Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the Area South Committee held on 2^nd November 2016 copies of which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors John Clark, Nigel Gage, Kaysar Hussain, Sam McAllister, Graham Oakes and David Recardo.

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 2012 (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 District Council’s Regulation Committee

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

Councillors Peter Gubbins, Graham Oakes, David Recardo and Gina Seaton.

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.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

This is a chance for members of the public and representatives of Parish/Town Councils to participate in the meeting by asking questions, making comments and raising matters of concern.  Parish/Town Council representatives may also wish to use this opportunity to ask for the District Council’s support on any matter of particular concern to their Parish/Town. The public and representatives of Parish/Town Councils will be invited to speak on individual planning applications at the time the applications are considered.

Mr Rowan Muryn a resident of Yeovil Marsh addressed the committee and requested information and advice regarding the poor Wi-Fi signal within the parish of Yeovil Without.  He described the current lack of provision for improvement and asked whether any further help or support could be provided. 

In response the Assistant Director explained the ‘Connecting Devon and Somerset’ programme aimed at delivering faster broadband infrastructure to areas with poor service and after a short discussion agreed to provide Mr Muryn with further support and advice outside of the committee.

The Chairman informed members of the following:

·         Final reminder of the SSDC Christmas meal to take place on Thursday 15^th December at Yeovil Golf Club. Please contact Jo Boucher for more details.

·         SCC Update on Yeovil East and West Corridors – This has been sent out to members as a briefing note as it was not available to be included within the Agenda.

·         Yeovil Refresh – Consultants JLL have been appointed to deliver the Yeovil Refresh study and this is due to be completed by next June 2017.

·         Youth club services – Yeovil Town Council last night agreed to commission Mendip YMCA to take over the delivery of the two youth clubs in Yeovil.  The two clubs take place in Westfield and Milford one night a week.  Mendip YMCA will be working with current provider through December in order to provide a good handover and then will take over the clubs in the new year.

This is an opportunity for Members who represent the Council on outside organisations to report items of interest to the Committee.

There were no reports from representatives on outside organisations.

The Chairman welcomed Angela Kerr, Chief Executive Officer, Citizens Advice South Somerset to the meeting.  With the aid of a powerpoint presentation she informed members of the work and future development of Citizens Advice South Somerset.  Points mentioned during her presentation included the following:

·         The aim of the service was to provide the advice people need for the problems they face and improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives and avoid them escalating into a crisis.

·         Between April and September 2016 Citizens Advice South Somerset helped over 3000 clients from South Somerset.

·         The main client issues were around benefits and tax credits, debt and housing.

·         Various projects including: Local Assistance Scheme, Energy Best Deal to help and advise clients with energy problems including how to stay warm in winter and avoid higher water bills.

·         Money Skills for Young People to develop money management skills.

·         Committed to accessing Advice Services in South Somerset including:

o   Adviceline – working to provide initial advice by phone

o   Skype – via Skype link to local offices

o   Outreaches – Ryalls Park Health Centre

South Somerset Mind

·         Ambitions for the future – Closer links with Health Centres; Expanding phone provision; Continuing to invest in Skype bringing advice into rural communities and Focusing on priority groups.

·         Recruitment of volunteers - currently 46 fully trained volunteers with approximately 700 hours per month donated with training undertaken on a rolling programme.

In response to questions, the Chief Executive Officer, Citizens Advice South Somerset informed members that:

·         Universal credit is coming into full service in April 2017 and will have an impact on the Local Assistance Scheme, however they are working closely with the food bank to ensure that they can continue to supply necessary food parcels.

·         Further work needed regarding the Money Minded service to engage younger people to use the service and to make it more accessible.

It was agreed to circulate a copy of the presentation slides to members of the Committee with the minutes of the meeting.

The Chairman thanked Angela Kerr, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice South Somerset for attending the meeting.

The Assistant Director, Communities informed members that the Markets Improvement Strategy report had incorrectly been included twice and should be deleted from February as it would be brought to the March committee. 

She also told members that a separate briefing note from Somerset County Council regarding the Western and Eastern Corridor Improvements has been sent out to members as it was not available to be included within the Agenda.

In response members were disappointed that Somerset County Council could not attend committee to update members further on details such as the timetable for delivery of the improvements.  They requested that attendance at committee was still wanted.

(Voting: Without dissent)

Members noted the Schedule of Planning Applications.

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda and with the aid of a power point presentation showed the site and proposed plans.  He updated members that further comments had been received from the Ecologist and Sport England.

He further explained that Sport England had referred to the Assessment required under Paragraph 74 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the re-consultation in relation to the additional parking proposal on the tennis court area.   He explained that the consultation period runs until 9^th December 2016 and confirmed that on this basis his recommendation should be amended to read as follows:

‘Grant planning permission subject to no new material and relevant objections (in the opinion of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Area South Committee as advised by officers) being made by 9^th December 2016 and the decision notices being issued on 12th December 2016’.

The Planning Officer also informed members that:

·         No objections had been received from members of the public; however as SSDC are the applicants the application is required to be brought to committee for determination as any comments automatically result in a referral to committee and was brought to minimise any delays.

·         Should members feel it necessary, a condition could be imposed to include details of a landscaping scheme to help enhance the landscaping arrangement of the site.

·         Referred to the Paragraph 74 Assessment under the NPPF and that the tennis courts are considered to be surplus to requirements when considering the wider Yeovil area and their use as a car park can be justified.

The Planning Officer then referred to the key considerations including:

·         Loss of tennis courts

·         Visual impacts of proposal

·         Residential amenity

·         Amount of parking on site and impact upon neighbouring residential streets.

He concluded that the recommendation was to approve the application for reasons as set out in his report.

In response to members’ questions, the Development Manager explained that evidence had been provided and the loss of the tennis courts had been justified by the Sports and Leisure Team and therefore this was not a planning consideration.

Following a short discussion member’s voiced their support for a landscape condition to be included to ensure additional landscaping of the site.  It was then proposed and subsequently seconded to approve the application as per the officers recommendation as previously read out by the Planning Officer and subject to the addition of a landscaping condition.  On being put to the vote this was carried unanimously. 

RESOLVED:

Grant planning permission subject to no new material and relevant objections (in the opinion of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Area South Committee as advised by officers) being made by 9^th December 2016 and the decision notices being issued on 12th December 2016, for the following reason:

01.       The site is an existing sports and social club which the Council has acquired on a 30 year lease to avoid the facility from closing. The upgrading of the facilities for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 100.

The Area Lead South presented the application as detailed in the agenda and with the aid of a power point gave a detailed presentation showing the site and proposed plans. 

He informed members that an additional letter had been received from the owner of No. 5 Willow Road regarding concerns on the proposed parking and the impact it would have on the surrounding roads and the overshadowing of the nearby properties.  He also clarified that condition 5 as set out in the agenda report be amended to include obscure glazing to additional windows on the east elevation.

He also referred to the key considerations including:

·         Parking and Access

·         Overlooking

·         Shadowing

The Area Lead South considered that the proposed parking on site exceeded the policy requirement and believed the visibility splay acceptable on the basis that the removal of the trees or retaining wall would be far more harmful to the setting of the conservation area than the current situation. 

He also showed slides of a shadow study undertaken on the site and believed that although the proposal would bring some further shadowing of the gardens to neighbouring properties at certain times of the day on balance this did not warrant refusal of the application.  .

He concluded that on the basis of all the information provided and with the amendment to condition 5 his recommendation was for approval for reasons as set out in the agenda report.

Following member’s questions, Councillor Wes Read Ward member welcomed the alterations made to the application however proposed that a site visit be arranged as he believed this would be beneficial for members prior to determination of the application.  This was subsequently seconded and on being put to the vote was taken as 5 votes in favour, 5 against and 1 abstention.  The Chairman then provided his casting vote in favour of a site visit being arranged prior to determination of the application. 

RESOLVED:

That application 16/03944/FUL be deferred for a committee site visit.

(voting 6 in favour, 5 against and 1 abstention)

The Area Lead South presented the application as detailed in the agenda and with the aid of a power point presentation showed the site and proposed plans.

He updated members that:

·         Informative No 1 should refer to Condition 16 and not 15 as stated in the agenda report.

·         The Highways Authority find the proposal acceptable following discussions regarding travel plans and resolved there are no requirements for a Section 106 agreement.

·         Yeovil Town Council are fully supportive of the proposal.

·         Still awaiting response from the Civil Aviation Authority and although envisage there will be no adverse comments it does mean that his recommendation as set out in the agenda report be amended slightly to read ‘grant permission subject to there being no adverse comments from the Civil Aviation Authority’.

He referred to the key considerations including:

·         Principle of Development

·         Parking and Access

·         Airfield Safety

He concluded that on the basis of all the information provided his recommendation was for approval subject to no adverse comments from the Civil Aviation Authority and reasons as set out in the agenda report.

In response to members questions the Area Lead South confirmed that:

·         Condition 14 as set out in the agenda report would safeguard any concerns regarding surface water drainage.

·         A condition has been included to ensure any PV panels installed on the roof be fitted with anti –reflection coating in the interests of airfield safety.

Paul Hickson the agent for Somerset County Council addressed the committee.  He said the proposal is supported by the Local Enterprise Agency and believed this facility would help bring further economic development into the area and create a safe working environment for new enterprises and was a great opportunity for Yeovil.  He thanked the Planning Officer for their help and concluded that Leonardo Helicopters were also in full support of the proposal.

Councillor John Field, Ward member voiced his support of the application and believed this was an excellent facility that would bring economic benefit to the town and provide a place for the cutting edge of aerospace innovation. 

Following a short debate, the Area South Lead clarified the car parking arrangements of the site and members voiced their full support of the application considering it an excellent facility that would benefit and encourage the economic growth of the town.  It was therefore proposed and seconded to approve the application as per the officers recommendation as set out in the agenda report with the amendment to Informative No. 1.  On being put to the vote this was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED:

That planning application 16/03628/FUL be approved subject to there being no adverse comments from the Civil Aviation Authority for the following reason:

01.       The proposal represents sustainable development that aims to improve the economic condition of the area,             is of a design that is distinctive and inventive and development which respects the character of the area and causes no operational issues to the adjacent airfield or the local highway network in accordance with       the aims and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 102.