Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 7^th December 2016.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 7^th December 2016, copies of which had been circulated, were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

An apology of absence was received from Councillor Henry Hobhouse.

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 David Norris, Sarah Dyke, Tony Capozzoli and Nick Weeks.

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.

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

a)     Questions/comments from members of the public

b)     Questions/comments from representatives of parish/town councils

Questions/Comments from members of the public

There were no questions or comments from members of the public present.

Questions/Comments from members of parish/town councils

There were no questions or comments from members of the parish/town councils present

Councillor Tim Inglefield advised members that the council were in a position to approve the section 106 agreement for Henstridge Airfield and was hopeful that the agreement would be signed before the next meeting of Area East Committee in February.

Councillor Mike Lewis explained that parish clerks were finding it very difficult to report problems with footpaths on the Somerset County Council website. He was unsure whether there was a problem with the website or whether some training notes needed to be circulated to Parish and Town Councils. It was suggested by the Assistant Director (Communities) that Officers check the system and, if necessary, some guidance notes could be given at the forthcoming Annual Town & Parish Council meeting on the 23^rd January 2017.

Members are asked to note that the next scheduled meeting of the committee will be at the Council Offices, Churchfield, Wincanton on Wednesday 8^th February 2017 at 9.00am.

Members noted that the next scheduled meeting of the Area East Committee would be held on Wednesday 8^th February 2017 at The Council Offices, Churchfield, Wincanton at 9am.

The Chairman advised members that a Police and Crime Commissioner public forum would be taking place in the SSDC offices in Yeovil on Thursday 2^nd February at 7pm. He advised that Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens would be joined by Chief Constable Andy Marsh at this this public forum and that should members wish to attend, that they would need to book a seat in advance of the meeting.

The Corporate Strategic Housing Manager presented his report to members, highlighting some of the major points of his report. He explained that a more detailed update report had been referred to District Executive Committee which covered affordable housing across the whole of the district.

He informed members that there had been a revision to the Rural Housing Action Plan and that £500,000 had been allocated towards bringing forward new rural schemes.  He also pointed out that the Rural Lettings Policy had been adopted, which would cover every parish in the area, with the exception of Castle Cary & Ansford and, Wincanton by ensuring that very local connections can be considered when allocating vacant homes.

He explained to members that two schemes of affordable housing were completed in financial year 2015/16 and that further schemes across the district had secured funding. He informed members that the scheme in Milborne Port was completed at the end of last calendar year and anticipated that the scheme in South Cadbury would be completed in October.

He advised members that the figures listed for the 2016/17 programme did not include affordable housing which had received planning approval and only those which had also secured funding or where a Housing Association was under contract. He explained that he was confident that further schemes would come forward.

On the subject of affordable homes being disposed of by Yarlington Homes, he explained that 90% of the disposals were in rural locations. He further explained that 5 of the 8 disposals in the last financial year were in area east, however the proportion for area east for this financial year was likely to decrease.

During the discussion, Yarlington Home disposals and the criteria which needed to be followed were discussed. Members expressed their concern over the affordable housing availability in our rural areas and hoped that the Task & Finish Group reviewing the Rural Housing Lettings Policy would meet soon.

He concluded that there was a shortage of affordable homes, but that he was optimistic that further schemes would come forward and that the district was comparing well to other local authorities.

RESOLVED:  that members noted the report.

The Countryside Manager presented her report to members with the aid of a powerpoint presentation. She provided an update of the work of the Countryside Service over the past year.

She explained that last year had been a very successful year and that several awards, including the Green Flag Award, had been awarded to the Countryside sites.

She further advised members that there had been many organised events and educational groups across the district, which had attracted a large amount of visitors and participants.

She explained to members that the team rely heavily on help from volunteers and offer a variation of projects and tasks to suit a wide range of helpers to include lighter duties and more specialist projects.

She informed members that great crested newts and dormice are flourishing at Moldrams Ground Local Nature Reserve near Pen Selwood and that she was hoping to get support to work with the Army Welfare Officer to enhance the green space at the Deansley Way development in Wincanton.

During the discussion, a member raised concern over the maintenance of hedgerows on the approach to towns like Bruton.

RESOLVED:  that members noted the report.

The Client Services Manager, of Citizens Advice South Somerset, presented her report to members.

She explained that there had been an increase in work through all the areas and that the common client issues were with benefits and tax credits and debt.

She summarised some of the projects which they were involved with, which included; Surviving Winter, Money Matters and Macmillan.

She informed members that there was an outreach service in Wincanton one day a week which provided a full advice service. She also explained that advice could be found over the telephone, though the website or e-mail and via Skype.

She advised members that there were some calls which could go unanswered at busy times and that they rely heavily on volunteers. She pointed out they are looking for further volunteers.

The Chairman thanked her for attending.

RESOLVED:  members noted the report.

The Assistant Director (Communities) advised that an update report for Tolbury Mill, Bruton would be included on the agenda for the February meeting of Area East Committee. The Youth report would be incorporated in the Community Health and Leisure Service outturn report. She suggested that in future it would be useful if the annual update report for the Affordable Housing Programme and the Local Housing Needs could appear on the same agenda.   

Members hoped that a workshop to discuss economic regeneration within area east could be arranged.

RESOLVED:  members noted the Area East Forward Plan and agreed the suggested amendments. 

Members noted the appeals which had been received and dismissed.

Members noted the schedule of planning applications to be determined by Committee.

Application Proposal: Approval of reserved matters (appearance, landscaping, layout and design) following the approval of 14/01333/OUT (redevelopment and restoration of Lake View Quarry to provide 42 dwellings, 1,000 sq metres workspace for B1 use and associated community and recreation facilities)

The Area Lead Planning Officer (North/East) presented his report to members with the aid of a powerpoint presentation. He explained that the application had been referred to the November meeting of the Committee, but had been deferred to enable the surface water drainage scheme to be resolved. He explained that the application provided a new piped discharge from the south-east corner of the site.

He informed members that the applicant had suggested that an amendment be made to condition 6 to specify that building materials could be imported onto the site.

He explained that this application was an application for approval of reserved matters, following an outline approval for 42 dwellings and employment workspace. It was his view that the application was for high quality, low density housing which would be a benefit to the village.

The Area Lead (North/East) explained that he had concerns over the drainage from the site and had expressed these concerns to Somerset County Council and the Lead Local Flood Authority. He advised members that both SCC and the LLFA had reviewed the scheme and although initial concerns were raised over the capability of the existing drainage system on Common Road, they did not object to the scheme in light of the additional information provided.

He advised that a CCTV survey had been carried out, which provided images of various sections of some of the existing pipes and ditches, but that there were gaps in the footage provided. He also pointed out that the applicant had cleared some of the ditches which were on his land.

He clarified that there were no objections from the SSDC Ecologist or SCC Highways and that it was his recommendation that the application be approved subject to an amendment to condition 6 to allow building materials to be imported.

Mr Brendan O’Hara, a representative of the Parish Council, addressed the Committee. He informed members that the Parish Council had concerns over the drainage and that there was often flooding on Common Lane, which was not helped by neglected ditches and water from adjoining fields. He also pointed out the ditch which water would flow into was already full and often flooded. He provided examples of other areas around the village which regularly flooded and expressed his concern that this application would exasperate the problem. He also hoped that there would be no further infilling of this site and did not support the proposed amendment to condition 6.

Mr Matthew Webb, representing his parents, addressed the Committee to object to the application. He also expressed his concern over the drainage and flooding which could impact the village. He advised members that the CCTV footage showed cracks within the pipes. He suggested that the water pipes should be replaced and that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 157.