Minutes

The minutes of the meetings held on 18^th June 2014, copies of which had been circulated, were taken as read and, having been approved, were signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

Planning Application No: 13/02132/FUL - Page 6 – CEDAR to be replaced with the word CEDA.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mike Best and Linda Vijeh.

At the time of the item, Councillor Carol Goodall declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 7, Ilminster Street Market, as a member of Ilminster Town Council.

No questions or comments were raised by members of the public.

There were no announcements from the Chairman.

Reference was made to the agenda report, which informed members of the proposed Area West Committee Forward Plan.

The Area Development Manager (West) informed members that there would be a further report to consider at the Area West Committee in August.

Cllr. John Dyke made a request to give his update on Crewkerne Heritage Centre in November rather than September.

Members were content to approve the Forward Plan.

(Resolution passed without dissent)

Prior to consideration of the item, Councillor Carol Goodall declared a personal interest, as a member of Ilminster Town Council.

The Neighbourhood Development Officer summarised the agenda report which provided members with an update on Ilminster’s market and asked members to consider a grant request to help the promotion of the market.  She explained that Ilminster Town Council wished to create an eye catching brand for the market, improve signage on market day, produce leaflets, purchase a large banner and run a series of adverts in the local press. In addition, the Town Council would also like to purchase a no parking sign to be used on a Wednesday evening. She referred members to the breakdown of costs as outlined on page 6 of the agenda report. The grant would help the market traders and also increase footfall which would also benefit other traders in the town.

In response to a member question regarding publicity, the Area Development Manager (West) advised that it was the intention to advertise the market within a variety of future promotional leaflets produced by the Council as well as the newly developed market town app.

Members unanimously supported the recommendation outlined in the report.

(Voting: unanimous)

The Committee welcomed Inspector Tim Coombe and Sergeant Rob Jameson from Avon and Somerset Police Constabulary to the meeting.  Members were informed about the new local policing structure in Somerset East coming into operation on the 28^th July.  Reference was made to the Somerset East Clusters and the neighbourhood policing structures.  Details of the Local Team Inspectors would be circulated to members when available.

A copy of the presentation slides are attached to these minutes for information.

During the ensuing discussion, the police officers responded to members’ comments and questions.  Points mentioned included the following:

·         Linkages with the gypsy and traveller community would still remain;

·         Several members made comments regarding the PCSO staff changes within their ward and wished to be updated and kept informed of the local contact;

·         Although Area West had lost some PCSOs, as the allocation was very high, the number across Somerset remained the same.  A PCSO would still be aligned to Wards;

·         Members were informed that staff numbers within the response teams would remain the same;

·         The staffing realignment had been undertaken on political boundaries;

·         The closure of Police stations would not result in a reduction in police presence within the towns but it would be in a different format.  Work was taking place to look at how other buildings could be used with partners;

·         If the crime trend was to increase the Government would need to review resources;

·         Local PCSO knowledge was extremely valuable to members.

Sergeant Rob Jameson gave a short presentation informing members of local issues in Area West including crime trends and initiatives.  He also reported on the latest position with regard to specific operations and activities in Area West. 

The Chairman thanked Inspector Tim Coombe and Sergeant Rob Jameson for attending the meeting.

The Assistant Highway Service Manager presented the report which informed members of the work carried out by the County Highway Authority and the proposed works programme for 2014/15.  He updated members that surface dressing had not yet commenced, grass cutting had proceeded and it was hoped that the completion deadline of 6^th August would be met.  There would be further verge cutting to A and B roads in August.  There were no changes to the schemes proposed for 2014/15.

The Assistant Highway Service Manager noted members’ comments and concerns about local issues within the area including:

·         a member requested further information about funding available for parishes for cleaning out blocked culverts;

·         a member asked whether the resurfacing at Listers Hill, Ilminster could be put on hold until the reopening of the Beacon Road.  (subsequent to the meeting, the Assistant Highway Service Manager confirmed that the resurfacing work at Listers Hill had already been programmed for 11^th to 15^th August, therefore it has not been possible to change the date at so short notice)

·         a member highlighted the problem of a collapsed gully at Home Farm Way, Ilminster;

·         a member wished to know when resurfacing would be undertaken at Crimchard, Chard, which was identified as a 2012 surface dressing failure site;

·         a member made a request for the cycle path to be cut at Tapstone Road/Millfield, Chard;

·         a member highlighted problems with the sides of the road collapsing at Cuttifords Door and asked whether this would be addressed;

·         a member commented that the sides of the road were falling away at Catchgate Lane, Chard and that a large amount of water had been present in the recent floods;

·         a member highlighted visibility issues concerning the width of the road between Merriott and Hinton St George due to overgrowth;

·         a member commented that a section of pavement on the A358 between Tatworth and Chard was covered with nettles and brambles.

Following discussion, it was agreed to send a letter from the Area West Committee to the Chief Executive at Somerset County Council outlining members concerns in relation to the following:

·         the length of time taken to address Surface Dressing Failures and the remedial works being undertaken at the Contractors expense;

·         that it could take 9 months for the B3168 Beacon Road, Ilminster to re-open.  The closure of the road was extremely inconvenient for local residents and was known to be affecting businesses in the town.

There were no planning applications referred to the Regulation Committee.

The Committee noted the details contained in the agenda report, which informed members of planning appeals lodged, dismissed and allowed.

NOTED.

Members noted that the next scheduled meeting of the Committee would be held on Wednesday 20^th August 2014 at the Henhayes Centre, Crewkerne.

NOTED.

The Committee considered the applications set out in the schedule attached to the agenda. The Planning Officer gave further information at the meeting and, where appropriate, advised members of letters received as a result of consultations since the agenda had been prepared.

14/01680/FUL – Proposed mixed use development of 14 residential units (10 houses, 4 flats) and 3 commercial units involving demolition of existing buildings, provision of underground parking area, change of use of 2 existing units from B1 to A1/A2 and retention of one B1 unit (Revised Application). (GR 336149/114593)

The Planning Officer proposed an amendment to Condition 07 on page 31 of the agenda report to include the following text after the word openings: and details of repairs to existing windows as identified in the windows schedule received 11 April 2014. She stated that the amendment would also apply to Condition 07 on the Listed Building Consent application.

The Planning Officer with the aid of slides and photographs summarised the details of the application as set out in the agenda report including the key considerations. Her recommendation was to approve the application.

In response to questions, the Planning Officer clarified points of detail raised by Members which included the following:

·      the cycle store would be partially covered;

·      the underground car park did not go under the listed building, it was located under the communal garden area;

·      a contaminated land check could be included as a condition;

·      it would be up to the developer to allocate car parking spaces;

·      there had been no significant changes to policy since the previous application that would impact upon the Listed Building or loss of employment land;

·      the comments outlined on page 18 were made by the applicant’s consultant and were not the view of the Planning Officer;

·      clarification was sought over the B1 use, which was a small office unit to the rear of the building which should not cause any noise to residential properties;

·      the proposed parking provision was within parking guidelines. It was not the most spacious car park but there would be adequate room for turning;

·      any obstruction of the access would be an enforcement issue.

The Committee was addressed by Andrew Sherman representing Ilminster Town Council. He commented that Ilminster Town Council had approved the application but not without reservations regarding the access. He referred to previous issues, when the building was in use, on the ground floor where the back door in the archway would open where cars would come through. He also referred to the demolition of the building causing dust and queried where the skips would be located.

Comments raised by Robert O’Malley and E J Taylor in objection to the application included the following:

·      concerns over vehicle access to the site and highway issues;

·      the applicant had chosen not to explore the possibility of using a small piece of land to the right of the application site to provide access;

·      the proposed development provided an inadequate number of parking spaces;

·      reference was made to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.