Meeting documents

The minutes of the meeting held on 20^th April 2016, copies of which had been circulated, were taken as read, and having been approved were signed by the Chairman a correct record of the proceedings.  

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Paul Maxwell.

In accordance with the Council's current Code of Conduct (adopted July 2012), 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. A DPI is defined in The Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012 No. 1464) and Appendix 3 of the Council’s Code of Conduct. A personal interest is defined in paragraph 2.8 of the Code and a prejudicial interest is defined in paragraph 2.9. 

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.  As a result of the change made to the Code of Conduct by this Council at its meeting on 15^th May 2014, 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.  If you have a prejudicial interest you must comply with paragraphs  2.9(b) and 2.9(c) of the Code.

In the interests of complete transparency, Members of the County Council, who are not also members of this committee, are encouraged to declare any interests they may have in any matters being discussed even though they may not be under any obligation to do so under any relevant code of conduct.

Planning Applications Referred to the Regulation Committee

The following members of this Committee are also members of the Council's Regulation Committee:

Councillors. Mike Best, Sue Osborne and Angie Singleton

Where planning applications are referred by this Committee to the Regulation Committee for determination, in accordance with the Council's Code of Practice on Planning, 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 Andrew Turpin declared a personal interest in Planning Application No. 16/00331/FUL, as a member of Tatworth and Forton Parish Council.

This is a chance 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.

Anyone wishing to raise matters in relation to items on the agenda may do so at the time the item is considered.

No questions or comments were raised by members of the public.

The Chairman announced that Agenda Item 8 - Chard Business Hub Project would not be considered at the meeting as further discussions on the report were required.  It was suggested that a workshop for Area West members only would be held prior to the start of the June Area West Committee meeting.  Members were asked to email their comments and queries to the Neighbourhood Development Officer by 27^th May 2016.

Members noted that the next meeting of the Area West Committee would be held on Wednesday 15^th June 2016 at 5.30pm.  Venue to be confirmed.

Reference was made to the agenda report, which informed members of the proposed Area West Committee Forward Plan. 

The Assistant Director (Communities) advised that the Environmental Health Service Update Report would be considered at the August possibly September Area West Committee meeting.

It was confirmed that the Chard Business Hub Project report would be considered at the June Area West Committee meeting.

Members were content to note the Forward Plan as outlined in the agenda subject to the suggested amendments.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda and would be considered at the June Area West Committee meeting.

The Assistant Highway Service Manager presented the report which outlined the highway works carried out in the last financial year in Area West and the proposed works programme for 2016/17.  He advised that the Chard A30 High Street scheme was anticipated to commence on 1^st August.  With regard to grass cutting he informed members that the verge cutting of A and B roads had commenced on time.

The Assistant Highway Service Manager noted members’ comments and concerns about local issues within the area which included:

·         A member thanked the Assistant Highway Service Manager for the substantial programme of works for the forthcoming year;

·         A member requested the need for plenty of notice of when the scheme would commence in Ditton Street, Ilminster as it was likely to cause considerable disruption.  The Assistant Highway Service Manager advised that the works would most probably be undertaken in the evenings and take place over two to three days;

·         With regard to the scheme on the A30 Barrows Hill, East Chinnock, the Assistant Highway Service Manager advised that the works would commence in June and the road would be closed with a diversion route from Crewkerne.  He assured members that the bus company would be made aware of the closure;

·         A member raised concerns over blocked drains in Market Street, Crewkerne.

The Chairman thanked the Assistant Highway Service Manager for attending the meeting.

The Committee noted the appeals that had been received and allowed as outlined in the agenda report.

NOTED. 

Members noted the Schedule of Planning Applications to be determined by the Committee.

Application Proposal: Alterations, raising of roof and conversion of building to form two storey dwelling (Revised Application)

The Planning Officer introduced the report and with the aid of slides and photographs summarised the details of the application as set out in the agenda.  He referred to the key considerations which were countryside (isolated) location of the site and Ecological Networks.  His recommendation was for refusal.

In response to members’ questions, the Planning Officer informed members of the following:

·         Confirmed that permission was approved with conditions in 1987 for use of existing buildings as an education centre with store area and workshop.  He had not given any weight to the approval as it was under a different planning regime;

·         The Legal Services Manager explained that the Planning Officer had not felt it necessary for the application to be **.  The Chairman could recommend that the application be referred to the Regulation Committee if members felt strongly that it should;

·         Clarified the definition of core areas and those areas covered by the ‘stepping stones’ designation;

·         In planning policy terms, the site was considered ‘isolated’ because of the distance from key services and facilities;

·         Under the NPPF there was a general requirement to try and seek biodiversity enhancements on all sites.

The Committee was addressed by Sandra and George Beattie, members of Tatworth and Forton Parish Council speaking in objection to the application.  Comments raised in objection to the application included the following:

·         The application would set a precedent for other dwellings to be built;

·         The access road was located on a dangerous bend;

·         The site was isolated and there was a lack of services;

·         The development was out of character within the immediate setting.

The Committee was then addressed by Sarah Holdsworth representing Tatworth and Forton Parish Council speaking in support of the application.  She advised that there were a number of other dwellings in the area and commented that the building was in a discreet position.  She referred to the need for management on the site and that the applicant was prepared to put in the time and money to create a valued working woodland.  The applicant was also prepared for the property to be tied to the woodland.

The Agent, Mike Williams confirmed that the existing building would easily support a construction.  If converted, the appearance of the building would not change in a detrimental way.  He commented that the building was not out of place or isolated and that there were further dwellings to the north and south of the site.  The applicant was committed to developing the property.  There were no highway objections and the proposal would not harm the ecological area and there was no argument over how residential use would affect the ecological stepping stones.

The Applicant, Renny Shepherd advised that there had been no management of the woodland for over 30 years which was a long time for a woodland to be left.  He commented that woodlands were not seasonal and that he was prepared  ...  view the full minutes text for item 155.