Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 27 September 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendment:-

Minute 51, Reports from Members: third bullet point be amended to:-

·         The Somerton and Langport Links bus service was due to cease operation on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Clare Aparicio Paul, Adam Dance and Stephen Page.

In accordance with the Council’s current Code of Conduct (as amended 26 February 2015), 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. 

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.  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. 

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, Neil Bloomfield and Sylvia Seal.

Where planning applications are referred by this Committee to the Regulation Committee for determination, 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.

Councillors Gerard Tucker and Crispin Raikes declared a personal interest in Agenda item 15 – Planning Application 17/03142/FUL at Cocklemoor car park, Langport, as temporary members of Langport Town Council.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 22 November 2017 at a venue to be confirmed.

Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for 2.00pm on Wednesday 22 November 2017, at a venue to be confirmed.

It was agreed that members of the public present would speak at the time the item they were interested in was discussed.

The Chairman advised that he had attended a very interesting training day provided by the South West Audit Partnership the previous day. 

Councillor Crispin Raikes advised that he was the appointed representative to Strode College Community Education Advisory Committee however, the meetings had been reduced from quarterly to half-yearly and he was concerned the committee may disband altogether despite their productivity.

(Voting: unanimous in favour )

The Area Development Lead (North) introduced the report and advised that although a Big Lottery Awards for All grant had been received towards the roofing project, the roofing contractor had advised bringing forward the guttering and fascia board work while the scaffolding was in place.  This would be Phase 2  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

(Voting: unanimous in favour )

The Neighbourhood Development Officer advised that the application for £5,000 was towards a programme of works at Norton sub Hamdon Village Hall which included replacing the decking, patio doors and painting the wooden cladding.  She noted that the hall was a popular venue used by all age groups and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

The Arts Development Officer spoke of the arts organisations which she worked with, including Take Art, Actiontrack, Somerset Arts Week and Somerset Film.  She said that SSDC also supported initiatives with voluntary and professional artists as well as local arts centres in Somerton and South Petherton and a new arts  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

The Development Manager advised that in 2008/09 there was a perception that Section 106 payments were not being collected and so the Section 106 Officer post was created.  He confirmed that no money had been lost and he was confident that the collecting, holding and spending of Section 106 funds  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

The Communities Lead advised that the plan listed the reports to be presented in the following 3 months.  Reports in italics had not yet been confirmed.   

There were no updates or additional reports requested and Members were content to note the report. 

Members noted the report that detailed planning appeals which had been lodged, dismissed or allowed.

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

Proposal: Temporary location of mobile service providers.

The Planning Officer introduced the report and advised that the application was for the use of parts of the car park for the parking of a mobile banking unit.  This could currently operate for 28 days per year without planning permission however, it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

Proposal: Part change of use of land, the erection of 1 No. dwelling and detached triple garage.

The Planning Officer introduced the report and advised that planning permission already existed for a dwelling although it was sited closer to the existing dwelling.  A larger dwelling was now proposed further down  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.