Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 27 April 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 April 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Tiffany Osborne and Crispin Raikes.

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 Dean Ruddle declared a personal interest regarding planning application 16/01315/FUL as he is a member of Somerton Town Council.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 29 June, venue to be confirmed. (Please note this June meeting is a week later than normal due to the EU Referendum).

Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for 2.00pm on Wednesday 29 June, at a venue to be confirmed.

Ms M Chambers addressed members regarding agenda item 10 – Area Development (North) – Review of 2015-16. She noted the two headings at the end of the report regarding climate change and equality implications, and queried if each project needed to be monitored on such policies and if so how  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Shane Pledger for his time as Area North Chairman for the last three years, and Councillor Dean Ruddle for his services as Vice Chairman over the past year. She also took the opportunity to thank Charlotte Jones for all her work as Area Development Manager (North)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Councillor Sue Steele referred to the recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) report for Musgrove Park Hospital where their recent inspection had graded the hospital as good overall, meaning the hospital was in the top 20% nationally.

Councillor Sylvia Seal reported that a long-standing member of the Ham Hill Ranger Team  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Members noted the schedule of planning applications to be determined at the meeting.

Proposal: Installation of external wall insulation and change of external finishes.

The Planning Assistant presented the application as detailed in the agenda and noted some concerns had been raised about the finish being render. He explained the reason for the works and that the finish was proposed to be a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Area Development Manager (North) introduced the report as shown in the agenda and provided a short presentation which included information about:

·         Statistical information about the service

·         Local information centres

·         Financial support to projects

During a brief discussion the Area Development Manager (North) responded to points of detail and explained  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

(Voting: Unanimous in favour)

The Area Development Manager (North) introduced the report as detailed in the agenda.

During a very brief discussion, a member commented that the Langport Abattoir Liaison Group meets quarterly and not two or three times a year as stated in the report. The Area Development Manager (North) noted the update  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

(Voting: Unanimous)

The Committee made the appointment of member to serve as the substitutes for Chairman and Vice Chairman.

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.