Agenda, decisions and minutes

To appoint a Vice-Chairman for the remainder of the municipal year.

The Chairman, Councillor Clare Aparicio Paul, seconded by Councillor Sue Steele, nominated Councillor Derek Yeomans as Vice-Chairman of Area North Committee.

Councillor Adam Dance, seconded by Councillor Stephen Page, nominated Councillor Crispin Raikes as Vice-Chairman of Area North Committee.

A vote was taken and it was:

RESOLVED:  that Councillor Crispin  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

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

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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor 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 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 Clare Aparicio Paul declared a personal interest in Item 14 – Planning Application 16/02970/COU as she is a member of Kingsbury Episcopi Parish Council. 

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 26 October 2016 at a venue to be confirmed.

Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for 2.00pm on Wednesday 26 October, at the Edgar Hall in Somerton.

Ann Campbell a resident of Long Load addressed the committee and spoke in support of Item 10, Grant to Long Load Village Hall Management Committee.  She thanked the committee for considering this grant application which she believed had an excellent Programme Manager and team of local villagers who are prepared  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

With the aid of slides the Chairman updated members on the Kingsbury Village Hall project clarifying it was still on budget. She also informed members that the Huish Leisure and Swimming pool project was on target and that an open evening is being planned.

Councillor Sylvia Seal informed members of a Loneliness event taking place on Monday 10^th October 2016 aimed at the risk of loneliness in the elderly population of Somerset.  The Assistant Director explained the idea of the event aimed to identify practical ways to address the issues and provide support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

The Assistant Highway Service Manager presented the report as set out in the agenda.

During the ensuing discussion, the Assistant Highway Service Manager noted the comments of members and responded to questions regarding issues within Area North concerning the delays in the collection of highway signage.  He also acknowledged concern  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

(Voting: unanimous in favour)

The Neighbourhood Development Officer presented the report and with the aid of slides informed members:

·         Only remaining community building and public meeting place within the village.

·         Grade II listed building which was a village school until 1960.

·         Recently awarded a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

·         Recently gifted outside space.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

The Assistant Director, Communities explained to members that the Policing and Community Safety Report would now be brought to the November Committee and the Arts and Entertainment Service Update Report be brought to committee early next year. 

She also informed members that a previous request for a viability assessment report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

Members noted the Planning Appeals.

Members noted the Schedule of Planning Applications.

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda and with the aid of a power point presentation showed the site and proposed plans and confirmed there were no further updates to the report.

She referred to the key consideration being Landscape Impact and Visual Amenity and although  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81.