Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 24 February 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Neil Bloomfield, Crispin Raikes and Dean Ruddle.

In accordance with the Council’s current Code of Conduct (adopted July 2012), 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.  A DPI is defined in The Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2112 (SI 2012 No. 1464) and Appendix 3 of the Council’s Code of Conduct.  A personal interest is defined in paragraph 2.8 of the Code and a prejudicial interest is defined in paragraph 2.9. 

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.  As a result of the change made to the Code of Conduct by this Council at its meeting on 15^th May 2014, 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.  If you have a prejudicial interest you must comply with paragraphs  2.9(b) and 2.9(c) of the Code.

In the interests of complete transparency, Members of the County Council, who are not also members of this committee, are encouraged to declare any interests they may have in any matters being discussed even though they may not be under any obligation to do so under any relevant code of conduct.

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, Shane Pledger, Dean Ruddle and Sylvia Seal.

Where planning applications are referred by this Committee to the Regulation Committee for determination, in accordance with the Council’s Code of Practice on Planning, 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 Shane Pledger declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) in planning application 15/05750/FUL - Long Street Farm, Long Street, High Ham, as the applicant.

Councillor Graham Middleton declared a personal interest in agenda item 10 – Our Place Martock Programme - as a member of Martock Parish Council, who were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 169.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 27 April at the Edgar Hall, Somerton.

Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for 2.00pm on Wednesday 27 April 2016 at the Edgar Hall, Somerton.

There were no questions from members of the public.

In the absence of the Vice Chairman, the Chairman proposed that Councillor Clare Aparicio Paul be appointed to act as Vice Chairman for the meeting and members were in agreement with this.

Councillor Clare Aparicio Paul advised that a Badminton ‘Athon’ was being held on 2nd April at Huish Leisure Centre in Huish Episcopi to raise funds for the centre. The event would start at 2pm and finish at 6pm and it was an opportunity for the public to play  ...  view the full minutes text for item 173.

The Programme Manager for the Somerset Levels and Moors LEADER programme provided an informative presentation to help raise awareness of the programme which had been launched in 2015 and was due to run to 2020.  She confirmed that the programme covered virtually all of Somerset and now covered all the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 174.

The Countryside Manager presented the report as shown in the agenda, and commented that it had been a positive year for the service as it retained its 3 Green Flag awards in the Country Parks and had delivered 74 public events which had attracted in excess of 9,500 people and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 175.

(Voting:  unanimous in favour)

The Neighbourhood Development Officer advised that the grant application was for £12,000 over a 3 year period through a service level agreement.  The Our Place Martock programme aimed to provide advice and information to individuals both at home and at key local points in the community through co-ordination with other  ...  view the full minutes text for item 176.

The Area Development Manager (North) noted there were no updates to the Forward Plan. 

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: The erection of 10 houses and a convenience store with associated parking and access arrangements.

The Planning Officer presented his report to the Committee with a power point presentation of plans and photographs of the site.  He said that since writing his report, a letter had been received from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 180.

Proposal: Erection of a fence and gate to form secure yard. Siting of new shipping container for additional business storage and letting.

The Planning Officer presented his report to the Committee with a power point presentation of plans and photographs of the site.  He said the existing stone pillars at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 181.

Proposal: Application to modify Section 106 Agreement dated 10th August 2011 between SSDC and Joan Louise Canvin, John Charles Canvin and David Frederick in connection with planning permission 10/03245/OUT to pro rata contributions.

The Section 106 Monitoring Officer presented his report to the Committee, advising that the application sought  ...  view the full minutes text for item 182.

Proposal: Partial demolition of an agricultural barn and erection of a single storey dwelling and garage.

The Planning Officer presented his report to the Committee with a power point presentation of plans and photographs of the site.  He advised that the site was just inside a flood risk zone 3a,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 183.

(Having earlier declared a DPI, Councillor Shane Pledger left the meeting prior to the presentation and consideration of the application. Councillor Clare Aparicio Paul took the role of Chairman).

Proposal: Proposed conversion of outbuilding into 2 no dwellings with associated infill extensions, and the erection of a single storey detached  ...  view the full minutes text for item 184.