Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 September 2021. The draft minutes can be viewed at: https://modgov.southsomerset.gov.uk/ieDocHome.aspx?bcr=1

(Councillor Mike Stanton in the Chair due to late attendance by the Chairman, Councillor Adam Dance).

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 September 2021 were approved as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Malcolm Cavill, Mike Hewitson and Dean Ruddle.

The Chairman, Councillor Adam Dance was late joining the meeting due to technical issues.

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, Adam Dance and Crispin Raikes.

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 Neil Bloomfield declared a personal interest as he was also a member of Somerset County Council.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 26 January 2022, with meeting arrangements to be confirmed.

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Members noted the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for Wednesday 26 January 2022 at 2.00pm, with meeting arrangements to be confirmed nearer the time.

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 April and July 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.

As appointed representatives on the Huish Episcopi Leisure Centre Board, Councillors Crispin Raikes and Tim Kerley provided a verbal update. They noted the Centre had been struggling due to the pandemic and so had moved to a private supplier. At the current time the directorship role in the future was unknown, and there was a need to come up with a way to protect our interests for the community. They would keep members updated.

(Councillor Adam Dance in the Chair from 2.07pm.)

(Voting: Unanimous)

The Locality Officer presented the report which asked members to consider the awarding of a grant of £12,500 towards the 'Phase 1 Project': New All Ability Accessible Toilet at Muchelney Church. He advised members that three representatives for the project, Elizabeth Nightingale, Richard Tulloch and Dorothy Onslow were present in the meeting to address members and answer any questions.

The project representatives each spoke about the merits of the project and some of their comments included:

·        Value of the grant, if approved, would be two-fold as other funders may be willing to support the project when a threshold of funding has already been secured.

·        Project has been ongoing for several years as much work had been needed with design and permissions to get to this stage. The project will be of benefit to the community and is the first phase of a larger project to open up the church to wider use.

·        The facilities would be for the whole community and not solely for use by the church.

Ward member, Councillor Mike Stanton, expressed his strong support for the well needed project and noted the group had worked very hard over the years to bring it forward to this stage. He proposed approval of the grant.

During a brief discussion members expressed their full support for the proposal and praised the group on their efforts. The Locality Officer and Director (Strategy and Support Services) responded to some points of detail raised, including:

·        Grants could be awarded to churches where projects were opening facilities to the wider community.

·        Due the Local Government Reorganisation it was unclear at the current time what the future arrangements were likely to be regarding grant funding for community projects. The Director noted she would make some enquiries.

·        The planning approval relating to the project was believed to still be within time limits.

The proposal to approve the grant as per the officer recommendation was seconded, and on being put to the vote was carried unanimously. The Chairman congratulated the group on their achievements to date.

(Voting: Unanimous)

There was no discussion and members were content to note the Forward Plan.

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