Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21^st December 2021. The draft minutes can be viewed at: https://modgov.southsomerset.gov.uk/ieDocHome.aspx?bcr=1

The minutes of the Regulation Committee (Informal) meeting held on 21^st December 2021, copies of which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillors Malcolm Cavill and Sue Osborne.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no questions from members of the public.

Proposal: S73 Application to vary conditions 01 (appearance, landscaping, layout and scale herein after called the 'reserved matters') of planning approval 19/03482/S73; (relating to 05/00661/OUT, Comprehensive mixed use development for 525 dwellings, employment (B1, B2, B8) primary school, community facilities, playing fields, parkland, P.O.S. structural landscaping and associated infrastructure including link road and highway improvements);

The Principal Specialist presented the report and with the aid of slides explained the history of the site giving details of the previously approved planning permissions on the site.  He explained this application is brought to committee to seek to vary condition 1 of planning approval 19/03482/S73 which had varied the original outline permission 05/00661/OUT and would allow for preparatory works to take place for the creation of the link haulage road. 

He believed this would help reduce the trips on road and considered it therefore to be an acceptable outcome.   However, he did highlight concern around the mitigation of the wildlife habitat onsite such as the dormice and otters and the need to have a mitigation strategy to protect the biodiversity of the site moving forward.  He therefore advised that the appropriate condition be amended to mitigate these concerns.

The Principal Specialist also updated members that he had received a further public comment requesting that the applicant undertake a public exhibition of their submissions and also expressed concerns on traffic exiting onto the A30 and movements through Crewkerne. 

In response he advised that Crewkerne Town Council had asked the applicant to undertake a public exhibition and considered it a matter between those two parties to resolve.  He also advised that conditions were already included that required a Construction Environmental Management Plan to be submitted and approved by the Highways authority.

The Principal Specialist with the aid of slides then proposed that two amendments be made to conditions 7 and 14 as follows:

·         to condition 7 to include the wording ‘Ecological Management ‘

·         to condition 14 to amend the wording to ensure and clarify a suitable trigger is in place regarding the surface water run-off limitation scheme

He also highlighted the two key considerations being:

·         Impact upon highway network – believed this application will allow vehicles to move within the site.

·         Impact upon Ecology – allow conditions to trigger the submission of biodiversity mitigation proposals to protect the otter and dormice habitat and ensure they take place before the commencement of the haul road.

A member of the public then addressed the committee and although stated she was not objecting to the proposed haul road she did raise concern regarding the wildlife habitat of various species such as the dormouse, otters and badgers.  She said clarification was needed on how these species will be protected to ensure it is not detrimental to wildlife on the site.  She also sought clarification regarding the access to the southern site.

In response the Principal Specialist commented that conditions were in place to ensure the Landscape and Environmental Management Plan would provide suitable mitigation regarding any biodiversity issues  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

The next scheduled meeting of the Regulation Committee (Informal) will be held on Tuesday 15^th February 2022 at 10.00am. However this meeting will only take place if there is business to conduct.

Members noted the date of the next meeting.