Mr A MacLeod, seconded by Mrs A MacLean moved as an amendment that the committee determine this application without a site visit.

For the Motion (8)

Mrs I Campbell
Mrs G Coghill
Mr M Finlayson
Mr D MacKay
Mr W MacKay
Mrs I McCallum
Mrs M Paterson
Mrs A Sinclair

For the Amendment (6)

Mr G Farlow
Mr B Fernie
Mr C Fraser
Mrs A MacLean
Mr A Macleod
Mr I Renwick

The motion therefore became the finding of the meeting and the Committee AGREED to defer consideration of the application to the next meeting and in the meantime to hold a site inspection on Monday, 9 September 2013.

Having agreed to conduct three site visits in Caithness, the Committee further agreed that it would be opportune to conduct a site visit for the Achlachan Windfarm application reference 13/01190/FUL which was presently being processed.

Mrs I Campbell declared a financial interest in this item as she was the applicant and left the room.

5.4  Applicant:  Mrs Isabelle Campbell (13/01883/PIP) (PLN-076-13 (487kb pdf))
Location:  New House, Nostie, Kyle (Ward 6)
Nature of Development:  Erection of house (renewal of 10/02207/PIP)
Recommendation:  Grant.

There had been circulated Report No PLN/076/13 by the Area Planning Manager recommending the grant of the application subject to the conditions detailed therein. 

The Committee AGREED to grant the application, subject to the conditions in the report. 

5.5  Applicant:  Mr and Mrs G Murray (13/01888/PIP) (PLN-077-13 (144kb pdf))
Location:  Land to South East of Rubha Lodge, Shieldaig  (Ward 6)
Nature of Development:  Erection of house 
Recommendation:  Grant.

There had been circulated Report No PLN/077/13 by the Area Planning Manager recommending the grant of the application subject to the conditions detailed therein. 

Members had the following concerns:

• Safety concerns: the school was close to this site and the children crossed the road to play on the other side of the road;
• The trees on site to be removed – were they mature trees;

Mr D Jones stated that the trees had grown considerably in 15/16 years but they were not mature trees. 

The Committee AGREED to grant the application, subject to the conditions in the report. 

5.6  Applicant:  Mr Stephen Chubb (13/02006/FUL) (PLN-078-13 Part 1 (865kb pdf) | PLN-078-13 Part 2 (1501kb pdf) | PLN-078-13 Part 3 (1331kb pdf))
Location:  Land 210 m South of 33 Lochbay, Waternish (Ward 11)
Nature of Development:  Erection of house, formation of parking area and new unadopted access track 
Recommendation:  Grant.

There had been circulated Report No PLN/078/13 by the Area Planning Manager recommending the grant of the application subject to the conditions detailed therein. 

The Committee AGREED to grant the application, subject to the conditions in the report. 

6. Decisions of Appeals to the Scottish Government Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals
Co-dhùnaidhean Ath-thagraidhean do Bhuidheann-stiùiridh Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson Ath-thagraidhean Dealbhaidh agus Àrainneachd

6.1 Applicant: Miss Elaine Holmes (PPA-270-2088 (512kb pdf))
Location: Land 50 m West of Schiehallion, Torridon (Ward 6)
Nature of Development: Erection of house and agricultural building

Members NOTED that the appeal had been dismissed.

Members also NOTED that the Planning Service was continuing to engage in discussions with the National Trust for Scotland and investigating options with other landowners with a view to identifying suitable sites for future development.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 11.50 am.