A councillor’s bid to build a farm worker’s cottage on land near Braco has split the committee of which he is convener.
Although Tom Gray was given permission for the development on West Park Farm two years ago, it was on the proviso that he adhered to strict occupancy regulations which tied the property to his agricultural business, so it could only be used for staff accommodation.
Since then, however, his daughter Rhona Nuttall who hopes to take over the farm eventually has been struggling to find funding to build the house.
She claims that mortgage providers will not lend to anyone with occupancy restrictions attached.
As a result, the application returned to Perth and Kinross Council’s development control committee to have the restriction removed. The convener was not present.
Following a heated debate, where concerns were raised that this would open the floodgates for similar applications, voting ended in a stalemate, with vice-convener Bob Band eventually using his casting vote to back Mr Gray’s bid.
The result sparked mutters of “absolute disgrace” from those who opposed his decision.
There was a clear party divide, with SNP members choosing to ignore advice from development quality manager Nick Brian to refuse the request on the grounds that it is contrary to the Development Plan and the council’s own Countryside Guide.
They voted to approve the removal of occupancy restrictions, while councillors from the Labour, Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Independent parties tried to block the move.
Councillor Callum Gillies said there was a “danger” of creating an opportunity for others to appeal occupancy restrictions.
Mr Band told the committee there were no such concerns over this development as it was a “continued planning application”.
He said: “This building is a continuance of the existing farm. This is a continued planning issue and has exactly the same circumstances as the existing house.”
Following the meeting, Mrs Nuttall told The Courier she was “delighted” with the decision and that they would now continue the family business into the next generation.