Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 17^th October 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Marcus Barrett, Jenny Kenton and Linda Vijeh.

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 Mike Best, Angie Singleton and Martin Wale.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area West Committee meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday 12^th December 2018 at 5.30pm at The Guildhall, Chard.

Members noted that the next meeting of the Area West Committee would be held on Wednesday 12^th December 2018 at 5.30pm at The Guildhall, Chard.

This is a chance to ask questions, make comments and raise matters of concern.

Parish/Town Councils may also wish to use this opportunity to ask for the District Council’s support on any matter of particular concern to their Parish/Town.

Anyone wishing to raise matters in relation to items on the agenda may do so at the time the item is considered.

There were no questions raised by members of the public.

The Chair reminded members to respond to the Councillor Survey on Transformation and the Member Portal.      

Cllr. Ric Pallister gave an update on Plot 5 in Chard and confirmed that a play area would be installed by the Spring.

The Assistant Highway Service Manager presented the report which informed members of the work carried out by the County Highway Authority at the halfway stage through the financial year and what schemes are remaining on the work programme for the rest of the year.

During the ensuing discussion, the Assistant Highway Service Manager responded to questions regarding issues within Area West which included the following:

·         The Assistant Highway Service Manager would write to all Parishes when the situation with regard to grit bin re-filling for local councils was confirmed by SCC;

·         It was noted that when the footways works were carried out at Glynswood, Chard, the grit bin had been removed.  It was felt that it should have been the responsibility of the contractor to replace it following the works.  The Assistant Highway Service Manager agreed to go back to the contractor.

The Chairman and members thanked the Assistant Highway Service Manager for all his work and wished him a happy retirement.

The Chard Regeneration Scheme Project Manager summarised the agenda report.  She updated members on the recent engagement that was undertaken with Chard Holyrood School, the Stakeholder meeting taking place on 23^rd November and the work being undertaken to develop the regeneration scheme to support a planning submission.

The Chard Regeneration Scheme Project Manager explained that there was bat evidence in two of the buildings and although it had set back the submission of a planning application changes would be made in the way the scheme was managed to ensure there were no overall delays in the delivery of the scheme.

In response to a member comment, the Chard Regeneration Scheme Project Manager agreed to provide further information to members in relation to the discovery of bats including possible constraints and the mitigation measures in place. 

The Chairman thanked the Chard Regeneration Scheme Project Manager for her update report.

Crewkerne Leisure Management

Members noted the report by Cllr. Angie Singleton updating members on Crewkerne Leisure Management.  Cllr. Angie Singleton informed members that the Directors felt that there was no longer a need for an SSDC member representative on the Board of Crewkerne Leisure Management.

The Communities Lead advised members that a report on the Area Chapters of the Council Plan would be submitted to the December meeting.

Members noted that there were still funds available for Area West Community grants in the current financial year.  The Communities Lead agreed to circulate some further information to members.                         

Members noted the report detailing two planning appeals that had been received.