Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 8^th August.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 8^th August, copies of which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Councillor Winder advised that planning application 18/01174/DPO, relating to minute number 55, could not be viewed on the SSDC public website. The Case Services Officer agreed to look into this and to contact the Chairman and Ward Members once this had been resolved.

Apologies of absence were received from Councillors Anna Groskop, Mike Beech, David Norris and William Wallace.

In accordance with the Council’s current Code of Conduct (as amended 26 February 2015), which includes all the provisions relating to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI), personal and prejudicial interests, Members are asked to declare any DPI and also any personal interests (and whether or not such personal interests are also “prejudicial”) in relation to any matter on the Agenda for this meeting. 

Members are reminded that they need to declare the fact that they are also a member of a County, Town or Parish Council as a Personal Interest.  Where you are also a member of Somerset County Council and/or a Town or Parish Council within South Somerset you must declare a prejudicial interest in any business on the agenda where there is a financial benefit or gain or advantage to Somerset County Council and/or a Town or Parish Council which would be at the cost or to the financial disadvantage of South Somerset District Council. 

Planning Applications Referred to the Regulation Committee

The following members of this Committee are also members of the Council’s Regulation Committee:

Councillors Tony Capozzoli, Nick Weeks and Colin Winder.

Where planning applications are referred by this Committee to the Regulation Committee for determination, Members of the Regulation Committee can participate and vote on these items at the Area Committee and at Regulation Committee.  In these cases the Council’s decision-making process is not complete until the application is determined by the Regulation Committee.  Members of the Regulation Committee retain an open mind and will not finalise their position until the Regulation Committee.  They will also consider the matter at Regulation Committee as Members of that Committee and not as representatives of the Area Committee.

Councillor Mike Lewis, a member of SCC (Somerset County Council), would only declare an interest in any business on the agenda where there was a financial benefit, gain or advantage to SCC, which would be at the cost, or to the financial disadvantage of SSDC.

There were no other declarations of interest.

Members are asked to note that the next scheduled meeting of the committee will be at the Council Offices, Churchfield, Wincanton on Wednesday 10^th October at 9.00 am.

Members noted that the date of the next meeting of the committee would be at the

Council Offices, Churchfields, Wincanton on Wednesday 10^th October at 9am.

There were no questions from members of the public present.

The Chairman advised that there had been a recent meeting of the Regulation Committee where two Area East planning applications had been considered.

He further advised that it had been agreed that Ward Members would be notified when items within their ward would be considered by the Regulation Committee. He also advised that they should receive a copy of the minutes. The Chairman explained that he would be happy to raise issues on behalf of Ward Members if they were unable to attend the meeting.

Councillor Mike Lewis explained to the Committee members that he felt that the standard of hedge cutting along some areas of the highways were not very good. Other members agreed, however some commented that it would be useful to know who was responsible for these areas before contacting Somerset County Council. Following this discussion, the Chairman expressed his concern over Ash die back issues across Somerset.

The Strategic Planning Specialist presented the report to members. She explained that the priorities summarised in the report were identified at the members’ workshop held on 13^th June 2018.  She advised that following this workshop, she hoped that the Area East Committee could agree that these priorities should be considered by District Executive for inclusion in the Council Plan.

The Lead Specialist – Strategic Planning, confirmed that the priorities report for District executive would be accompanied by detailed evidence. 

In response to questions over the evidence types, specifically relating to the need for an Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP), she advised that the type of evidence required was guided by Sport England. She further added that the evidence types used did not highlight a need for an AGP in Wincanton, however advised that members could still include this as an Area East priority to refer to District Executive for agreement if they wished.

The Chairman advised that although the evidence showed little need for an AGP in Area East, local knowledge should also be used. He pointed out that the only AGP’s in the area were owned by private schools, which was not made clear in the evidence gathered.

The Lead Specialist – Strategic Planning, suggested that the official evidence could be supplemented by local knowledge.

Another member felt that tourism should also be included as an Area East Priority. There are a number of tourist attractions in Area East and felt that tourism was important and should be promoted in the Area.

Members discussed the use of websites and social media to publicise tourist attractions and events. Members felt that a tourism event would be useful.

It was proposed and seconded that a further priority should be added to the list to promote tourism in the area. No vote was taken at this time.

The Locality Manager advised that there will be ‘Area Chapters’ to cover other important aims for the area and assured members that items which are not included within the Council Plan, could still be an area priority within the area chapters.

Another member commented that the provision of an AGP should be a priority, however transport and jobs were also discussed as priorities.

The Locality Manager advised members that exceptions to new rules were being considered to help ease issues affecting community transport drivers. He advised that these considerations were on going following lobbying and he hoped to have further details during autumn.

It was proposed and seconded that the provision of an AGP in Area East should be added as a priority. On being put to the vote, this was carried 6 votes in support, with 1 abstention.

The Lead Specialist - Strategic Planning agreed that the evidence provided to DX would be supplemented by local knowledge. She advised that the list of priorities would be finalised by December and would be referred to DX in February 2019.

Members agreed that promoting tourism to Somerset should be highlighted as a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

Members noted the Forward Plan.

The Communities Lead advised members that the Heart of Wessex report would possibly be deferred for a month.

Members noted the appeal which had been received and the appeal decision which has been received for a site in Mudford.

Members noted the Schedule of Planning Applications to be determined by Committee.

Application Proposal: Application to modify a Section 106 agreement between Losan Limited, Henstridge Airfield Partnership No. 2 LLP, EGHS Limited, Mr Geoffery Charles Jarvis and South Somerset District Council dated 05.12.2017

The Chairman advised that the planning application had been withdrawn by the applicant and the report was not discussed further.

Application to vary condition 10 (Flood Risk Assessment) of approval 17/00225/S73A to allow for a revised drainage strategy to be submitted to address standing water issues within the site.

The Planning Officer presented his report to members. He advised that the application was section 73 application to amend condition 10 of an approved application for a solar park which was approved in 2015. Using a PowerPoint presentation he provided images of maps to show the location of the site.

He explained to members that there were issues over standing water on the western boundary of the site and that the applicant is proposing to install French drains within the site to soak up the standing water. He further advised that the Lead Local Flood Authority had raised no objection to this proposal.

Councillor Mike Lewis, Ward Member, offered his support to the application and commented that whilst noting that this was a major application, he felt that this application should not have been referred to Area East Committee.

Another member agreed that this application should not have been referred to Area East Committee. The Senior Planning Advisor noted these comments.

It was proposed and seconded that the application should be approved as per the agenda report.

The Chairman disagreed with the comments. He advised members that this area often floods and expressed concern that the standing water could flow offsite and exasperate the existing flooding issues nearby.

The Senior Planning Advisor advised members that the proposed conditions 10 and 11 as listed in the report should lighten members’ concern over flooding as both of these conditions could be enforced should they not be followed correctly.

Councillor Mike Lewis, Ward Member, asked whether conditions 10 and 11 were worded strongly enough and questioned whether they should be enhanced.

The Senior Planning Advisor felt that the conditions were sufficient and advised that a site visit had taken place and all necessary consultations had been sent. He commented that the advice of the Lead Local Flooding Agency had been considered.

Following the discussion, members voted on the proposal to approve the application as per the officer recommendation. On being put to the vote, this was carried 6 votes in support with 1 abstention.

RESOLVED:  that planning application 18/01593/S73 be approved as per the officer recommendation for the following reason;

Grant consent for the following reason:

01.       The benefits in terms of the provision of a renewable source of energy, which will make a valuable contribution towards cutting greenhouse gas emissions, are considered to outweigh the limited impact the proposal will have on the local landscape character. As such the proposal accords with the aims and objectives of Policies SD1, TA5, TA6, EQ1, EQ2, EQ3, EQ4 and EQ7 of the South Somerset Local Plan and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.

SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING:

01.         Notwithstanding the time limits given to implement planning permission as prescribed by Sections 91 and 92 of the Town and Country  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.