Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 9^th September 2020.

The minutes of the Area East Committee held on Wednesday 9^th September 2020,

copies of which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Lucy Trimnell and Charlie Hull.

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 Henry Hobhouse, Paul Rowsell and William Wallace.

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.

Members are asked to note that the next scheduled meeting of the committee will be held virtually via Zoom on Wednesday 11^th November at 9.00 am.

Members noted that the next scheduled meeting of the committee would be held at 9.00am on Wednesday 11^th November 2020 using Zoom virtual software.

There were no questions from members of the public present.

Reminder that there will be a Members Briefing - Planning for the Future White Paper – Monday 19^th October 2020 at 5.00pm

The Chairman informed members that the Government have now sent an invitation for Unitary bids to all Somerset Authorities including North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset.

Councillor Hayward Burt was pleased to inform members that the Parish Clerk for Templecombe had been awarded a BEM in the honours list.

RESOLVED:

That Members awarded a grant of £3,781 to Mudford Memorial Village Hall, the grant to be allocated from the Area East capital programme and subject to SSDC standard conditions for community grants with a special condition added that the group set up a sinking fund for future maintenance of the hall.

Reason:          To consider the awarding of a grant of £3,781 towards replacing the roof and installing new insulation at Mudford Memorial Village Hall.

The Locality Officer presented his report for the community grant for Mudford Memorial Hall.

He noted the three different quotes for works within the report and that the grant was based on the highest quote. The money granted will be given on a percentage basis depending on which quote will be needed.

There were no questions from members and it was proposed and seconded to approve the grant.

On being put to the vote the grant was approved unanimously.

RESOLVED:

That Members awarded a grant of £3,781 to Mudford Memorial Village Hall, the grant to be allocated from the Area East capital programme and subject to SSDC standard conditions for community grants with a special condition added that the group set up a sinking fund for future maintenance of the hall.

Reason:         

To consider the awarding of a grant of £3,781 towards replacing the roof and installing new insulation at Mudford Memorial Village Hall.

(Voting: Unanimous)

The Locality Manager asked to add the Annual Balsam Centre update and funding allocation and a report on Active Travel Routes in Area East to the forward plan.

Cllr Mike Lewis asked about the response from the council regarding reports of phosphates into the Somerset levels.

Cllr Sarah Dyke informed members that there will a response from the environmental team in due course for all members.

Cllr Henry Hobhouse responded by requesting that the ‘license to pollute’ for rivers in the area could be looked at alongside this issue.

Cllr Colin Winder asked if the accounts for the Balsam Centre could be brought to the committee.

Cllr Nick Colbert asked if there could be a report brought forward for Wincanton Sports Ground regarding the financing and support.

The Locality Team manager confirmed that the Locality Team would engage the Wincanton Sports Ground in this matter.

Members noted the planning appeals.

Members noted the schedule of one planning application.

Proposal: Application to vary condition 2 (approved plans) of planning approval 19/02795/HOU to change the facing material of the inset street parking retaining walls from Blue Lias natural stone to painted render finish.

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda and with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, proceeded to show the site and proposed plans. He informed members that the determination was on the parking area wall to be rendered rather than using Blue Lias natural stone. His key considerations were the impact on local area and permitted development fall-back.

He explained that the property is not in a conservation area and with the Blue Lias wall being retained at the front of the property, did not feel that it would harm the local character.

He informed members that the recommendation was for approval, and suggested to members that a condition could be added regarding the colour of the render if they were minded to approve.

Ward Member Cllr Tony Capozzoli expressed to members that he understood the parish council’s views and suggested that a grey colour matching the colour of the stone could be supported that would be more sympathetic.

The Chairman for Keinton Mandeville Parish Council addressed the committee and some of his comments included:

·         There is a cluster of period buildings with Blue Lias in this particular area, which he believed would be harmed.

·         The village is losing its character bit by bit over time.

·         What was the benefit of rendering the wall.

The applicant then spoke to members in support of her application. Some of her comments included:

·         The house has been painted white from grey with grey windowsills, which has improved the view of the property.

·         The formation of the parking area is set to achieve a symmetry with the house and extension of white and soft grey.

·         The proposal does not impact the road facing wall.

·         The Blue Lias wall will be improved and maintained.

After a short discussion, one member expressed the view that use of local stone in villages should be used to retain the character of those villages. The proposal was to refuse the application and keep all the walls in Blue Lias, which is in keeping with the character of the village.

With no further comments, it was proposed and seconded to refuse the application based on the village losing its character by not using the Blue Lias natural stone. On being put to the vote, Members voted unanimously to refuse the application.

RESOLVED:

The Application 20/01992/S73A was REFUSED for the following reasons:

01.  The proposal, by reason of its materials and design, is considered to cause harm to the character of the village and the nearby heritage assets contrary to policies EQ2 and EQ3 of the South Somerset Local Plan and the provisions of the NPPF.

(Voting: Unanimous in favour of refusal)