Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 December 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Stephen Page and Jo Roundell Greene.

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, Tiffany Osborne 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.

Councillor Neil Bloomfield declared a personal interest for planning application 16/02783/OUT as he is also a member of Martock Parish Council and the parish council planning committee.

Councillor Graham Middleton declared a personal interest for planning application 16/02783/OUT as he is also a member of Martock Parish Council.

Councillors Clare  ...  view the full minutes text for item 128.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 22 February 2017 at the Village Hall, Long Sutton.

Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee is scheduled for 2.00pm on Wednesday 22 February, at Long Sutton Village Hall.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Chairman reminded members of some forthcoming meetings of interest including:

·         The Annual North Parish Meeting

·         Open meeting with the Police and Crime Commissioner

·         Presentation from Chief Constable Andy Marsh of Avon & Somerset Police at the full Council meeting in February (Post-meeting note – this presentation is no longer scheduled  ...  view the full minutes text for item 131.

Councillor Dean Ruddle noted that after two years of work Somerton had a new car park with 44 spaces and an electric car charging point. New changing rooms at the recreation ground had also been completed and were now in use.

Councillor Sue Steele provided members with a brief update  ...  view the full minutes text for item 132.

The Welfare Advice Team Leader presented the report which updated and informed members about the work of the Welfare Advice Team for the financial year 2015/16. Her presentation included information about the following:

·         Work of the team and how clients are referred to team

·         Statistics for cases and claims

·         Local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 133.

The Senior Housing Officer presented the report, as detailed in the agenda, which provided an update on housing need in Area North based on the Homefinder Somerset housing register as at 15 November 2016. She provided members with a brief overview of Homefinder Somerset, and explained that letters had recently  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134.

The Corporate Strategic Housing Manager presented his report, which provided an update on the outturn position of the Affordable Housing Development Programme for 2015/16 regarding Area North, the position for the current financial year and future prospects. He highlighted key details and provided further explanation about some points in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 135.

(Voting: 6 in favour, 2 against, 1 abstention)

The Assistant Director (Health and Well-Being) presented the report which sought approval for a capital grant of £25,000 to Huish Episcopi Academy towards the enclosure of the existing outdoor pool to provide indoor swimming for school and community use. He introduced Amanda Eastwood, Business Manager for the Academy, who was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 136.

The Assistant Director (Communities) informed members of some updates to the Forward Plan, noting that there may be a need to re-schedule some of the reports due for March. The following changes to reports were noted:

Changes:

·         Rural  Transport – moved to March

·         Area North Development Plan – moved to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 137.

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

The ward member for Islemoor drew attention to the appeal at Broadbridge and noted the amount of research undertaken by a member of the parish council.

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

Proposal: Demolition of existing agricultural buildings and erection of 2 dwellings and a garage with associated parking and landscaping (with some matters reserved).

The Planning Officer introduced the application and provided a brief overview of the site and proposal.

He updated members that two further neighbour letters had been received  ...  view the full minutes text for item 140.

Proposal: Erection of agricultural barn for the storage of fodder and machinery.

The Planning Assistant presented the application, as detailed in the agenda, and explained there was no dispute about the design or justification for the building, but concerns had been raised regarding the position of the barn and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 141.

Proposal: Residential development of up to 24 dwellings.

The Planning Officer presented the application and reminded members a previous application on the same site had been considered by Area North Committee in March 2015. He noted that the disused railway line to the south of the site has always been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 142.