Agenda, decisions and minutes

An apology for absence was received by Councillor Charlie Hull.

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 Sarah Dyke, Paul Rowsell and William Wallace.

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.

A declaration of interest was declared in Item 9 by Councillor William Wallace, he knew one of the supporters of the planning application and was a close friend.

There were no questions from any members of the public present.

The Chairman explained the current procedure with decisions and that this meeting was informal. He then gave members an update on the current phosphates situation.

After enquiring about a planning application that hasn’t appeared on the agenda, the Lead Specialist, Planning explained that this particular application can be approved under delegated sign off and he would look into this.

Members discussed an issue with waste collections and Councillor Sarah Dyke explained that there were ongoing disruptions to services due to a few reasons including difficult in recruiting HGV drivers. Somerset Waste Partnership were working hard to resolve these but there would continue to be disruption until these issues were resolved.

RESOLVED:  That members recommend the Chief Executive agree members:

1.         be appointed to serve on the groups and panels as follows:

2.         be appointed to the outside organisations

Reason:          For the municipal year 2021/22 as set out in the report.

Area East Working Groups and outside organisations

Dimmer Liaison Group: Councillor Mike Lewis

Henstridge Consultative Committee: Councillor’s William Wallace and Hayward Burt

(Voting: Unanimous)

Members considered the report. One member queried whether a representative was required for the South Somerset Community Accessible Transport group and a report would be brought back if it was required. Councillor Sarah Dyke informed members that the Heart of Wessex Local action group no longer existed so a representative was not required.

There were no other changes and members agreed to appoint the same members for the remaining outside bodies.

RESOLVED:  That members recommend the Chief Executive agree members:

1.         be appointed to serve on the groups and panels as follows:

2.         be appointed to the outside organisations

Area East Working Groups and outside organisations

Dimmer Liaison Group: Councillor Mike Lewis

Henstridge Consultative Committee: Councillor’s William Wallace and Hayward Burt

Reason:          For the municipal year 2021/22 as set out in the report.

(Voting: Unanimous)

RESOLVED:

That members agreed to recommend the Chief Executive appoint, in line with the revised Development Control Scheme of Delegation, Councillor Hayward Burt (first substitute) and Councillor Sarah Dyke (second substitute) to act as substitutes for the Chairman and Vice Chairman.

Reason:          In line with the revised Development Control Scheme of Delegation.

(Voting: Unanimous)

RESOLVED:

That members agreed to recommend the Chief Executive appoint, in line with the revised Development Control Scheme of Delegation, Councillor Hayward Burt (first substitute) and Councillor Sarah Dyke (second substitute) to act as substitutes for the Chairman and Vice Chairman.

Reason:          In line with the revised Development Control Scheme of Delegation.

(Voting: Unanimous)

The Chairman would come back to the next Area East meeting with an update on the CAT bus representative.

Councillor Mike Lewis asked about an update regarding Economic development and the support being given to small business to aid recovery.

Members noted the Forward Plan.

Members Noted the Schedule of Planning Applications.

The Planning Specialist presented the report to members and with the aid of a Power Point presentation, proceeded to show the site and proposed plans. He updated members on the amended red line of the site. This had been made smaller since the agenda had been published.

He explained to members his key considerations were Visual Impact in the conservation Area, and Public benefits of parking vehicles off the road, and having access to the sewage tank. The harm of the visual impact in the conservation area outweighed the benefits and therefore he was recommending refusal of the application.

The Conservation Specialist addressed members to explain that the character of the village that was in a conservation area would be altered if the development was to go ahead. This could set a precedent in other open field areas in the village and could then make the area look very different.

A member of the public and a representative from CPRE Somerset spoke in Objection to the application and some of their points included:

·         The two storey building would have a visual impact and stand out in the village

·         The site was within the conservation area and the field is ringed with Listed Heritage assets including the grade 2 listed Church.

·         Suggested there was space down the side of the property for parking.

·         That the sewage tank can be emptied from the side of the road without issues.

·         Was speaking on behalf of 20 residents in objection to the application.

·         As the field was 1 metre above the lane the car port would stand out.

·          There was not an issue with parking on the lane.

There were four speakers in support of the application including members of the public, the owner of the cottage and the Agent. Some of their points included:

·         As a visitor of the area they found walking that part of the lane dangerous when here was oncoming vehicles or cyclists.

·         As the future looks toward Electric vehicles, off-road parking would be need for charging and that planning for this should be taken into consideration.

·         It was the only property in the village without off road parking.

·         It would greatly improve the situation for the resident living in the village and for better access to the sewage system.

·         Highways were in support of the safe access to the sewage system and car port

·         Electric pylons situated next to the property were preventing the creation of parking down the side.

·         The applicant responded to how the plans could be improved by reducing the size of the plans.

Ward Member Councillor William Wallace noted the application was before committee due it being so finely balanced and wanted the application to be heard in the public domain. He would not be commenting or voting due to being a friend of one of the supporters.

Ward Member Councillor Hayward Burt considered that the car port would be intrusive to the landscape and that it fails policy EQ2 of the local plan. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.