Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 25 November 2015.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2015 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Sue Steele.

In accordance with the Council’s current Code of Conduct (adopted July 2012), 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.  A DPI is defined in The Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2112 (SI 2012 No. 1464) and Appendix 3 of the Council’s Code of Conduct.  A personal interest is defined in paragraph 2.8 of the Code and a prejudicial interest is defined in paragraph 2.9. 

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.  As a result of the change made to the Code of Conduct by this Council at its meeting on 15^th May 2014, 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.  If you have a prejudicial interest you must comply with paragraphs  2.9(b) and 2.9(c) of the Code.

In the interests of complete transparency, Members of the County Council, who are not also members of this committee, are encouraged to declare any interests they may have in any matters being discussed even though they may not be under any obligation to do so under any relevant code of conduct.

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, Shane Pledger, Dean Ruddle and Sylvia Seal.

Where planning applications are referred by this Committee to the Regulation Committee for determination, in accordance with the Council’s Code of Practice on Planning, 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 Shane Pledger declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) in planning application 15/04998/S73A as he is the landowner.

Councillors Adam Dance and Crispin Raikes each declared a personal interest in planning application 15/04538/OUT as they are members of South Petherton Parish Council who had submitted comments on the application.

Councillors  ...  view the full minutes text for item 113.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 27 January 2016 at a venue to be confirmed.

Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for 2.00pm on Wednesday 27 January 2016, at a venue to be confirmed.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Chairman made no announcements.

There were no reports from members.

The Area Development Manager (North) introduced representatives from Avon and Somerset Constabulary who covered SSDC Area North – the Neighbourhood Beat Manager, Acting Sergeant and Inspector.

The Inspector provided members with a brief update on their staffing structure and how teams were managed, and explained his role from a local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 118.

The Area Development Manager (North) welcomed Angela Kerr, Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Advice South Somerset (CASS) to the meeting, who provided members with a presentation about the work and future development of CASS. The presentation included information about:

·         Aims, vision and principles of CASS

·         The type of help provided  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119.

The Community Office Support Manager presented the report as detailed in the agenda. She noted footfall across the district had reduced but at a lesser rate than in previous years. She highlighted the Langport Community Office was the only location with a slight increase in footfall.

There was no discussion  ...  view the full minutes text for item 120.

The Area Development Manager (North) introduced the report, which informed members of the result of an assessment following a nomination for the Methodist Church in Stoke Sub Hamdon to be added to the council’s Register of Assets of Community Value.

There was no discussion and members were content to note  ...  view the full minutes text for item 121.

The Area Development Manager (North) confirmed the Highways update report would be made to the February meeting, a Countryside update to March and the report on the Tourism Service would be made to the May meeting.

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

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

Continued use of site for abattoir and associated purposes. Construction of additional carcass chills and an energy centre. Construction of storage including dry goods and finished product. Infill construction of a covered by-products yard and construction of a relocated security office.

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 125.

Change of use of land for the creation of two additional gypsy pitches for occupation by family members of the applicant.

The Area Lead (West) presented the application as detailed in the agenda report and briefly reminded members of the previous permission granted for one pitch, and highlighted that this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 126.

The erection of 1 No. dwelling with associated parking.

The Area Lead (West) presented the application as detailed in the agenda report. He noted that it was believed the site had been occupied until the 1960s, and post residential use it had been used for hay storage. He explained that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 127.

The erection of timber boundary fencing (part retrospective).

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda report, and noted that a neighbour objection had been raised due to highway visibility.

Mr M Batstone spoke in objection to the application and noted he had previously been granted permission  ...  view the full minutes text for item 128.

(Councillor Shane Pledger having declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest left the meeting prior to the presentation and consideration of this application. Councillor Dean Ruddle took the role of Chairman).

Application to vary condition No. 02 (approved plans) of 14/05217/FUL for change of roof material.

The Planning Officer presented the application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 129.