Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meetings held on 20^th February 2020 and 15^th April 2020 (Area West Informal meeting).

The minutes of the previous meetings held on 20^th February 2020 and 15^th April 2020 (Area West Informal meeting) were approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ben Hodgson 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, Sue Osborne and Linda Vijeh.

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 made by Members.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area West Committee meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday 17^th June 2020 using Zoom virtual meeting software.

It was noted that the next Area West Committee meeting was scheduled to be held on Wednesday 17^th June 2020 using Zoom virtual meeting software.

This is an opportunity for the public 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.

Please register your interest to speak at democracy@southsomerset.gov.uk

There were no questions from members of the public present.

The Chairman advised that the Committee was now a full decision making meeting, held under the Local Authorities and Police and Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Act 2020.

He confirmed that voting would be by a named vote and Councillors wishing to speak should indicate using the blue ‘raise hand’ icon.

The Locality Team Manager advised that this was the first year delivering the Area Chapter priorities from the Council Plan.  He noted that the work had progressed as staff moved to new teams and learned new ways of working.  He said some projects had not progressed as quickly and were never achievable within a year and therefore monitoring milestones needed adjusting to the following year.  Quarterly updates on the progress had been provided to Councillors by email and on the portal but they should be presented to Committee in future.  The funding should also be allocated at the beginning of the financial year for monitoring purposes.  The ongoing Coronavirus situation would affect the delivery and funding of some of the projects within the current Area Chapter. 

Councillor Paul Maxwell reported that the solar array and battery project at Merriott Village Hall had been completed thanks to the community grant received.  He noted that the Village Hall Committee had also received a business grant to assist them during the period of closure due to Coronavirus.

In response to questions, the Locality Team Manager advised:-

·         Work was ongoing with other district Councils and the County Council on progressing cycle routes

·         The community grants programme was still live and community groups were encouraged to apply

·         SSDC were monitoring all funding opportunities for Covid-19

·         There was still some business grant funding available

·         Economic development and the outcome of meetings with businesses would be part of the Council’s recovery plan and would be reported to Members.

·         Public Houses could be added to the Council’s Assets of Community Value.

·          

During discussion it was noted that the Heart of the South West LEP were looking at the Stop-Line Way link from Tatworth to Chard.  Government funding was available for cycle ways and pedestrianisation which was being co-ordinated by Somerset West and Taunton Council and SSDC would send a representative to join the group.  It was also noted that some rural public houses were operated by large chain groups and could be vulnerable to permanent closure, although they were eligible to apply for business grants.

At the conclusion of the debate, the Chairman thanked officers for providing a comprehensive report.  Members were content to note the Area West – Area Chapter outturn report 2019/20.

Councillor Mike Best introduced the report as the SSDC appointed representative for ABCD.  He noted that many of the town centre projects were linked to the Key Site planning application for the town.

Members were content to note the report.

It was requested that a report on the progress of the Stop Line Way be presented and business recovery following the Coronavirus closure period be included as part of the Support for Communities and Town and Parish Councils during Coronavirus report.

Members noted the report which gave details of one appeal dismissed.

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

Proposal: Application to vary conditions 3 (phasing) and 9 (highway plans) of planning approval 05/00661/OUT

The Chairman advised that although there were two applications to be determined for the Crewkerne Key Site, there would only be one presentation made by the officer.  A separate vote on each application would be taken.

The Specialist for Development Management introduced the report and advised that both applications to be determined related to the same site on the eastern side of Crewkerne.  She noted that there had been an application for the whole site in 2005 and a further application in 2014 although there had been some discrepancies in the 2014 application.  The applications were seeking variations to the approved plans and conditions relating to phasing and highway plans.  The consultee response from Wessex Water had not been received so the recommendation was subject to no adverse comments received from them.  The Lead Local Flood Authority raised no objection and their comments were read to Members. Page 29 of the report listed the contributions to be secured through the development and there were some small variations to these but they remained secured.  The 2014 application anomaly related to the alignment of the link-road through the site and the drainage scheme and attenuation pond. 

The Specialist for Development Management then provided a power point presentation of the site and the mis-alignment of the link-road and its correction and also the securing of the drainage scheme and attenuation pond.  She concluded that there were no further changes proposed to the scheme and the recommendation was to grant permission.

In response to questions from Members, the Specialist for Development Management advised:-

·         The Highway Authority had not raised any objection to the proposed link-road and the straight part to the south.

·         The wildlife corridor / dormouse bridge was still part of the scheme.

·         The landscaping scheme would form part of the Reserved Matters application and it was hoped this would mitigate the loss of the mature trees to the south.

·         The application did correct a minor technical anomalies

·         A Reserved Matters application had been received for part of the site and was awaiting validation.

The Agent for the applicant advised that there would be additional landscaping to mitigate for the loss of the trees to the south of the site and the dormice bridge was still to be included.  A Reserved Matters application for part of the site had been submitted and they were moving to the delivery phase. 

One of the Ward Members, Councillor Mike Best, advised said the Key Site had been discussed for over 30 years and awards had been won for the design of the development at the North of the site.  He said that the development and the link-road were needed to relieve some of the traffic issues in the town.  He asked that Members support the application.

The other Ward Member, Councillor Robin Pailthorpe, said the Town Council were in full support and he hoped that building work would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 293.

Proposal: Section 73 application to amend the approved plans condition (no. 26) of planning consent 14/02141/OUT to amend the highway plans and the provision of supplemental environmental statements to reflect such changes

Please see previous minute No:

The Specialist for Development Management advised that she had no further comments to add to her previous presentation on application 19/03482/S73.

The Agent for the applicant confirmed that he had no further comments to make other than those relating to the previous application.

The Ward Member, Councillor Mike Best, proposed that that the officer’s recommendation to approve the application be accepted.  This was seconded by Councillor Robin Pailthorpe and when put to the vote, this was agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED: That planning application 19/03483/S73 be GRANTED permission, in accord with the officer’s recommendation, subject to:-

(i)      The prior completion of an updated Section 106 agreement (in a form acceptable to the Council's solicitor(s)) before the decision notice granting planning permission is issued, to secure the following matters in addition to the existing obligations already secured:

a)    To secure the amendments to the alignment of the link road;

b)    To secure the delivery of the attenuation pond for both Outline 1 (05/00661/OUT) and Outline 2 (14/02141/OUT); and

(ii)      Conditions, as set out below (as well as any additional or modified conditions recommended by Wessex Water and the LLFA):

Justification:

Notwithstanding the allocation of this site for employment uses there are material considerations that justify a policy exception to accept a mixed use development of this site. The proposal would maintain a reasonable level of employment land to meet the anticipated need in the town over the plan period and there are significant benefits in terms of the delivery of additional housing to meet the District wide shortfall as well as the need in the town identified by policy SS5. The proposal would have not undue adverse impact on highways safety, food risk, ecology, landscape character or visual or residential amenity. The revised package of planning obligations across the side reflects the viability of the allocated site and is necessary to ensure the delivery of this stalled site whilst maintaining the mitigation measures without which the development would be unacceptable. As such, whilst acknowledging, the policy conflict, there are significant benefits and material considerations that outweigh any harm that might arise.      

Subject to the following conditions:

01.       Details of the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale (herein after called the "reserved matters") shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority before any development begins and the development shall be carried out as approved.

            Application(s) for approval of the reserved matters shall be made to the local planning authority not later than 5 years from the date of this permission and the development shall begin not later than 5 years from the date of this permission or not later than 2 years from the approval of the last "reserved matters" to be approved.

02.       The residential component  ...  view the full minutes text for item 294.