Agenda, decisions and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 21^st February 2018, copies of which had been circulated, were taken as read, and having been approved were signed as a correct record of the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Amanda Broom and Angie Singleton.

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 Regulation Committee

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

Councillors Mike Best, Angie Singleton and Martin Wale.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area West Committee meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday 16^th May 2018 at 5.30pm.  Venue to be confirmed.

Members noted that the next meeting of the Area West Committee would be held on Wednesday 16^th May 2018 at 5.30pm.  Venue to be confirmed.

This is a chance to ask questions, make comments and raise matters of concern.

Parish/Town Councils 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.

Anyone wishing to raise matters in relation to items on the agenda may do so at the time the item is considered.

The Committee was addressed by Mr Laughton.  He asked about the reason for closing the Chard Hub project and whether the ring fenced funds allocated for it would be invested in Chard.

In response, the Locality Team Manager explained that the Chard Hub was based in the Holyrood Lacemill and that SSDC had made a decision to review its operational buildings across the whole of the district. Following this review a decision was taken to look at the redevelopment or the sale of some of those buildings. The reason for closing the project was due to the viability, location and sustainability of the project in the Holyrood Lace Mill.  If an alternative viable hub proposal were to come forward from an external source it could be looked at again in the future.  In terms of funding, the money would not be ring fenced to Chard but would be reallocated to the Area West reserve for future allocation.

The Chairman advised that there would be a short break for refreshments prior to consideration of the confidential item on the Chard Regeneration Scheme Town Centre Regeneration Update and Proposals.

The Corporate Strategic Housing Manager presented his report, which provided an update on the outturn position of the Affordable Housing Development Programme for 2016/17 and 2017/18 in relation to Area West and future prospects primarily for 2018/19. He highlighted key details and provided further explanation about some points in the report including:

·         As anticipated all previous schemes had been completed by the end of 2015/16 and any proposed, pipeline schemes had not commenced during the 2017/18 period, however there had been an acquisition of a single dwelling by Magna Housing in Chard which was completed in April 2017;

·         A lot of the schemes in the Affordable Housing Development Programme for 2018/19 were dependent on planning obligations;

·         Reference was made to the levels of grant funding from SSDC and Homes England;

·         There were a number of sites in the pipeline that were not included on the programme as timings were not certain and there could be future viability issues which could result in the level of affordable housing being reduced;

·         There had been issues with the land at the rear of the former Chard Working Men’s Club causing a delay in the build.  Once started the on-site construction time would be reduced due to the manufacturing method.

During a short discussion, the Corporate Strategic Housing Manager responded to points of detail including more information about:

·         why developers may not bring forward planning obligations as agreed

·         funding allocations and time limits

Members were content to note the report, and thanked the officer for attending the meeting.

The Locality Team Manager introduced the report and gave a powerpoint presentation detailing progress of the work to date in relation to the current Area West Development Service Plan.  He highlighted the following areas of work:

• A number of business events were organised and well attended;
• Community and Neighbourhood Planning continued to be a theme across the whole district.  Progress has been made in Ilminster with an updated Community Plan published and the establishment of a Neighbourhood Plan Group.  A Housing Needs survey in Merriott had also been supported and was currently being analysed;
• Grants were awarded to 18 community groups including Ilminster Warehouse, Henhayes Play Area, Broadway defibrillator and Merriott play area;
• Support given to the restoration of 7-9 Fore Street, Chard;  
• As a result of the audit undertaken by the Market Town Investment Group around digital presence in the market towns a new scheme called Digital High Street was due to be launched which was around helping high streets improve their offer of the digital environment and would be a mix of grants to businesses and training events.

The Locality Team Manager advised that this would be the last Development Plan update that members would receive.  In light of Transformation there would no longer be an Area Development Team and work would be delivered in a different way.  Transformation would see new ways of working being in place in January 2019.  Work was currently taking place on the succession arrangements for Area West and the new Area Plans to be agreed at the end of 2018.  Area+ Teams would take forward the work from April 2019. The agenda item in May on the Area Development Plan would be an opportunity for members to look at priorities for the next 12 months.

One member expressed his frustration over the money spent on the Chard Hub project.

Members thanked the Area Development Team for their hard work.

Members were content to approve the recommendations of the report.

Reason: To approve the release of funds previously ring-fenced for the Chard Hub.

(Voting: 12 in favour, 1 abstention)

Cllr. Garry Shortland, Chairman of Chard Town Team introduced the report and highlighted that a significant amount of work was undertaken leading up to many of the events.

Members congratulated Chard Town Team on their achievements and expressed their thanks for all their hard work.

A Better Crewkerne & District

Members noted the report circulated at the meeting by Cllr. Mike Best on the work of ABCD.  Cllr Mike Best thanked Diane Butler, Chairman of the Group for her help with compiling the report.  He referred to the success of the Pom Pom Bombing event in Crewkerne and advised that this year’s event would take place on 28^th April.

Meeting House Arts Centre, Ilminster

Cllr. Carol Goodall explained that there had been no committee meetings held recently due to illness.  She would bring a report following the next meeting.

The Locality Team Manager advised that funding applications from Speedwell Hall and Avishayes Football Club would be considered at the June Area West Committee meeting.

A member raised a question regarding the process of the Local Plan review and was advised that decisions would be made centrally but Area Committees could be informed of any decisions at the end of the process.

A member suggested that it would be useful to receive an update report on the progress of the Area+ proposal.  The Locality Team Manager said that he would bring a report to the June meeting.

Members noted the report which outlined the details of an appeal received.

This item was considered in closed session.

The Chairman welcomed Cllr. Jo Roundell Greene, the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Chief Executive, Economic Development Manager and Lead Specialist – Economic Development to the meeting. 

The Economic Development Manager gave a powerpoint presentation outlining a number of proposals.

The Chief Executive and Economic Development Manager responded to members questions on points of detail.

Following discussion, Members approved the recommendations as outlined in the report.

(Voting: 12 in favour, 1 abstention)