Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 15 December 2021. The draft minutes can be viewed at: https://modgov.southsomerset.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CId=428&Year=0

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 December 2021 were approved as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were from Councillors Malcom Cavill, Mike Hewitson, Tiffany Osborne and Crispin Raikes.

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 Neil Bloomfield, Malcolm Cavill and Adam Dance.

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 North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 23 February 2022, and will be a virtual meeting using Zoom.

Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for Wednesday 23 February 2022 at 2.00pm, and would be a virtual meeting using Zoom.

There were no questions from members of the public present at the meeting.

The Chairman reminded everyone present that in order to enable members to continue holding remote, virtual meetings, Full Council agreed in December to amend Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution to allow its remote meetings to function as consultative meetings and delegate decisions to the Chief Executive.

Councillor Clare Paul commented she had noticed a high turnover in parish clerks, and wished to make members aware there were a number of vacancies across the district.

Councillor Neil Bloomfield commented he had previously raised a concern with the Locality team regarding the M3 group in Martock, and queried when a report would be available to view. In response the Locality Team Manager noted a report for discussion by members had been drafted and the item could be on the agenda for the next committee meeting if members wished.

(Voting: Unanimous)

The Locality Officer presented the report which asked members to consider the awarding if a grant of £3,050 towards a heating upgrade at the Ridgway Hall in Langport. He advised that Philip Edge, representative for the group, was present in the meeting to answer any questions from members.

During a brief discussion and in response to a point of detail regarding environment and climate strategies, Mr Edge clarified that the group and wider charity in Langport had their own green charter. He noted various options had been considered for the heating upgrade, and the project proposed would link up to the existing solar panel system on the roof.

Ward Member, Councillor Clare Paul, expressed her full support for the project and noted the hard work done by the group.

There being no further discussion it was proposed, and unanimously agreed, to recommend to the Chief Executive that the grant be approved, as per the officer recommendation.

(Voting: Unanimous)

The Chairman advised that the Lead Specialist (Built Environment) is hoping to attend the next meeting to provide a brief verbal update on the phosphates situation. He also reminded members that a report about M3 would also be added for the next meeting as had been discussed earlier in the meeting under agenda item 7.

Members noted the report that detailed the planning appeals which had been lodged, dismissed or allowed.

Members noted the Schedule of Planning Applications to be determined at the meeting.

Proposal: Change of use of a car park space for the siting of a vintage food van.

The Principal Planner (Development Management) presented the application as detailed in the agenda report, and referred to the objections raised by Langport Town Council. He updated members that further letters of representation had been made since the agenda had been published, and there had now been 164 representations in support, and 34 in objection received.

He highlighted the key considerations and noted that competition was not a material planning consideration in this case.

(Due to technical issues a representative in support of the application spoke after the applicant).

The applicant addressed members and explained that she had been trading at the site for a while but with temporary permission, and she was now wishing to extend her hours. She had no intention to excessively use the proposed times of 7 to 7 every day as she had a young family. Some objectors had claimed she was not local, but she lived in Langport, and used local businesses and trades as suppliers. She highlighted that some claims made in objector comments were not correct.

A person spoke in support of the application and made a number of points including:

·        The van brings visitors to the town, especially those who at the current time may not wish to sit indoors. It's well supported by dog walkers, and prdocue is supplied by local shops and other local traders.

·        Any power supply cables are always tucked away.

·        Hours won't be excessive. The van won't be operating for all the hours, but the times would enable flexibility with family and other commitments. The van is often open when other venues are closed.

·        Some comments have been made about selling Xmas trees, but these were not being sold by this applicant but by another trader who was nearby.

·        Surprised to see how many comments have ben received from objectors miles away such as London and Shropshire.

·        Always thought Langport supported innovative businesses.

Ward member, Councillor Clare Paul, read out a statement from fellow ward member, Councillor Tiffany Osborne who was absent. The statement made reference to concerns of the town council and other points including:

·        Applicant hadn't always adhered to hours of previous licence / permission and did this potentially give them an unfair advantage.

·        Sometime takes up more than their allocated space.

·        On occasion, appears to have been selling other items outside the terms of their permission

·        Proposal goes against the green charter and ethos of the town.

Ward Member, Councillor Clare Paul, in referring to the statement she had just read out and the comments made by the public speakers, noted that members had already heard conflicting information about the space and Xmas trees. Acknowledge other traders have used the car park for trading but this has only been on an ad-hoc basis. She was fully behind food and drink concessions and wished to make it clear that she no longer owned a café in Langport  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.