Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 21^st August 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ben Hodgson, Jenny Kenton, Paul Maxwell and Tricia O’Brien.

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 Jason Baker and Sue Osborne.

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 Val Keitch declared a personal interest in Planning Application No. 18/03454/OUT – Land Adj Winterhay Lane Farm, The Beacon, Ilminster, as ward member.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area West Committee meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday 16^th October 2019 at 5.30pm at The Guildhall, Chard.

Members noted that the next scheduled meeting of the Area West Committee would be held on Wednesday 16^th October 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.

Members were advised that there was a possibility of an extra Area West Committee meeting being held in October due to the high volume of planning applications expected to come forward.

Members were reminded that there was an IT Support Surgery being held on Thursday 19^th September at 5.00pm in the Council Chamber.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda and would be considered at a future meeting.

The Locality Manager advised that the Historic Buildings at Risk report would not be coming forward.

Cllr. Val Keitch said that she would check with Ilminster Forum as to whether they still require a council representative.   

Members congratulated officers on their successful bid to the Historic England High Streets Heritage Action Zone fund.

Members noted the report detailing one planning appeal received and four dismissed.

Members noted the schedule of planning applications to be determined by the Committee.

Proposal: Outline application for the erection of two dwellings with garaging

The Specialist – Development Management presented her report.  She reminded members that the application had been deferred at the July Area West Committee meeting to allow for additional information to be submitted regarding the access arrangements.  Members were shown an indicative layout of where the proposed dwellings would be located, the type of dwellings that could fit into the landscape including indicative planting which would be agreed as part of the reserved matters application.  Plans were also shown illustrating the indicative levels of the site, the driveway and parking area.  The Specialist – Development Management pointed out the access point and confirmed that a gradient of 1:10 was achievable.  The visibility splays required along the access points were also highlighted.  She referred to the key considerations which were visual amenity, highway safety and landscape impact and advised that the application had received one letter of representation, seven letters of support and four letters of objection and that the town council recommended approval.

The Specialist – Development Management updated that County Highways had referred to standing advice in respect of the amended plans and that one additional letter had been received from a previous objector seeking a number of conditions in relation to burning material on site, operational hours, limiting of noise levels, restriction to deliveries, drains and footpath and highway to be kept clear.  In referring to the landscape and visual amenity, she explained that the site was identified in the Landscape Capacity for Ilminster as having a low capacity to accommodate built development.  She also referred to the submitted Landscape Statement and highlighted that advice had been consistent for this site and other sites to the south over the adverse impact on the landscape character and character of the area.

With regard to highways, members were informed that additional plans and a transport statement had been submitted to show that the access could meet the requirements of standing advice.  She confirmed that the visibility splays, trip generations to the site, gradient and access width were considered acceptable. 

The Specialist – Development Management confirmed that her reasons for refusal under highway grounds were to be omitted from her report.  She concluded that as the adverse impact on the landscape character and character of the area outweighed the harm her recommendation for refusal of the application on landscape grounds remained.

In response to questions from Members, the Specialist – Development Management confirmed:

·         The Landscape Capacity Study was carried out by SSDC Planning Policy as part of the Housing Options report.

·         The plans were only indicative of how the layout could look.  The layout, landscaping, scale and design would be assessed at the reserved matters stage.

·         The access width was achievable and could be conditioned.

·         Ilminster Parish Council recommended approval of the application.  No comments had been received in response to the amended plans.

·         The road to lower farm was not part of the application.

·         The site was not covered by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 213.