Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber Council Offices Brympton Way

Contact: Jo Boucher 01935 462011  Email: jo.boucher@southsomerset.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

156.

Minutes of previous meeting

Minutes:

The minutes of the Area South Committee held on 5th April 2017 copies of which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

157.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillors Kaysar Hussain and Mike Lock.

 

158.

Declarations of Interest

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 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, 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.

Minutes:

There were no Declarations of Interest.

 

159.

Public question time

Minutes:

There were no questions from members of the public.

 

160.

Chairman's announcements

Minutes:

The Chairman informed members that the next meeting of the Area South Committee would take place on Wednesday 14th June 2017 and not 7th June 2017 due to the Council Chamber being used for the General Election.

 

161.

Reports from representatives on outside organisations

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

Minutes:

Councillor John Clark on behalf of the Westfield Community Association informed members that there will be an open day in the old hall on 3rd June 2017 and a fete being planned for the 22nd or 23rd July 2017 as a fundraiser event.

 

162.

Highways Update Report pdf icon PDF 120 KB

Minutes:

(Please note this item was taken after Item 12 on the agenda)

 

The Assistant Highway Service Manager presented the report as set out in the agenda. 

 

During the ensuing discussion, the Assistant Highway Service Manager responded to questions regarding issues within Area South and confirmed to members that:

 

·         It is the District Council’s responsibility for the sweeping of footways following construction works.

·         Earthworks planned for Two Tower Lane/ Newton Road were for improvements to visibility.

·         Noted the request for a drop kerb in Bond Street, Yeovil however explained the lack of funding at present for this work.

·         Explained the costly process of the ‘Mole Drainage’ system.

 

The Chairman and members thanked the Assistant Highway Service Manager for his report.

 

NOTED

 

163.

Community Health & Leisure Services Update Report pdf icon PDF 342 KB

Minutes:

The Community Health and Leisure Manager presented the report as detailed in the agenda, and provided an overview of the work of the team and the achievement over the year. She highlighted key statistics and projects within the report, and provided slides to indicate some of the projects and schemes that had been delivered and achievements within Area South.

 

During discussion, the Community Health and Leisure Manager responded to points of detail including:

·         Noted support required for the Yeovil Town Band for the use of premises following changes to the Westland Leisure Complex and agreed to update the member direct regarding this issue.

·         Working with LED Leisure Management Ltd who operate Goldenstones Leisure Centre and Wincanton Sports Centre on behalf of SSDC regarding the £193,000 secured from Sport England for improvements to swimming facilities. The current contract with LED runs until 2021.

·         New draft playing pitch strategy had been completed and this would be circulated to parishes shortly for consultation.

The Chairman and members thanked the Community Health and Leisure Manager for the excellent work of the team, and for her informative report.

 

RESOLVED:

(1)    That the Community Health and Leisure Service Update be noted.

(2)    That members contact the Community Health and Leisure Manager, if they wish to discuss the current service delivery programme or recommend future priorities.

 

164.

Area South Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Minutes:

The Assistant Director, Communities reiterated to members that the 7th June 2017 Area South Committee had been re-scheduled for the 14th June 2017 due to the General Election.  She also informed members that they would have the opportunity to look at the findings of the work undertaken regarding the Yeovil Refresh prior to the report being brought to committee. 

 

Councillor Peter Seib requested that an update from Somerset County Council (SCC) regarding the Western Corridor Improvements be brought to committee as soon as possible due to the lack of information currently being provided.  The Assistant Director, Communities acknowledged the frustration of members regarding this issue and would contact SCC direct for a further update.

 

In response to a question regarding Transformation, the Assistant Director, Communities said that members would have opportunities to become more involved in a number of ways, possibly including area workshops, during the course of this year.  She would discuss this in more detail with the Transformation Team.

 

RESOLVED:

(1)

that the Area South Forward Plan and the comments of Members be noted.

 

(2)

that the reports identified by Members be added to the Area South Forward Plan.

 

(Voting: Without dissent)

 

165.

Appeals - For Information Only pdf icon PDF 23 KB

Minutes:

Members noted the planning appeals.

 

166.

Schedule of Planning Applications to be Determined by Committee pdf icon PDF 86 KB

Minutes:

Members noted the Schedule of Planning Applications.

 

167.

Planning Application 17/01197/COU - 48 Goldcroft Yeovil Somerset pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

The Area South Lead presented the application as detailed in the agenda and with the aid of a power point gave a presentation showing the site and proposed plans.  He explained the application was referred to committee in accordance with the scheme of delegation and the instigation of an Article 4 Direction. 

 

Within the presentation, members were advised of a survey of adjacent property uses which showed those that are HMOs or flats or dwellinghouses.  The presentation also highlighted a rear path that was unsurfaced, overgrown and in need of improvement to serve the application site and other properties.

 

He updated members that:

·         Two letters had been received from existing tenants commending the applicant as an excellent landlord.

·         Email received from No. 1 Crofton Avenue indicating help and support on improving and restoring the rear pathway which would collectively benefit all nearby properties.

·         Received support from the Senior Housing Officer and Environmental Health Officer for Housing Standards who fully supported the application owing to the lack of this type of housing accommodation within Yeovil.

·         In response to comments raised by the Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) a condition has been imposed to ensure extra provision with regard to bin and recycling storage on the property.

 

That Area South Lead confirmed that although he had tried numerous times to contact SCC Highways he had not received any further communication and that on this basis his recommendation was to approve the application for reasons as set out in the agenda report subject to no adverse comments from the Highway Authority.

 

In response to members’ questions, the Area South Lead clarified:

 

·         Should the application be approved a licence from Environmental Health Housing Standards would also be required for this property.

·         Fire escape requirements would need to comply with Building Control Regulations.

·         Consideration could be given as a parallel piece of work to make an application to change the current resident permit holders Traffic Regulation Order to reduce the 2 hour waiting time within the area. This may help ease the parking issues in the area in future but would require an application to Somerset County Council.

·         As the property is already a large four bedroom house there is currently no evidence or statistics that indicates a five bedroom HMO would generate an increase in vehicles.

 

Councillor Peter Seib, referring to SSDC’s website, believed the public car park in Goldcroft now had a barrier installed which is locked at night to mitigate anti-social behaviour.

(It is actually the case that one lane has a barrier that is locked at night to prevent entry with crocodile teeth on the exit lane to allow exit at any time).

 

Mr Peter Gray the current owner of the property addressed the committee.  He explained the difficulty with regard to the selling of his house and his wish to down size. He had previously operated currently operated four vehicles from the property and had no problems with parking in the area.

 

Mr Chris King the applicant also addressed the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 167.