Meeting documents

SSDC Area South Committee
Wednesday, 2nd May, 2018 2.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil.

Contact: Jo Boucher, Case Services Officer (Support Services) - 01935 462011  Email: jo.boucher@southsomerset.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

89.

Exclusion of the Press and Public pdf icon PDF 72 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

that the following item be considered in Closed Session by virtue of the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A under Paragraph 3: "Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)." 

90.

Historic Buildings at Risk - Confidential Report

Minutes:

The Conservation Officer summarised the agenda report, which outlined the work of the Conservation Team in respect of historic buildings at risk and updated members on current cases in Area South.  The Committee was asked to note and comment on the report.

The Conservation Officer, with the aid of photographs, then detailed a number of examples of case work relating specifically to historic buildings at risk in Area South.

The Conservation Officer responded to members’ questions on points of detail regarding specific cases.  The Conservation Officer also explained to members the current situation relating to a particular building of interest within Area South and noted their concerns. 

NOTED

 

91.

Minutes of previous meeting

Minutes:

The minutes of the Area South Committee held on 7th March 2018 copies of which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

92.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillors John Field and Kaysar Hussain.

93.

Declarations of Interest

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 District Council’s Regulation Committee

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

Councillors Peter Gubbins, Graham Oakes, David Recardo and Gina Seaton.

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.

Minutes:

Councillor Gina Seaton declared a Personal and Pecuniary Interest in Item 14 Planning Application 17/03673/OUT Land East of Holywell West Coker Road Yeovil as her son owns the garage located near the site.  She would leave the room during consideration of the item.

94.

Public question time

Minutes:

There were no questions from members of the public.

95.

Chairman's announcements

Minutes:

The Chairman reminded members of the changes to the planning call-in procedure. He also congratulated Councillor David Recardo who had recently been made Mayor of Yeovil for 2018/19.

96.

Reports from representatives on outside organisations

This is an opportunity for Members who represent the Council on outside organisations to report items of interest to the Committee.

Minutes:

There were no reports from representatives on outside organisations.

97.

Yeovil Western Corridor Improvement - Update SCC Presentation pdf icon PDF 147 KB

Minutes:

Andy Coupe, Somerset County Council’s Strategic Manager Infrastructure Programmes with the aid of slides presented members with an update of the Programme of Works.

 

He gave members an overview of the scheme, the programme of works and the various means of communication being deployed.  He highlighted that it was a complex scheme and that every effort was being made to minimise disruption.

 

He explained the works in progress to date including the Stourton Way to Preston Road Cycleway (and associated toucan crossings), Westlands Roundabout and Bluebell Roundabout.  There had been a number of challenges to date, largely associated with utility diversions.  The County Council was currently working with the contractor to refresh the programme and would shortly be considering the contractor’s proposals for traffic management for the next phases of work

 

During discussion the Strategic Manager Infrastructure Programmes noted the comments from members and responded to questions including:

 

·         It would be important that proactive communications take place when works change, in particular when new or different traffic management arrangements are deployed.  The need to keep local councillors up to date was highlighted.

·         It was too early to know what effect the challenges which had been faced on the scheme to date would have on the overall programme.

·         Work on the Stourton Way Toucan Crossing (South) would re-commence in a couple of weeks.

·         The location of any utilities identified or diverted would be shown on ‘as built’ drawings once the scheme is completed.

 

At the conclusion of the discussion it was confirmed the next quarterly update presentation be made at the September committee.  A copy of the powerpoint presentation would also be sent out to members with the draft minutes. 

 

The Chairman thanked the SCC Strategic Manager Infrastructure Programmes for his presentation.

98.

Somerset Highways Update report pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Minutes:

(This Item was taken after Items 11 and 12)

 

The Assistant Highway Service Manager presented the report as set out in the agenda and outlined the works to be carried out in 2018/19 with grass cutting due to start in the next couple of weeks.

 

During the ensuing discussion, he responded to questions regarding issues within Area South and confirmed to members that:

 

·         Stourton Way works are the responsibility of the small improvement scheme team and will be carried out by them in due course. 

·         Acknowledged the condition of the roads at Preston Road, Combe Street Lane and A30 West Coker but unfortunately these were not included in the remit of works for this financial year.  However they are being monitored and will be reviewed again for next year programme of works. 

·         Confirmed the closure of the road at Primrose Hill was due to works needing to be carried out for the replacement of a damaged drain that runs down Primrose Hill into Hardington Mandeville.

·         Noted concern regarding the poor patching work carried out in the repair of pot holes and would investigate the issue for concern at Southville, Yeovil.

 

The Chairman and members thanked the Assistant Highway Service Manager for his report.

99.

Area South Development Team - End of Year Report pdf icon PDF 152 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Area South Development Lead presented the report and highlighted to members the work undertaken by the Area Development Team as detailed in the report including:

 

·         Challenges to the Area Development team owing to the loss of some staff due to transformation.

·         Town Centre Events taken place in 2017 including the success of the Christmas Market and the Lantern Parade, increasing the footfall in the town and helping the local retailers.

·         Food and Community event to take place in June 2018 – Members will be informed of further details as soon as possible.

·         Confirmed the street markets are now being managed and run by the new market partner MSD Markets Ltd.

·         The Yeovil Refresh launch and consultation has taken place and further details on the consultation responses will be reported to committee in the near future.

 

The Area South Development Lead also explained to members that the Area Development Update Plan for 2018 would not be brought to committee until later in the year due to the implications of the transformation process and the outcome it will have on the team and its resources.

 

Councillor John Clark wished to thank Yeovil Town Council for their donation of £30,000 to the Westfield Regeneration Project and clarified the final deliverables will go in to the Big Lottery on 4th July including the design of the new centre.  It was hopeful that the centre will be completed by October 2019.

 

The Chairman and members thanked the Area Development Lead, South and the excellent work of her team.

NOTED

100.

Area South Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 76 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Peter Seib requested an update report regarding the progress of the Lufton Key site in Yeovil due to the significant recent development of the scheme.

 

RESOLVED:

(1)

that the Area South Forward Plan and the comments of Members be noted.

 

(2)

that the reports identified by Members be added to the Area South Forward Plan.

 

(Voting: Without dissent)

 

 

101.

Schedule of Planning Applications to be Determined by Committee pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Minutes:

Members noted the Schedule of Planning Applications.

102.

Planning Application 17/03673/OUT Land East of Holywell West Coker Road Yeovil pdf icon PDF 651 KB

Minutes:

(Having earlier declared a Personal & Pecuniary Interest Councillor Gina Seaton left the room during consideration of this item).

 

The Area Lead Planner presented the application as detailed in the agenda and with the aid of a powerpoint presentation showed the site and proposed plans.  She explained this was an outline application with all matters reserved accept access and noted the application has been two starred for reasons explained at the beginning of the report.

 

She also updated members that:

 

·         Four additional letters of objection had been received reiterating objections already outlined in report and concern regarding the timing of this meeting and the period of notice given.  However was happy that all relevant notification had taken place in the appropriate timescales.

·         Concern had been raised regarding Flight safety policy YV4, however there is no requirement to notify the MOD as this site is not within the Yeovil Airfield Flight Safety Zone.  She confirmed it was located within the Airfield safeguarding zone but that this development had no requirement for notification.

·         Acknowledged the concern of the treatment for boundary works due to the health issues of the resident living directly adjacent to the access road.  She believed this issue had now been addressed through the imposition of a Construction Traffic Management Plan condition. 

 

The Area Lead Planner concluded that the majority of concerns raised and examined by the inspector from the previous decision on this site such as ecology, impact on neighbours and the level of development had now been addressed.  She therefore believed there were only three main issues for consideration, these being the Impact on the Landscape, Highway Implications and the Loss of Grade 1 agricultural land.

 

She considered that the South West portion of the site had now been removed from the application, the highway issue was due to the cumulative concern owing to the impact of the urban extension traffic but satisfied the applicant had provided information regarding this and considered there to be no capacity problem regarding movement on the A30.  She also acknowledged the loss of the Grade 1 Agricultural Land but given the Council cannot provide a five year land supply believed this was not a reason for refusal. 

 

The Area Lead Planner therefore concluded that after considering all of the responses and issues, as outlined in the agenda report, her proposal was therefore to approve the application subject to the Section 106 agreement and the conditions as set out in the agenda report.

 

In response to members’ questions the Area Lead Planner and Lead Specialist, Planning confirmed that:

 

·         Under this proposal no trees were to be felled only the removal of the hedgerow.

·         Under this proposal the new proposed road layout would now give priority to traffic coming out from Nash Lane.

·         The scheme seeks to provide 35% of affordable housing.

·         A scheme of this size is required to provide a Locally Equipped Area of Play (LEAP).

·         As the Council cannot currently demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply it is considered that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 102.

103.

Appeals pdf icon PDF 79 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members noted the Planning Appeals.