Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2025 and 17 February 2025.

The minutes of the meetings held on 27 January 2025 and 17 February 2025 were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct.

Councillors are reminded of the need to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests that relate to business on the agenda and which have not already been included in the register of interests, before any discussion takes place on the item. Unless the interest is sensitive, you must also disclose the nature of the interest. In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, you must then leave the room and must not participate in any further discussion of the item. Councillors requiring clarification should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer prior to the day of the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made by Members.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

Councillors Hughes and Pole arrived during the officer’s presentation and did not participate in the debate or vote for this item.

The Assistant Service Lead - City Development presented the application for: roof and floor repairs; external masonry and wall repairs; re-building of the parapet; replacement of 20^th Century windows in sail loft; the removal of external wall cement rendering and replacement with lime render; and replacement of 20^th Century fixed slatted shutters on the south elevation.The property was grade II listed and located in the Topsham Conservation Area.

Members received a presentation (supplemented to the agenda) which provided detail on:

·         the site location;

·         aerial views and museum photos;

·         the proposal overview and site photos of the roof;

·         the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) objection to the roof repairs;

·         officer advice in response to comments made by SPAB;

·         an overview of the floor joist repair proposal and site photos;

·         detail of the proposed cross-section;

·         proposed first and second floor plans;

·         an objection from SPAB for the structural joist repairs at the first and second floors;

·         officer response to comments made by SPAB;

·         proposal overview and west and north elevations;

·         parapet photos;

·         the proposal overview of the replacement of windows in the sail loft and site photos;

·         an objection from SPAB relating to the window replacement and officer advice provided;

·         the proposal overview for the removal of the external wall cement rendering and replacement with lime render and photos;

·         the proposal overview for the replacement of 20^th Century fixed slatter shutters on the south elevation and photos;

·         an objection to replacement windows from SPAB; and

·         officer recommendation was to approve with conditions outlined in the report.

Particular reference was made to the application being for a listed building consent and not a planning application, consequently the issues relating to neighbourhood impacts and highways were not for consideration.

The Assistant Service Lead - City Development and the Senior Planner - Conservation responded to questions from Members as follows:

·         the floor struts, which had been objected to by SPAB would be concealed and not be visible;

·         consultation with heritage groups was dependent on the building’s era, however SPAB could comment on any relevant building;

·         the conservation officer had counted the exact number of ceiling joists needing repair on the submitted plans, and this was fewer than the number identified in the SPAB objection; and

·         the lead contractor was an experienced joiner, and their on-site assessment would determine the appropriate repair method for the joists.

During the debate, Members expressed the following views:

·         it was important to there was a need to consider the application carefully and being open and transparent about the application;

·         the historic building requires urgent extensive repairs to prevent further deterioration, and the scaffolding need to be removed as promptly as possible following this, as this is impacting on traffic and image of the building;

·         the team had undertaken an excellent evaluation of the building; and

·         expressed support for the officer’s recommendations.

Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

Members received the report of the Strategic Director for Place was noted.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

Members received the appeals report and the Head of Service - City Development advised that there was a typographical error in report relating to 170 Pennsylvania Road and confirmed that the appeal was allowed, but costs were not awarded.

 In response to questions raised, the Head of Service - City Development advised that:

·         appeal decision cases were decided upon by their merits and specific case facts and did not set a general precedent. There were often similar cases which referenced previous decisions; and

·         the matter relating to the replacement shed at 16 Chapel Road would be raised with the enforcement team for an update. The working practice unauthorised structures was to undertake informal discussions to remove the structure and escalate to formal measures as needed.

The report of the Strategic Director for Place was noted.