Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil.

Contact: Jo Boucher, Case Services Officer (Support Services) - 01935 462011  Email: jo.boucher@southsomerset.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

106.

Minutes of previous meeting

To approve the minutes of the Area South Committee held on Wednesday 3rd July 2019.

 

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the Area South Committee held on 3rd July 2019 copies of which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

107.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Peter Gubbins, Andy Kendall, Mike Lock, Pauline Lock, Tony Lock, Graham Oakes and Wes Read.

108.

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, Tony Lock, David Recardo and Andy Soughton.

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.

109.

Public question time

Minutes:

A member of the public addressed the committee and voiced his concerns regarding the maintenance and management of the Yew Tree Park.  These included issues with dog bins and waste bins, poor signage, inadequate fencing, unlocking of car park gates and concerns regarding the safety of the trees within the park and surrounding area. 

 

In response the Chairman thanked him for his comments and asked that if he left contact details the Chairman would action his concerns and contact him direct with more information.

110.

Chairman's announcements

Minutes:

The Chairman informed members that as Mayor of Yeovil he had the pleasure of raising the first Green Flag award 2019/20 at the newly sited flag pole at the Yeovil Country Park.  The flag pole had been financed by funds raised by the volunteers of the Country Park.

111.

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 informed members that the Westfield Community Centre was nearing completion and would be opened on October 5th 2019.  Members would be sent an invitation for the opening in due course.

112.

Area South - Council Plan Priorities 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Minutes:

The Specialist, Strategic Planning presented the report which sets out the draft priorities for Area South.  She explained these have been developed based on the outcomes of the Area South workshops held in July and in collaboration with the Chairman and Vice Chairman.

 

There being no debate members were happy to agree the proposed priorities.  The officer’s recommendation was then proposed and seconded and on being put to the vote was carried unanimously.

113.

Area South Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Minutes:

Councillor David Recardo requested that a representative from the Avon and Somerset Police attend committee to give an update on the current situation regarding the pending move to Brympton Way.

 

He also requested that the Chief Executive of Yeovil District Hospital attend committee to give members an annual update.

 

Councillor John Clark reiterated his request that the I Aero Project Manager SCC attend committee to give a presentation on the ‘I Aero Project’ the new Aerospace facility in Yeovil.

 

114.

Planning Appeals (For Information) pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Minutes:

Members noted the Planning Appeals.

115.

Schedule of Planning Applications to be Determined by Committee pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Minutes:

Members noted the Schedule of Planning Applications.

116.

Planning Application 18/02750/FUL** - The Park School, The Park, Yeovil pdf icon PDF 622 KB

Minutes:

Proposal: Demolition of former school buildings and facilities and the erection of 24 new dwellings with associated landscaping, parking and access arrangements.

 

The Specialist, Development presented the application as detailed in the agenda and with the aid of a powerpoint presentation showed the site and proposed plans.  She explained that the application was two starred and that should members be minded to refuse the application it will referred to the Regulation Committee for final determination. She explained that the applicant had submitted a viability appraisal that concluded should the development be approved it could not afford to pay the required sports/play obligations, however they would continue to provide the affordable housing element.

 

She referred to the key considerations being the design and layout, impact on residential amenity and parking and highways.  She considered the site to be of appropriate design and density and given the proposed height of the dwellings considered the public benefits outweigh any substantial impact on residential amenity.   She also confirmed there were no objections from the highways authority with the levels of parking and therefore concluded that after considering all of the responses and advice, as outlined in the agenda report, her proposal was to approve the application as set out in the agenda report.

 

 Two members of the public then spoke in objection to the application.  Their comments included:

 

·         Overdevelopment of the site as density to high.

·         Designs of new dwellings not in keeping with the character of the area.

·         Detrimental to the surrounding local area.

·         Loss of privacy to the existing homes as the site and dwellings proposed are on higher grounds.

·         Increase in traffic congestion in what is already a busy area.

·         Lack of landscaping on the site with greenery helping combat pollution issues.

·         Bin storage issues.

 

The agent then addressed the committee.  He said the applicant was ready to deliver the proposal and that no technical objections had been received.  He said the applicant had sought to address issues raised from Yeovil Town Council and local residents.  He believed it was a high quality development that accords with the local plan and although cannot make contributions to sport and leisure provisions will provide much needed affordable homes.

 

Ward member, Councillor David Gubbins acknowledged the need for development of the site but believed the density of the site was too high.  He felt the design could be improved but endorsed the requirement for electric points within the development.

 

Ward member, Councillor Karl Gill felt the density of the site was too high and the design was not in keeping with the existing houses in the area.  He also raised concern regarding highway safety due to the increase in traffic.

 

Ward member, Councillor Andy Soughton believed the proposed design did not reflect the current streetscene and believed there would be a significant increase in the traffic flow and road congestion in the area.

 

During discussion, members raised comments including the following:

 

·         Design was not perfect and could be improved.

·         Believed the density to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116.

117.

Planning Application 18/02802/FUL - The Elms Residential Home, Yeovil Marsh Road, Yeovil Without pdf icon PDF 681 KB

Minutes:

Proposal: Proposed extensions and internal reconfiguration at The Elms Residential Home.

 

The Specialist, Development presented the application as detailed in the agenda and with the aid of a powerpoint presentation showed the site and proposed plans.  She informed members that there were no further updates to the report.

 

She referred to the key considerations being the Landscape impact, design, residential amenity and highways and parking.  She considered the proposal to be a well contained site which would not be overly obtrusive in the wider landscape and an appropriate size extension.  She felt the boundary treatments were acceptable and that the parking plans had been amended in accordance with the Council’s highway consultant. 

 

The Specialist – Development noted the concerns raised regarding the drainage issues within the village but explained that as this proposal was to the north of the site she understood any surface water would be out to the rear of the property and therefore would have minimal impact on the village centre.  She also confirmed that the foul sewer would link into the existing local network. 

 

She concluded that after considering all of the responses and advice, as outlined in the agenda report, her proposal was to approve the application as set out in the agenda report.

 

In response to members’ questions she confirmed that:

 

·         The proposed parking provision was in excess of current parking standards.

·         Acknowledged the lack of cycle provision but that the Highway consultant believed this would not be the main form of transport for this site.  She noted that additional provision could be made available on site.

·         Should the application be approved the applicant would need to gain agreement with the Wessex Water Authority regarding foul water drainage.

 

The applicant then addressed the committee.  She said they currently provided a very high quality service and care for the local area and with a 98% occupancy rate were in high demand.  She said they currently employed between 25 – 30 staff working with the local hospitals and public sector and that there was a need to expand to be viable for the future.

 

The agent addressed the committee and said that the amended plans now included the addition of three extra parking spaces.  He believed this was a pioneering dementia care home, that the proposal would help individual living and designed for the resident’s well-being and that there was a great need for this type of care in the area.

 

Ward member, Councillor Rob Stickland then read out comments on behalf of Ward member, Councillor Graham Oakes.  His comments included concerns regarding the surface water and sewerage drainage issues which he believed were already at capacity in the village.  He sought assurance that this proposal would not exacerbate the issues in the village.

 

Ward member, Councillor Rob Stickland also reiterated his concerns regarding the drainage on the site and requested that should the application be approved a condition be included to ensure appropriate drainage at the site.

 

In response the Specialist – Development confirmed that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 117.

118.

Planning Application 19/00819/FUL - Land adjacent to 12 Welbeck Road, Yeovil pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

Proposal: Demolition of 8 garages, erection of pair of semi-detached dwellings and construction of 8 parking spaces.

 

The Specialist, Development presented the application as detailed in the agenda and informed members that the description should be updated to read the construction of 5 parking spaces and not 8 as set out in the report due to the amended plans for angled parking bays on the site in accordance with a request from the Highways consultant.

 

She explained that the application had been brought to committee as SSDC were part owners of the site and that the rest of the site was owned by Yarlington Housing.   With the aid of a powerpoint presentation she continued to show the site and proposed plans.

 

She said that the applicant had advised that there were additional vacancy’s within close proximity of the site for existing users of these garages, however much of the garaging was now used for storage rather than parking cars.

 

The Specialist referred to the key considerations being Visual and residential amenity, highway safety and parking.  She believed the proposed replicated design of existing houses is acceptable for the character of the area and sits comfortably within the streetscene with no loss of privacy to other neighbouring properties and that the parking provision plans have been amended in accordance with the Council’s Highways safety consultant.  

 

Therefore she concluded that after considering all of the responses and advice, as outlined in the agenda report, her proposal was to approve the application as set out in the agenda report.

 

In response to members’ questions she confirmed that:

 

·         A condition could be imposed to ensure proper delineation of the parking spaces.

·         Yarlington owned the existing garages and therefore there would be no loss of revenue to SSDC.

·         The imposition of solar panels would be the responsibility of Building Control.

 

An employer of SSDC addressed the committee.  He explained that part of his role was to help deliver the Council’s Commercial Strategy and a key responsibly was to work in partnership with Yarlington Housing group to deliver small housing schemes. He believed that the current garages were underutilised with other garages available within 200 metres of this site.  He felt this was a good logical scheme which provided additional parking within the area.

 

Ward member, Councillor David Recardo acknowledged the need for additional housing.  However he raised concern that this proposal could set a precedent for other garages within the area to be removed in order to make way for further housing.  He noted that parking within the area was already a problem with cars parked on the roadside and was nervous that further development, loss of garages and green space would be detrimental to highway safety in the area. 

 

There being no further debate, it was then proposed and seconded that the application be approved, as per the officers recommendation as set out in the agenda report with an additional condition to ensure proper delineation of the parking spaces on the site. On being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 118.