Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28 September 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Stephen Page.

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 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 23 November 2016 (venue to be confirmed).

Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for 2.00pm on Wednesday 23 November, at a venue to be confirmed.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Chairman reminded members of an email which had been circulated regarding the retention of telephone boxes. She suggested that any interested parishes or communities should make contact with the Area Development Team.

The Chairman informed members that a date had been set for the Area North Annual Parish Meeting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

Councillor Sylvia Seal reported on the success of the Gold Star Awards held at the Octagon Theatre the previous evening. In particular, she informed members about the lifetime achievement award which had been made to an 89 year old for over 70 years of service as a volunteer.

Councillor Jo  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

The Licensing Manager presented his report, as detailed in the agenda, highlighting key facts and statistics of interest, particularly those specific to Area North. He explained briefly the work of the team including the types of applications, inspections and enforcement action.

In response to comments made by members during a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

The Assistant Director (Communities) informed members of some changes to the reports detailed in the Forward Plan as follows:

·         Rural Transport - to be rescheduled due to officer absence.

·         Rural Housing Needs – will be re-scheduled for the new year as the report will be made alongside an Affordable Housing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

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: Erection of two dwellings and garage block.

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda, commenting that many members would be familiar with the adjacent site which had been previously been discussed and approved by committee for houses. He noted that two previous applications on this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.

Proposal: Redevelopment of existing agricultural building to provide two 1.5 storey semi-detached dwellings.

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda, noting this was the first of two application on adjoining sites. During the presentation he highlighted previously applications nearby. He explained that this application proposed to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94.

Proposal: Outline application for the erection of two detached bungalows.

The Planning Officer briefly presented the application as detailed in the agenda, noting that many of the slides in his presentation and the key considerations were the same as for the previous application (16/03176/FUL).

Mr C Miller, agent, commented there  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.