Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 7^th December 2016, copies of which had been circulated, were taken as read, and having been approved were signed as a correct record of the proceedings.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dave Bulmer, Garry Shortland, Angie Singleton and Linda Vijeh.

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, Sue Osborne and Angie Singleton

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.

Councillor Andrew Turpin declared a personal interest in Planning Application No. 15/02733/OUT – Land and Premises Barley Farm, House Lane, Tatworth as a member of Tatworth & Forton Parish Council.

Councillor Mike Best declared a personal interest in Planning Application No. 16/03186/FUL – Kings Arms, Market Square, Crewkerne as a member of Crewkerne Town Council.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area West Committee meeting is scheduled to be held

Members noted that the next meeting of the Area West Committee would be held on Wednesday 15^th February 2017 at 5.30pm at the Archie Gooch Pavilion, Ilminster.

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.

There were no announcements from the Chairman.

The Assistant Director (Communities) advised that the report on Local Housing Needs in Area West would be considered at the April meeting.

In response to a member question regarding Transformation and reports to Area Committees on how they would work in the future, the Assistant Director (Communities) advised that it was likely that locality arrangements would be discussed with all members sometime in the future and she would let members know any information when known.

Members noted that an update report from the Chard Regeneration Board would be added to the Forward Plan for April subject to their agreement.

Sgt. Rob Jameson from Avon and Somerset Constabulary was welcomed to the meeting and he gave a short presentation on local issues, crime trends and initiatives.  Particular reference was made to the following:

·         The current structure of the Neighbourhood Team comprised five Beat Managers and nine PCSOs;

·         The Neighbourhood Team would not be affected by the future budget review;

·         Crewkerne and Ilminster offices were now closed.  The only front office in Area West was located in Chard.  The public are able to access the service through the beat webpage and updates are given on social media;

·         All Officers are now equipped with Bodycams which are working effectively and helping to improve behaviour;

·         Chard One Team was still operating well;

·         There has been a change in the way that crime is recorded;

·         The amount of recorded crime was up by 30%;

·         Theft from a motor vehicle has increased and was often down to 1 or 2 active criminals;

·         The ‘County Lines’ problem was affecting the area and the Force was actively involved in disrupting the drug dealers and prosecuting drug offences.

In response to questions from members, Sgt. Jameson informed members of the following:

·         Crime figures were up 30% across the board other than the spike in car crime and fraud which had remained the same;

·         If Parish Councils had a particular issue the relevant PCSO could attend a Parish Council Meeting but this was no longer happening as a matter of routine;

·         In terms of rural crime trends, there was a spike in Land Rover thefts and livestock offences;

·         The provision of prison transport at peak times would help with the closure of charging facilities at Yeovil Police Station.

Members noted that the new Chief Constable would be attending Full Council on 23^rd February 2017.

 The Chairman thanked Sgt. Jameson for attending the meeting and providing an informative update. 

Councillor Martin Wale introduced his report updating members on the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel.

He informed members about two new funding streams; the Commissioner Community Action Fund and the Police Community Trust Road Safety Fund.

The Assistant Director (Communities) advised the report was a periodic review of the Area Committee working arrangements and the recommendations outlined in the report were based upon the majority views of councillors responding to the options set out in the member survey.

The Assistant Director (Communities) advised that there would probably be changes to Area Committees once Transformation has taken place.  Members would be involved in this process.

At the conclusion of the debate, members unanimously confirmed the recommendations of the report.

(Voting: unanimously)

Members noted the verbal update by Councillor Val Keitch on the Ile Youth Centre Management Committee. 

Members noted the report which outlined the appeals received and dismissed.

Members noted the schedule of planning applications to be determined as outlined in the agenda.

(Councillor Andrew Turpin declared a personal interest in the application as a member of Tatworth & Forton Parish Council)

The Planning Officer reminded members that the application had been deferred from the December Area West Committee meeting for additional highway information.  He reminded members of the key considerations which were impact on visual amenity/setting of listed buildings, highway safety, drainage and sustainability/5 year land supply.  He advised that an additional site location plan had been received together with a swept path analysis.

The Highway Consultant referred to the vehicle tracking plan showing the extent of the proposed visibility splays and confirmed that he felt comfortable with the splays being proposed.  He felt that it was not appropriate to have an over engineered tarmac and to take account of service vehicles was suggesting that the hatched areas could be formed from grasscrete.  He also referred to a plan showing that a 7.5t vehicle can access the site and reverse out with a 5 metre radius.  With regard to refuse vehicles he anticipated the Waste Partnership sending vehicles down Houses Lane and considered the situation to be no different than in other rural locations.  The distance to the bin store was a suitable distance.  He was of the view that a fire appliance would be able to access the site.  The guidance was set within 45 metres and the depth of the site was 30 metres.   In conclusion he confirmed that the access arrangements submitted were acceptable.

The Committee was addressed by Clive Watson and Martin Turner in objection to the application.  Concerns expressed related to the following:

·         Over development;

·         Road safety;

·         Removal of the Devon bank;

·         Adverse impact on listed buildings;

·         Local opposition overwhelming;

·         Concerns over accessibility for fire appliances.

The Committee was addressed by Terry Bailey in support of the application.  He advised that he was born and grew up in Tatworth.  He commented that Tatworth was such a popular village but it was impossible for professionals to afford a property. 

The Applicant’s Agent commented that the development offered much needed housing in a sustainable location. He referred to the swept path analysis which demonstrated that any vehicle could access the site.  He referred to there being no known history of flooding on the site and that surface water could be contained.  There was no impact on the listed buildings and the development positively contributed to the setting.   

The Ward Member, Councillor Andrew Turpin raised the concern that the Parish Council had not had sufficient time to consider the additional information.  He was in favour of the application being deferred until the statutory consultees had been consulted.

The Area Lead North/East explained that the Parish Council had been notified about the additional information out of courtesy.  The information provided sought to address the concerns raised in their response as set out in the report and simply clarified what had already been submitted by adding vehicle tracking paths to the submitted drawings. The Senior Legal Advisor confirmed that information being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 109.

(Councillor Mike Best declared a personal interest as a member of Crewkerne Town Council)

The Area Lead North/East introduced the report and with the aid of slides and photographs summarised the details of the application.  He advised that there were no updates to the report.  He highlighted the key issues associated with the application which were Highway Safety: – lack of adequate visibility splays, inadequate parking and turning and Residential amenity: - poor private amenity space and noise disturbance.  The Planning Officer’s recommendation was for refusal.

In response to questions from Members, the Area Lead North/East confirmed:

·         There was no parking specifically for the pub shown on the drawings submitted;

·         Crewkerne was not considered to be a town where zero car ownership was a viable option;

·         There was no longer a policy encouraging low or zero levels of parking provision;

·         There would be a sense of overlooking due to the height of the building opposite;

·         Parking standards for the proposed development were on the low side and access was poor with concerns that people would reverse out onto the road;

·         If a statutory noise nuisance was found this would impact upon the pub;

·         The Highway Consultant confirmed that the Highway Authority would not support the use of mirrors;

·         The vehicles currently parked at the rear of the Kings Arms belonged to pub staff;

·         The installation of a gate could be conditioned but it would be difficult to control who would be given the entrance code;

·         A planning application had been submitted for the provision of more pavement outside the Bonsoir factory building.  The proposed increase would make no difference to the proposed access arrangements.

The Committee was addressed by Ben Hodgson representing Crewkerne Town Council.  He commented that two small units were much needed in Crewkerne. The proposed development would be located on a brownfield site and considered there to be insufficient reasons to warrant a refusal.

The Committee was addressed by Andy Relf and Tina Tarnowski in support of the application.  Views expressed included the following:

·         Vehicle and pedestrian use of the road was light;

·         As a resident living near the proposed development little noise if any was experienced by the Kings Arms;

·         Getting out onto the road was not a problem;

·         The area allocated for turning space was adequate.

The Applicant, Richard Hall, informed members that the road was hardly used and he had recorded 12 cars in 2 hours going up the road.  The access had been used for a number of years therefore the development would not be creating a new access. 

Ward Member, Cllr. Mike Best, commented that the proposed development was not creating a new access and that vehicles have always parked behind the Kings Arms.  He was of the view that any potential resident would be aware that the property was located next door to a pub. He didn’t feel that the concern of overlooking was a major issue. He expressed his support for the proposal which he felt would tidy up a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 110.

It was proposed and seconded to defer the application for further highway comments.