Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 18^th April 2018, copies of which had been circulated, were taken as read, and having been approved were signed as a correct record of the meeting subject to the following amendment:

Minute No. 133 - Area West End of Year Report 2017/18

Bullet point 5 – organised events to be replaced with training events

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Marcus Barrett, Amanda Broom, Jenny Kenton and Paul Maxwell.

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 20^th June 2018 at The Guildhall, Chard.

Members noted that the next meeting of the Area West Committee would be held on Wednesday 20^th June 2018 at The Guildhall, Chard. (start time 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.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Chairman advised that the Annual Town and Parish Meeting (Area’s West and South) would be held on Thursday 28^th June at 6.30pm at the Henhayes Centre in Crewkerne.

The Chairman informed members that Officers were looking to hold a workshop for members to identify the area priorities for the new Area Plan for Area West Committee.  Members were in agreement for the workshop to be held prior to the next Area West Committee meeting on Wednesday 20^th June at 4.00pm – 6.00pm to be held at The Guildhall in Chard.

The Assistant Highway Service Manager presented the report which informed members of the highway works carried out last financial year in Area West and the proposed works programme for 2018/19.  He advised that grass cutting had recently commenced with parts of the A30 now complete which would be followed by C and D roads.  He advised that Derek Davies would present future reports to the Area West Committee.

During the ensuing discussion, the Assistant Highway Service Manager responded to questions regarding issues within Area West which included the following:

·         Concern was raised over the visibility at the junction of Eagle Cross onto the A30 and the condition of the road surface on the back road to Taunton;

·         A member commented that the 40mph speed limit signs located on the Devon boarder were often ignored and there was a need for further signs;

·         Clarification was sought regarding the repair of ruts on the side of roads;

·         A member queried when the yellow lining at Winterhay Lane would commence;

·         A member commented that the hedges along Cathole Bridge Road, Crewkerne were causing visibility problems.

The Chairman and members thanked the Assistant Highway Service Manager for attending the meeting.

The Environmental Services Manager introduced the report, and highlighted key elements and achievements since the last update report which included the following: 

·         The annual work schedules were delivered according to plan;

·         Litter picking on the main roads had been completed before starting on the summer delivery of the annual work programmes;

·         The service had been investigating and liaising with the Highways Agency how to safety clean the central reservation areas of the A303;

·         The service has reduced its sickness levels to 6 days per employee;

·         Fly tipping figures had reduced in Area West and across the district;

·         The Christmas Tree Shredding Service proved to be a great success;

·         Remedial works to the entrance track and car park area of Snowden Park have been completed ensuring it is more accessible for all users;

·         As part of the Council’s Transformation programme, Streetscene has been rebranded as Environmental Services and now contains management of Yeovil Crematorium and Cemetery and Waste and Recycling;

·         Continued development of the workshop as an MOT station.

During a brief discussion, the Environmental Services Manager responded to points of detail and provided more information about:

·         Funding received for the collection of fly tips

·         The issues encountered with the collection of kerbside recycling on windy days across the district

·         A recent successful enforcement prosecution

·         The process and costs associated with the installation of additional dog bins

At the end of discussion, members congratulated the team on the achievements and thanked the manager for his report.

The Communities Lead referred to the Area West Committee Forward Plan outlined in the agenda and noted that the Forward Plan mainly included items for decision and high profile matters of interest.

The Communities Lead referred to the Area Development Plan/Area+ Proposals item on the agenda for June and commented that this item worked better as a workshop.  If there was a high number of planning applications coming forward the date may need to be re-arranged.

The Communities Lead explained that the Annual Town and Parish Meeting was being held jointly with Area South Parishes as Area South only had 8 parishes.  She hoped that members would encourage their parishes to attend and advised that items on the agenda would include Transformation and Super-fast Broadband.

Members noted the report which outlined the details of an appeal received at Land OS 7562 Part Stonage Lane, Haselbury Plucknett.