Meeting documents

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 17 December 2014.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2014, copies of which had been circulated were taken as read and, having been approved as a correct record, were signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Pauline Clarke, Roy Mills and Paul Thompson.

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 2112 (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 Terry Mounter, Shane Pledger, Sylvia Seal and Paul Thompson.

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 Shane Pledger declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) in planning application 14/05217/FUL (land South of South Barton, Martock Road, Long Sutton) as the landowner for the application.  He confirmed that he would leave the room during consideration of the application.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 25 February 2015 at the Village Hall, Norton Sub Hamdon.

Members noted that the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for Wednesday 25 February 2015 and the venue would be confirmed shortly.

There were no questions from members of the public present.

In the absence of the Vice Chairman, the Chairman proposed that Councillor Derek Yeomans be appointed to act as Vice Chairman for the meeting and Members were in agreement with this.

Councillor Sue Steele, as Governor of Musgrove Park Hospital, reported that they had been working with the Royal Marsden Hospital in London to assist with the improved treatment of women with cancer. 

Councillor Patrick Palmer reported that he had attended a Drainage Board meeting the previous day where there had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 144.

The Welfare Benefits Team Leader provided Members with a presentation of the work of the Welfare Benefits Team.  She advised that their successes included:-

·         The team secured eight times the cost of the service in additional welfare benefits for clients.

·         The Team had a 96% success rate of welfare benefit  ...  view the full minutes text for item 145.

(Voting: 7 in favour, 1 against, 2 abstentions)

The Conservation Manager advised that there had been a general review of Conservation Areas across the district, mainly concentrating on market towns, as required by legislation.  He drew Members attention to the three areas where it was proposed to extend the Langport and Huish Episcopi Conservation Area with photographs of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 146.

The Area Development Manager (North) provided Members with an update on the various projects being supported by SSDC over the past months in Area North, including:-

·         The Community Land Trust taking over management of the shop in Norton Sub Hamdon

·         Guidance and support to develop a comprehensive business plan for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 147.

The following updates to the Area North Committee Forward Plan were agreed:-

·         Update on Tourism within Area North – February 2015

·         Community Health and Leisure Updated – moved to July 2015

The Area Development Manager also advised that the Leader + programme had been extended to cover all parishes within  ...  view the full minutes text for item 148.

Members noted the report that detailed recent planning appeals that have been lodged, dismissed or allowed.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Members noted the schedule of planning applications to be determined at the meeting.

The Area Lead Planning Officer introduced the report, advising that since the application had been deferred in November 2014, further information had been submitted by the applicants, which had been circulated to the consultees.  He confirmed that there was no evidence to suggest that the proposed drainage would not be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 151.

The Area Lead Planning Officer introduced the report with the assistance of photographs of the proposed development site.  He advised that the infill plot was visually acceptable, however, the standard Highway acceptable visibility splay was not quite achieved.  Officers felt the Highway expectations were not justified and therefore the recommendation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 152.

The Planning Officer advised that since writing her report, two further representations had been received.  One from the Chairman of Long Sutton Parish Council requesting that permitted development rights be removed at the site and one from a local resident expressing concern at highway safety in allowing a further holiday  ...  view the full minutes text for item 153.

The Planning Officer advised that the application was referred to Committee as her recommendation was contrary to standing Highway Authority advice.  The proposal was to create a single off road parking bay to the front of the property with a disabled ramp leading to the side of the property.  

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 154.

(Councillor Shane Pledger, having previously declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) left the room during consideration of this application.  Councillor Derek Yeomans assumed the role of Chairman).

The Planning Officer advised that the application was before the Committee as the Ward Member had an interest in the site.  The proposal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 155.