Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 March 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 23 March 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Sue Steele. An apology for a late arrival was received from Councillor Adam Dance.

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 Derek Yeomans declared a personal and prejudicial interest regarding planning application15/05090/FUL as he part-owned a property close to the site.

Councillor Dean Ruddle declared the following interests:

·         Personal interest regarding planning application 15/04331/S73 as a member of Somerton Town Council.

·         Personal interest regarding planning application 15/03585/OUT as a member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 187.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 25 May at the Village Hall, Long Sutton.

Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for 2.00pm on Wednesday 25 May, at Long Sutton Village Hall.

There were no questions from members of the public.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

There were no reports from members.

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: Section 73 application to vary condition no. 25 of planning approval 10/03704/FUL dated 17/05/2013 to amend the list of approved drawings to amend house types.

The Planning Officer introduced her report and briefly reminded members why the application had been previously deferred. She noted there had been further consultat  ...  view the full minutes text for item 195.

(Councillor Dean Ruddle having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this application remained in the meeting until he had made his ward member representation, and then left the room for the debate and decision.)

Proposal: Outline application for the construction of up to 59 dwellings with a new vehicular  ...  view the full minutes text for item 196.

(Councillor Dean Ruddle having declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest remained absent from the room for the presentation and consideration of this application).

Proposal: Erection of a new retail unit (Revised Scheme).

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda report and briefly explained why a revised scheme  ...  view the full minutes text for item 197.

Proposal: Erection of a single dwelling with associated access (reserved matters)

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda report, and noted this was a follow-up to an outline application approved on appeal. He highlighted that amenity issues had been addressed at the outline stage.

Members were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 198.

Proposal: Outline application for the erection of a single dwelling and associated access utilising existing access track.

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in his report. He clarified it was an outline application and referred to a nearby previously approved site. He highlighted the key considerations and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 199.

Proposal: Conversion of a double garage into a one bedroom dwelling (retrospective).

The Planning Officer presented the application, and gave a brief overview of the history of the site.

Mr J Wood of Huish Episcopi Parish Council, noted they had originally objected, however on doing a little research on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 200.

(Councillor Derek Yeomans and Shane Pledger, having declared personal and prejudicial interests, left the meeting prior to this application being presented and considered.)

Councillor Dean Ruddle took the role of Chairman.

Proposal: Change of use of agricultural storage barns to domestic storage and workshop for Long Sutton House. Change of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 201.