Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 June 2022. The draft minutes can be viewed at: https://modgov.southsomerset.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CId=428&Year=0.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 June 2022 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Neil Bloomfield and Dean Ruddle. Councillor Malcolm Cavill was present on-line via Zoom.

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 Adam Dance and Dean Ruddle.

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 Crispin Raikes declared a personal interest for item 8 on the agenda – Grant for East Lambrook School Room - as a few years previously he had been a member of the Parochial Church Council.

Councillors Mike Stanton, Tim Kerley, Adam Dance and Crispin Raikes each declared a personal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 14 December in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil.

(This is two weeks earlier than usual due to some meeting dates being brought forward due to the Christmas period).

Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for Wednesday 14 December 2022 at 2.00pm.

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

The Chairman reminded everyone present that Councillors online via Zoom were not able to vote on any item on the agenda.

Councillor Crispin Raikes reminded members that he and Councillor Tim Kerley were no longer members of Huish Episcopi Leisure Centre Board. As the Centre was now run by a private provider they had been advised by the SSDC Legal Team to resign from the Board, which they had both now  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

(Voting: Unanimous)

The Locality Officer introduced the report which asked members to consider the awarding of a grant towards refurbishment of the East Lambrook School Room. He noted all detail was included within the report and he was happy to take any questions.

The Chairman noted two representatives of the School Room  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

(Voting: Unanimous)

The Locality Officer introduced the report which asked members to consider the awarding of a grant towards all ability access improvements at Ash Village Hall Car Park. He noted all detail was included within the report and he was happy to take any questions.

One member queried the scoring for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

The Chairman updated members that there were no further grants applications to be considered and therefore the item would be deleted from the Forward Plan.

A member commented that he had hoped, at an Area level, there might at some point have been a presentation on Section 106 payments and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

There was no discussion, and members were content to note the report that detailed the planning appeals which had been lodged, dismissed or allowed.

Members noted the Schedule of Planning Applications to be determined at the meeting.

Proposal: Construction of Visitor Centre and associated bin store, with provision of services and drainage works, and associated car park and highway improvements.

The Principal Planner (Development Management) introduced the application and provided members with several updates to the report since the agenda had been published, including:

·        Stoke Sub Hamdon  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

Proposal: Installation of property gates at the end of Water Street and along the access drive to Barrington Court.

The Principal Planner (Development Management) presented the application,and explained in detail the location of proposed gates. He highlighted the key considerations and also the objections raised by Barrington Parish Council. It  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.