Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meetings held on 26 April 2017 and 18 May 2017.

The minutes of the meetings held on 26 April 2017 and 18 May 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Adam Dance.

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 Clare Aparicio Paul, Neil Bloomfield and Sylvia Seal.

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 Clare Aparicio Paul, as the applicant for planning application 17/01183/FUL, declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest.

Regarding planning application 15/05090/FUL, Councillor Gerard Tucker noted he had sought legal advice and clarified that he did not need to declare a personal interest. He highlighted that whilst previously employed as an officer  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 26 July 2017 at a venue to be confirmed.

Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for 2.00pm on Wednesday 26 July 2017, at a venue to be confirmed.

There were no questions from members of the public present at the meeting.

The Chairman made no announcements.

Councillor Gerard Tucker was pleased to inform members that a business in Langport, which had been supported by SSDC in the past, had won an award for their cider.

Councillor Sylvia Seal noted the official opening with Darcey Bussell of the Westlands Leisure Complex on 27 June had gone well  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Assistant Highway Service Manager presented his report which provided a summary of highway works carried out last year and the proposed works programme for the current year. He noted verge cutting was well underway with a first cut along A and B roads having been completed, minor roads currently  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The Streetscene Manager presented his report which provided information on the performance of the Streetscene Service in Area North over the past year, and highlighted key elements including:

·         Reduction in sickness leave

·         Researching different options to treat weeds

·         Health and Safety

·         Apprentices

·         The Ranger Scheme

·         Fly tipping

·         Developing an MoT  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

(Voting: Unanimous in favour)

The Assistant Director (Communities) presented the report as detailed in the agenda.

During a short discussion, a member commented that the Strode College Community Education Advisory Committee now only met twice a year. The Assistant Director (Communities) noted the update and agreed the information held on file would be changed.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

(Voting: Unanimous)

The Committee agreed the appointment of members to serve as the substitutes for Chairman and Vice Chairman.

The Assistant Director (Communities) provided members with two additions to the Forward Plan:

·         Consideration of a Capital Grant application - September

·         A report on support for businesses and the local economy – October

In response to a comment made during a brief discussion, the Assistant Director commented she would check  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

Members noted the report that detailed recent planning appeals which had been lodged, dismissed or allowed.

Members noted the schedule of planning applications to be determined at the meeting.

Proposal: Certificate of lawfulness for the existing use of site as a mixed use of residential and retail with ancillary storage.

The Area Lead presented the application and explained what a Certificate of Lawfulness (COL) is. With the aid of photographs he provided a summary of the planning history for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Proposal: Erection of a brooder / duck house.

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda and noted the key considerations. He highlighted the complex planning history for the site and explained which buildings and structures on the site had permission and their uses. It was noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Proposal: Section S73A application to remove condition 7 (agricultural occupancy) of planning approval application 820342.

The Planning Officer presented the application and explained the situation regarding the agricultural tie and the applicant’s application to transfer the tie to the listed farmhouse. He also noted that Environmental Health had raised a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Proposal: Erection of one dwelling and garaging (revised application).

The Planning Officer presented the application and reminded members that the site had been at Committee before when there had been a previous application for two dwellings. This new application proposed a single dwelling with the bulk and form of a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

Proposal: Change of use of agricultural storage barns to domestic storage and workshop for Long Sutton House. Change of use of barn to holiday/ancillary cottage. Change of use of root cellar to Laundry, domestic store, home office and holiday/ancillary cottage with basement. Erection of 2 no. holiday let/ancillary cottages. Change  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Proposal: Outline application for alterations to existing accesses and erection of four detached dwellings.

The Area Lead presented the application, noting it was accepted with nearby developments that the site was in a sustainable location. The gap between existing dwellings and the required need to remove substantial hedging would damage  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

(Councillor Clare Aparicio Paul, having declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, had left the meeting earlier prior to consideration of this planning application).

Proposal: Retention of timber pony shelter.

The Area Lead presented the application as detailed in the agenda. He updated members that the report incorrectly referred to a single  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.