Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28 February 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jo Roundell Greene, Dean Ruddle and Derek Yeomans.

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 Neil Bloomfield and Graham Middleton each declared a personal interest for planning application 17/04885/FUL, as they are also members of Martock Parish Council which had commented on the application.

Councillors Adam Dance and Crispin Raikes both declared a personal interest for planning application 17/04381/FUL**, as they are also members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 133.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 25 April 2018 at a venue to be confirmed.

Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for 2.00pm on Wednesday 25 April 2018, at a venue to be confirmed.

There was a brief discussion during which different opinions were voiced regarding location of venues, which were noted.

There were no questions from members of the public.

In the absence of a Vice Chairman, the Chairman asked for nominations for a Vice Chairman for the meeting. It was proposed and subsequently agreed, that Councillor Crispin Raikes be appointed to act as Vice Chairman for the meeting.

The Chairman introduced the Case Services Team Leader who needed to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 136.

Councillor Clare Aparicio Paul noted a Langport Water Forum would take place on 11 April at Great Bow Wharf, and there would be some interesting speakers from various agencies regarding flooding and water management.

Councillor Neil Bloomfield referred to the recent email circulated to members regarding major planning applications and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 137.

The Chairman welcomed Angela Kerr, Chief Executive Officer, Citizens Advice South Somerset (CASS) to the meeting.  With the aid of a powerpoint presentation she informed members of the work and future development of Citizens Advice South Somerset.  Information provided in the presentation included:

·         Client statistics and current work.

·         Client issues  ...  view the full minutes text for item 138.

The Corporate Strategic Housing Manager presented his report which provided an update on the outturn position of the Affordable Housing Development Programme for 2016/17 and 2017/18 in relation to Area North, and the future prospects primarily for 2018/19. He highlighted key elements in the report and also noted that although  ...  view the full minutes text for item 139.

The Area Development Lead advised members that the annual report for ‘Making the Most of Martock’ would come forward to the next meeting in April.

Members were content to note the Area North Committee Forward Plan.

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: The erection of 34 No. dwellings and associated works including access, parking and landscaping.

Prior to the officer’s presentation, Members discussed the proposal that the application would be referred to Regulation Committee if members were minded to refuse permission.  It was agreed that information on the date of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 143.

Proposal: The demolition of the existing link attached double garage, rear kitchen, living room extension and conservatory. Erection of a new timber clad one and a half storey side extension. Alterations to fenestration, construction of a new bin/oil tank store and external landscaping.

The Planning Officer introduced the report and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 144.