Agenda, decisions and minutes

The minutes of the Area South meeting held on 1^st April 2015 copies of which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

There were no Apologies for Absence.

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 Tim Carroll, Tony Fife, Peter Gubbins, Ian Martin 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.

Councillor Gina Seaton as a member of West Coker Parish Council clarified to the committee that she would keep an open mind when considering application 14/05063/FUL, Moor End Nursery, Hardington Mandeville.

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.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Chairman provided the following update to members:

Proposal to change the timing of the Area South Committee

I instruct the Area Development Manager to prepare a report for the September Area South Committee meeting to clarify members preferences, to compare potential timing options and to identify any cost or limitations associated with each so that the most appropriate timing can be recommended.

Yeovil Vision

The next Yeovil Vision meeting will be held on the 11^th June when the board will discuss a number of issues.  We will be seeking feedback from SCC on a number of issues affecting the town including:

·         Progress on the Eastern and Western Corridor

·         Update on the progress of the installation of CCTV cameras

·         A progress report on the Lufton and Wyndham Park

Babylon Hill Planning Application

A robust response has been sent to West Dorset District Council regarding a planning application for a development at the Peel Centre Babylon Hill.  The proposal is for a single new retail unit within the confines of the existing retail park and comprises a 24,777 sq. f) gross external floor space. For context, the proposed unit is almost the same size as B&M Bargains which trades at Lysander Road and would effectively increase the retail park by a fifth.

The key points raised were the impact on the town centre, the existing traffic congestion in that area.  The application is pending and we await the outcome.

Support for Retailer in Yeovil

A priority for this year will be to introduce a package of support for new and existing retailers within the town centre.

The Quedam

We continue to work with representatives of Benson Elliott the new owners of the Quedam to discuss ways in which SSDC could support them in the development of the Yeovil Town Centre.  I am hopeful it will lead to significant developments in the future.

Yeovil Markets

The Area South Development Team are working in partnership with Yeovil Town Council, the Yeovil Town Team and SSDC’s Horticultural Services on this years ‘Super Saturday’ event on Sat September 26^th.

Building on last year’s success we are hoping that this year will be even better, we will be having a Flower and Gardeners Market and associated prize giving for Yeovil in Bloom, a Vintage Market, food stalls, busk fest (lots of local musicians playing throughout the day) as well as lots of family friendly entertainment and activities.

The popular Yeovil Vintage market will be running this Saturday please try to come along if you can. It runs monthly on the first Saturday of each month until September.

Yeovil One Team

We are pleased to announce that subject to final approval the Yeovil One Team has received a grant of £50k from the Police and Crime Commissioner.

CCTV for subway

A site meeting is currently being arranged for representatives of SSDC and SCC to finalise the plans for the installation of these cameras.

Westland’s Sports and Leisure complex

We appreciate that this is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

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 Councillors on outside organisations.

Members noted the Schedule of Planning Applications.

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 also updated members on the following:

·         Site meeting referred to in his report should read the 13th May 2015.

·         Clause a) i) to be amended to read 2 x 3 bed (shared ownership)

·         Insertion of clause vi) regarding adoption of Open Space Section 106 Agreement

·         Condition 2 to be amended in line with updated report and plans

·         Condition 6 to be amended should members be satisfied with land/surface water drainage scheme

·         Condition 11 to be amended to include the wording ‘notwithstanding the submitted plans’, in order to allow a review of tree and hedge removal/planting once the existing structures are removed and the boundaries can be properly accessed.

He informed members that the application had been deferred from the April committee for a members site visit to take place in order to assess the drainage and issues of the proposed affordable housing.  He also informed members of two further letters received from local residents regarding comments on drainage issues, affordable housing, density of housing and appropriate road surface materials. 

The Area Lead South also updated members on further comments received from Hardington Parish Council regarding the Affordable Housing Tenure Options.  He referred to the three Proposals A, B and C as shown on the power point presentation and in the agenda report and explained that the applicant had put forward two additional options (A&B) in addition to the original proposal (C).

The Area Lead South considered that Proposal C to include 3 social rent and 2 shared ownership was the preferred option also supported by the SSDC Strategic Housing Team.  Proposal A which included 5 low cost homeownership (Discounted market Housing) was the proposal supported by Hardington Parish Council.

He also referred to the key considerations including whether the proposal would accord with the adopted Local Plans approach to rural settlements – Policy SS2; Highway implications; Drainage; Setting of Heritage Assets; Tenure of Affordable Housing; Landscape Impact. 

In conclusion he considered all outstanding issues could be adequately controlled by planning conditions and a planning obligation and therefore his proposal was to approve the application subject to the conditions as set out in the agenda report.

In response to questions, members were informed that:

·         the proposed drainage scheme to serve the development including the process of diverting and collection of surface water had been submitted.  It is understood that further arrangements would be required from two adjoining land owners in order for these works to be implemented. 

·         Confirmed the agreed onsite water drainage scheme including the attenuation tanks would be maintained by a management company.

·         Other land drainage issues would be the responsibility of the respective land owners, for example the adjoining ditch is the responsibility of the neighbouring farmer.

·         Appreciate the comments and recommendations of Hardington Parish Council however satisfied any harm is outweighed by the benefits of the scheme  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The Community Health & Leisure Manager presented the report as set out in the agenda and with the aid of a powerpoint presentation she highlighted to members the following:

• Staffing structure within the Community Health & Leisure Service
• Healthy Lifestyles development including the success of the flexicise scheme, weight loss challenge and sport 50.
• Health Walks Leader Training with participation up 39%
• Healthy lifestyles - £194K secured from Sport England for next three years
• Sports Development - including the success of the Hockey programme with junior membership increase of 23% and part funding of swim coach for Yeovil
• Young People – Gold Star Awards
• Play Days and National Play Day at Ninesprings on 5^th August 2015 10.00am – 3.00pm
• Securing planning gain – New Westfield Artificial Grass Pitch – S106 contribution: £84,000 (plus £50,000 of SSDC capital funding ) Total project cost: £290,000

In response to a member comment regarding the future of the Westland Leisure Complex, the statement as previously read by the Chairman was repeated. The Chairman confirmed that no other information was known until further discussions had taken place.

The Community Health & Leisure Manager agreed to provide further information via email to Councillor Andy Kendall regarding a breakdown of the costs of inactivity.

The Chairman and members of the Committee thanked the Community Health & Leisure Manager for an excellent report and congratulated her on the outstanding work of her team.

The Committee agreed the appointment of members to serve on the various working groups, panels and outside bodies for 2015/16.

(Resolution passed without dissent)

Reason:          To appoint members to working groups and outside bodies.

The Committee agreed the appointment of members to serve on the various working groups, panels and outside bodies for 2015/16.

(Resolution passed without dissent)

Reason:          To appoint members to working groups and outside bodies.

(Resolution passed without dissent)

Reason:          To appoint members to act as substitutes for the Chairman and Vice Chairman for the planning scheme of delegation.

(Resolution passed without dissent)

Reason:          To appoint members to act as substitutes for the Chairman and Vice Chairman for the planning scheme of delegation.

Councillor John Clark requested a report be brought to committee on the Westfield Our Place Project in July.

Following on from the Chairman’s Announcements Councillor Peter Seib requested the report for the Area South Committee Times review be brought to the September meeting.

(Voting: Without dissent)

Members noted the Planning Appeals.