Agenda and minutes

The Chairwelcomed allparties tothe meetingand drewattention tothe emergencyevacuation procedure in the event of an emergency.

The Committee noted that the planning application, at agenda item 9a, 22/06037/F - 203 Church Road Redfield Bristol BS5 9HL had been formally withdrawn.

Apologies forabsence werereceived from Councillor Chris Windows and Councillor Sarah Classick (substituted by Councillor Andrew Varney). Councillors Amal Ali, Fabian Breckels, Katja Hornchen were not present.

To note any interests relevant to the consideration of items on the agenda.

Any declarations of interest made at the meeting which are not on the register of interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

Councillor Ani Stafford-Townsend declared that the Plinth, the subject of agenda item 9b, was in her Ward.

To agree the minutes of –

a)      29 November 2023

b)      21 February 2024

The Minutes of the meetings held on 29 November 2023 and 21 February 2024 were approved as a correct record.

The Committee is requested to note any outstanding actions listed on the rolling Action Sheet for DCB Committee.

Therewere noissues arisingfrom theAction Sheet.

To note appeals lodged, imminent public inquiries and appeals awaiting decision.

Officersmade thefollowing commentsconcerning appeals:

Item 59 - Ever Ready House – appeal against non-determination, had been dismissed.

Item 35 - 25 Braikenridge Road Bristol – appeal against non-determination decision details to be provided to local ward member after the meeting.

Item 34 - 171 - 175 Gloucester Road Bishopston – appeal against non-determination decision details to be provided to local ward member after the meeting.

To note enforcement notices.

Therewere no updates regarding Enforcement.

The Chair asked for an update on enforcement progress in light of a report that was submitted to DC A Committee on 6 March 2024. It was noted that staffing levels had fallen and that some extra resource had been diverted to deal with the backlog of planning applications.   Members felt that the report should have been submitted to the DC B Committee also and requested that this be done as soon and as up to date as possible. 

The Deputy Head of Planning emphasized that the positive changes were being made to current working practices by enforcement officers. It was hoped that the improvements and additional resource would allow more progression of cases and allow officers time to progress more serious cases effectively where expedient.

Any member of the public or councillor may participate in public forum. The detailed  arrangements for so doing are set out in the Public Information Sheet at the back of this agenda. Please note that the following deadlines will apply in relation to this meeting:

Questions:

Written questions must be received three clear working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that your question(s) must be received at the latest by 5pm on 4 April 2024.

Petitions and statements:

Petitions and statements must be received by noon on the working day prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that your submission must be received at the latest by 12.00 noon on 9 April 2024.  

The statement should be addressed to the Service Director, Legal Services, c/o The Democratic Services Team, City Hall, 3^rd Floor Deanery Wing, College Green,

P O Box 3176, Bristol, BS3 9FS or email - democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk

PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK AT THE COMMITTEE, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO INDICATE THIS WHEN SUBMITING YOUR STATEMENT OR PETITION. ALL REQUESTS TO SPEAK MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A WRITTEN STATEMENT.

In accordance with previous practice adopted for people wishing to speak at Development Control Committees, please note that you may only be allowed 1 minute subject to the number of requests received for the meeting.

If you have any further questions, please see the Development Control B Committee Public Forum FAQ for more information

https://democracy.bristol.gov.uk/documents/s86621/Public%20Forum%20FAQ%20for%20Development%20Control%20Committees.pdf

Members of the press and public who plan to attend a public meeting at City Hall are advised that you will be required to sign in when you arrive and you will be issued with a visitor pass which you will need to display at all times.

The public forum bundle was noted. There were no speakers.

To consider the following planning applications

TheCommittee consideredthe followingPlanning Application:

Planning application, at agenda item 9a, 22/06037/F - 203 Church Road Redfield Bristol BS5 9HL had been formally withdrawn.

Members were reminded that a listed building consent application had been considered by the DC B Committee on 21^st February 2024, and it was resolved to grant the application subject to conditions which required the submission of details to the Local Planning Authority for approval relating to the proposed plaque that would be attached to the plinth that is to remain in situ.

The applicant had since provided details of the proposed plaque and information regarding the background to the proposed wording.

The detail of the report was summarized for the benefit of the Committee and the following points arose from questions and during the subsequent debate: -

1.      Referral to the Secretary of State had not been required for this application having regard to the Direction concerning the handling of applications affecting heritage assets, as no objections had been received from Historic England or National Amenity Societies.

2.      The proposed QR code facility and associated signage illustrated in the report was subject to further refinement and would take into consideration its long-term durability and content.

3.      Alternative wording for the plaque had been considered between DC B meetings but suggestions had not been included meaning that the wording had remained as it was when considered at the last meeting. As a compromise additional information and access to it had been added. Members welcomed this but wanted it publicly recorded that alternative wording had been put forward by members which it was felt better reflected the varying views of the public.   

4.      Despite the revised wording as suggested not being included the application had come back to this committee as requested and due to the high-profile nature of the proposal and that the applicant was Bristol City Council.

5.      Some members expressed their discomfort about what had happened, and that the alternative wording had not been allowed, concern being particularly emphasized about the use of the wording that described Colston as a benefactor to the city.  

6.      Other members felt that wording should be as simple as possible and that the current proposed wording was acceptable particularly as anyone interested in finding out more would be clearly signposted to the museum where more detail was available.  

It was then moved and seconded that the officer recommendations as set out in the report be approved.

On being put to the vote there were two in favour and three against. The motion therefore failed.

After further debate a member suggested that the principles agreed at the last meeting be re-emphasized namely that there should be no mention of Colston being a benefactor, no mention of celebration, no attempt to add partial historical context. 

Taking this into consideration and agreeing that the application itself was acceptable in principle, it was then moved and seconded that the application be deferred to allow for further consideration, by a future committee, of the wording of the plaque that would be attached to the plinth.

On being put to the vote it was unanimously –

RESOLVED  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

2pm 5 June 2024

5 June 2024 at 2pm