Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28 March 2018.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 28 March 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Adam Dance, Sue Steele and Derek Yeomans.

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 Clare Aparicio Paul, Neil Bloomfield and Sylvia Seal.

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 Neil Bloomfield and Graham Middleton each declared a personal interest for the Martock Our Place Programme Annual Update and planning application 18/00072/FUL, as they are also members of Martock Parish Council.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 23 May 2018 at the Edgar Hall, Somerton.

Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for 2.00pm on Wednesday 23 May 2018, at the Edgar Hall, Somerton.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Chairman made no announcements.

Councillor Neil Bloomfield noted that at the previous meeting there had been some discussion about all major applications now being two starred due to the statistics regarding appeals. It was acknowledged that further information had been circulated by email, but he reiterated his request for a senior officer to hold  ...  view the full minutes text for item 151.

(Voting: 8 in favour, 0 against, 2 abstentions)

The Neighbourhood Development Officer introduced the report and briefly reminded members of the Martock Our Place Programme and the grant funding that had been awarded by Area North Committee in March 2016 to cover a three year period via a Service Level Agreement. She introduced Tracey Smith, Community Services Co-ordinator  ...  view the full minutes text for item 152.

The Area Development Lead (North/South) introduced the report and provided a short presentation detailing work undertaken by the Area North Development Team over the past year. She reminded members of the Area North Priorities and highlighted key projects including:

·         Publication of a booklet promoting local businesses and attractions to visitors  ...  view the full minutes text for item 153.

The Leisure & Recreation Manager presented the report which updated members on SSDC’s work with local stakeholders to ensure a sustainable future for the Langport Cycleway, and its continued use by the community. She noted that although the project was behind schedule, officers were confident a solution could be achieved in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 154.

The Communities Lead reminded members that the Forward Plan looked slender due to the impact of going through Transformation. The Plan would change and be different in the future reflecting the changes going forward.

Following earlier discussion, she noted a report regarding the Area Development Plan and agreeing new priorities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 155.

Members noted the report that detailed planning appeals which had been lodged, dismissed or allowed.

Members noted the schedule of planning applications to be determined at the meeting.

Proposal: Demolition of stone walls of former cottage. Erection of 2 No. dwellings with associated access and parking. Erection of front wall to 56A and restoration of existing outbuilding (revised application to 17/03184/FUL).

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda report and highlighted the key considerations.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 158.

Proposal: Outline application for alterations to existing accesses and erection of 2 No. dwellings (Revised Application).

The Planning Officer introduced the application and informed members that since the agenda had been published five additional letters had been received in support of affordable housing in the parish.

He presented the application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 159.