An apology for absence was received from Councillor Brook.

Councillor Fox, Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee chaired the meeting in the absence of the Chair, Councillor Brook

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 12 January 2026.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12 January 2026 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Vice-Chair.

(a)       To receive declarations of non pecuniary interests in respect of items on this agenda.

For reference: Having declared their non pecuniary interest members may remain in the meeting and speak and, vote on the matter in question. A completed disclosure of interests form should be returned to the Clerk before the conclusion of the meeting.

(b)       To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of items on this agenda.

For reference: Where a Member has a disclosable pecuniary interest he/she must leave the meeting during consideration of the item. However, the Member may remain in the meeting to make representations, answer questions or give evidence if the public have a right to do so, but having done so the Member must then immediately leave the meeting, may not vote and must not improperly seek to influence the outcome of the matter. A completed disclosure of interests form should be returned to the Clerk before the conclusion of the meeting.

(Please Note: If Members and Officers wish to seek advice on any potential interests they may have, they should contact Governance Support or Legal Services prior to the meeting.)

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider any other items that the Chairman decides are urgent.

The Committee considered the item in Minute 30, and not included on the agenda, the Vice-Chair being of the opinion that it was urgent by reason of special circumstances i.e. the matter having arisen since the agenda was prepared and it was unreasonable to delay a decision until the next meeting.

The Committee considered an application for targeted crown reduction to a protected Horse Chestnut tree growing within the adopted highway.

Resolved:

Approved, subject to:

1)    the conditions as outlined in the submitted report with the final drafting of conditions delegated to the Divisional Director of Place Strategy; and

2)    the resolution of any new material considerations that may come to light following Planning Committee to be delegated to the Divisional Director of Place Strategy, including the addition of any necessary further planning conditions.

Construction of 7 residential apartments, plus landscaping, parking, access and associated works.

The Committee considered an application for the construction of 7 residential apartments, plus landscaping, parking, access and associated works.

Prior to the meeting, Members of the Planning Committee undertook a site visit and written representations were available on the Council’s website.

At the meeting, the Planning Officer advised, that since the committee report and update report had been published, four additional letters of representation had been received but these raised no new material issues that had not already been covered in the submitted committee report and update report.   A consultation response had been received from the Council’s Waste Officer with no objection to the application due to the location of a bin storage being identified.  The Waste Officer had requested waste management contributions however the Planning Officer advised that as the proposal is Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) liable, waste management contributions could not be requested.

Following the Planning Officer's presentation, David Redman and Lorna Hosler-Barnes both addressed the Committee against the application.  Dr Rodney Horder addressed the Committee on behalf of the Torquay Neighbourhood Forum against the application.  In accordance with Standing Order B4.1 Councillor Foster addressed the Committee against the application.  Daniel Metcalfe and Daniel Sharp both addressed the Committee in support of the application.

Resolved:

Minded to approve, subject to:

1)    the conditions as outlined in the submitted report with the final drafting of conditions delegated to the Divisional Director of Place Strategy;

2)    the resolution of any new material considerations that may come to light following Planning Committee to be delegated to the Divisional Director of Place Strategy, including the addition of any necessary further planning conditions or obligations; and

3)    confirmation from The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government that the application can be approved by the Council, if the Council has not, in the interim, having considered the merits of the application, decided to refuse the application and that the application will not be called in for determination by the Secretary of State.