Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Virtual Meeting using Zoom meeting software. View directions

Contact: Becky Sanders, Case Officer - 01935 462596  Email: becky.sanders@southsomerset.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

175.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Neil Bloomfield, Louise Clarke, Tiffany Osborne and Dean Ruddle.

176.

Declarations of Interest

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 Neil Bloomfield, Malcolm Cavill, Adam Dance and Crispin Raikes.

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.

Minutes:

Whilst not an interest, the Chairman noted for transparency that both he and Councillor Crispin Raikes were also members of South Petherton Parish Council who had also given a grant to RamaLife (item 7 on the agenda).

177.

Date of next meeting

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 26 May at 2.00pm – meeting arrangements to be confirmed.

Minutes:

Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for 2pm on Wednesday 26 May 2021, with the meeting arrangements to be confirmed.

178.

Public question time

Minutes:

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

179.

Chairman's announcements

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that following the death of HRH Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, the previous week, a two minute silence would be observed to recognise his life, service and in memory and honour of the Duke. 

 

A two minutes silence was observed by those present in the meeting.

 

180.

Reports from members

Minutes:

There were no reports from members.

181.

Community Grant to Rama Life CIC Community Minibus - Get Petherton Moving! (Executive Decision) pdf icon PDF 266 KB

Decision:

RESOLVED:

That Area North Committee approved that a grant of £12,500 be awarded to Rama Life CIC, the grant to be allocated from the Area North Community Grants Programme, towards the provision of a fully accessible, affordable Community Minibus for community transport, subject to SSDC standard conditions for community grants (Appendix A).

 

Reason:

To consider a capital grant and revenue grant request for funding towards the purchase of a Community Minibus to assist in providing community transport.

 

(Voting: Unanimous)

Minutes:

The Locality Officer presented the report which asked members to consider awarding a grant of £12,500 towards community transport. He advised that Jenn Hodge from Rama Life was present to answer any questions.

 

During discussion the Locality Officer and Jenn Hodge responded to points of detail and some of their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 181.

182.

Presentation on the Role of Scrutiny pdf icon PDF 34 KB

Minutes:

The Specialist (Scrutiny & Member Development) introduced one of the Vice- Chairmen of Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Sue Osborne, who provided a presentation on the role of Scrutiny.

 

Some of the points covered in the informative presentation included:

·        The main activities of the Scrutiny Committee.

·        Principles of good Scrutiny in local authorities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 182.

183.

Area North Committee Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 136 KB

Minutes:

There was no discussion and members were content to note the Forward Plan.

184.

Planning Appeals pdf icon PDF 33 KB

Minutes:

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