Meeting documents

SSDC Area South Committee
Wednesday, 4th July, 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

18.

Minutes of previous meeting

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6th June 2018.

Minutes:

The minutes of the Area South Committee held on 6th June 2018 copies of which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

19.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillors Cathy Bakewell, John Clark, Kaysar Hussain, Graham Oakes, David Recardo and Alan Smith.

 

In the absence of Councillor David Recardo the Chairman proposed and it was seconded that Councillor Rob Stickland be elected as Vice-Chairman for the duration of the meeting.  This was agreed unanimously by members.

20.

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, Mike Lock, Tony Lock and David Recardo.

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 interest in Agenda Item 14: Planning Application 18/01630/S73 as she is a member of West Coker Parish Council.

 

Councillors Andy Kendall and Tony Lock both declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 14: Planning Application 18/01630/S73 as members of Somerset County Council.

21.

Public question time

Minutes:

There were no questions from members of the public.

22.

Chairman's announcements

Minutes:

There were no announcements from the Chairman.

23.

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 bodies.

24.

Performance of the Environmental Services Team pdf icon PDF 229 KB

Minutes:

The Environmental Services Manager summarised his report to members. He highlighted items within the report to include;

 

·         Investigation and planning underway to safely clean the central reservation areas of the A303.

·         Analysis of the types of waste discarded and picked up from the A303 and the positioning of wheeled bins in the major lay-bys to help reduce the amounts of litter deposited.

·         Investigating the possibility of extending the scope of on-street recycling.

·         Highlighted the large reduction in staff sickness levels within the team over the last year.

·         Continuing to work with the Key4life charity scheme providing young offenders to gain valuable work experience.

·         ‘Community Payback’ throughout the town who carry out a weekly visit with a number of offenders to carry out ‘deep cleaning’ works.

·         The success of the ‘Parish Ranger Scheme’ working with a number of Parishes across the district.

·         Analysis of compliments, complaints and enquiries across all of the service with 1517 enquiries/requests for work, 70 complaints and 76 compliments.

·         Success of the ‘Christmas Tree Shredding Service’.

·         Installation of new tarmac pathways at Grass Royal recreation ground.

·         A considerable reduction in Fly-tipping across the district when compared to the same period last year.

·         As part of the Transformation programme Streetscene rebranded as Environmental Services and now contains the Waste & Recycling Service and management of the Yeovil Crematorium and Cemetery.

·         The operating MOT centre now open at the depot with 17 bookings within the first 3 weeks.

 

In response to questions the Environmental Services Manager informed members that:

 

·         The increase in fly tipping in Brympton may well be due to the waste recycling centre being located within this area.  He noted members concern and would investigate and analysis the waste that is being deposited and where.

·         Confirmed the clearing of waste deposited along the A303 within the area was the responsibility of SSDC and not the Highway Authority.

 

Members thanked the Environmental Services Manager for the excellent work of his team including the successful Ranger’s Scheme.

 

NOTED

25.

Yeovil Refresh Update pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Natalie Fortt, Area Development Lead, North and South presented the report and gave an update on progress with the Yeovil Refresh.  She informed members that she had recently been appointed as the Regeneration Programme Manager and that had only taken up this role from 2nd July 2018.

 

She explained the first board meeting was due to take place on 13th July 2018 which would include discussion on the Terms of Reference, Stakeholder Group and to agree priority projects over the next six months, this included a review of car parks and the pedestrianisation of parts of the town centre.  She confirmed a more detailed report would be brought to committee in October.

 

Councillor Peter Gubbins then reported the Area South members selected onto the Programme Board were Councillors Tony Lock, John Clark and Sarah Lindsay.  He confirmed information would be sent to these members via Sally Nash and that a further email would be sent to all Area South members seeking expressions of interest in serving on the Stakeholder Group.  He reiterated the Yeovil Refresh priorities that would come forward and that the pedestrianisation of the top of Middle Street was a priority.

 

Members noted the progress to date and that a more detailed report will be brought to the Committee in October 2018.

 

NOTED

26.

Portreeves or Corporation Almshouses Trust - Annual Report & Statements for the Year to 31st March 2018 pdf icon PDF 189 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Communities Lead presented the report to members. She explained that the Strategic Housing Team continued to explore suitable sites to meet the requirements of the trust, however due to tight regulations it was difficult to tie into the local Yeovil area.   She explained that should these difficulties continue they would look to go back to the Charity Commission to negotiate terms. 

 

On being put to the vote, members unanimously agreed to approve the annual accounts and to note the update in the annual report.

 

RESOLVED:  that members approved the annual accounts for the Portreeves or Corporation Almshouses Trust and noted the update in the annual report.

 

(voting: unanimous in favour)

27.

Area South Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Minutes:

The Communities Lead presented the report and reiterated that the Yeovil Refresh Report would be brought to the October committee.  She also explained that due to Transformation annual service reports were unlikely to be presented to committee in the near future.

 

Councillor Peter Gubbins requested that a presentation be brought to committee on the update and design of the crematorium. 

 

Councillor Peter Seib asked that Somerset County Council Education Department be invited to committee to discuss future demand and requirements for education as the town expands, in particular the requirement for future secondary school places.  He also asked that Somerset County Highways be invited to discuss the pressures on the Yeovil road network now that development of the key sites were well underway.

 

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)

28.

Schedule of Planning Applications to be Determined by Committee pdf icon PDF 92 KB

Minutes:

Members noted the Schedule of Planning Applications.

29.

Planning Application 18/01765/R3D - Land at Yeovil Recreation Centre Pickett Lane Yeovil pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

Proposal: Application to formalise the use of existing overflow car park to allow use by Yeovil College including 3 No. 5m high lighting columns (with double lamps) and 2.4m high fencing

 

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 updated members that:

 

·         Additional comments had been received from the highways consultant following discussion with locals and although maintains he cannot object to the application he has made recommendations regarding additional works necessary.  These include the installation of an additional footpath at Pickett Lane, additional signage and road marking on the car park, trimming back of trees around the existing lighting column and the seeking of an additional sum for a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to implement waiting orders in Pickett Lane.

·         Additional letters of objection had been received reiterating objections already outlined in report and concerns regarding who will maintain the car park, how the proposal would impact on the proposed clubhouse extension, who will pay for the additional requirements of the highways consultant, concern regarding the use of the back passageway to the college, safety of users of the car park in the winter months and that the car park at Chilton Grove was currently underused

 

The Area Lead Planner referred to the key considerations being the need for additional car parking, Highway safety and Impact upon residential amenity.  She believed given the roadside parking problems at the college there was justification for additional parking and after consideration and discussion with the Council’s engineers believed the additional footpath to be slightly onerous. She also said the addition of the TRO could be considered at a later date.  She did however believe the additional signage to be acceptable and that an additional condition could be imposed to include this request.

 

The Area Lead Planner therefore concluded that after considering all of the responses and issues, as outlined in the agenda report, her proposal was to approve the application and the conditions as set out in the agenda report with an additional condition to include the a scheme for signage and white lining of the car park.

 

Three members of the public then spoke in objection to the proposed development.  Their comments included:

 

·         Concern with regard to the disability access to the site with no dropped pavement up to the site entrance.

·         Access gate to the car park only wide enough for one car to enter or exit the site with no separate pedestrian gate proposed.

·         Confusion over who has overall priority use of the car park.

·         Safety concerns due to the large increase in traffic on Picket Lane and Marsh Lane.

·         Safety concerns for pedestrians/cars/cyclists as Pickett Lane already a very narrow lane with entrance to the car park on a blind bend and increase in traffic will only exacerbate this problem.

·         Concerned about anti-social behaviour if gates are not locked until 10pm.

·         Council should look at other solutions for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

30.

Planning Application 17/04400/REM - Brimsmore Key Site, Land to the North of Thorne Lane Yeovil pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

Proposal: The erection of 642 dwellings with associated landscaping and infrastructure works, access for local centre and primary school, amendment to link road design between Eastgate Square and Tintinhull Road, provision of sports and play areas, public open space and structural landscaping (Reserved Matters of 05/00753/OUT) EIA development

 

The Lead Specialist – Planning gave a comprehensive presentation showing the site, and proposed plans as detailed in the agenda.  He explained the background of the application and history of the site and noted the proposed village square did not form part of the current reserved matters application. 

 

He said the principal had long been established on the site and that this permission gives certainty to the development.  He was satisfied the highways and residential amenity issues had been resolved and believed this to be a development of quality design. 

 

The Lead Specialist - Planning therefore concluded that after considering all of the issues as outlined in the agenda report, his proposal was to approve the application with the conditions as set out in the agenda report.

 

In response to questions he informed members that:

 

·         Additional land had been made available due to the revised masterplan and the proposal of an internal link road rather than being located around the perimeter of the site. 

·         The proposal shows a triangle of land that may be subject to a future reserved matters planning application for bungalow development.

·         Understood there is a general clause within the Section 106 Legal agreement that any street trees planted within the highway have a commuted sum attached to them for the District Council to adopt and maintain.

·         Could not guarantee that the developer would not seek to apply for a variation to the existing legal agreement, however this means of reduction could be lessened given the additional homes on the site and that any application would need to be brought back to committee for approval.

 

The applicant then addressed the committee.  He explained the background of the scheme which started back in 1993 and that the vision was to create a scheme that would encourage walking rather than using a car.  He believed the scheme and proposed location of the village centre was well positioned to achieve this with good links to all roads and footpaths to the south.  He said it was a green leafy site, had retained every mature tree with the aim to be a natural green extension to the town.  It provided a wide range of housing, a new proposed new primary school and an area of woodland.  The scheme had won a number of awards and constructed to a very high standard with quality design and architecture. 

 

Councillor Mike Lock, Ward member voiced his support of the application and praised the excellent quality and design of the scheme.  He recognised the admirable work of the developer and believed this was an excellent development for the town.

 

During a short discussion members also voiced support of the application and appreciation of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

31.

Planning Application 18/01630/S73 - Land North of Bunford Lane Yeovil pdf icon PDF 687 KB

Minutes:

Proposal: Application to vary conditions 2 (approved plans), 16 (noise mitigation), and 17 (travel plan) and remove conditions 4 (finished floor levels) and 8 (access arrangements) of approval 16/03628/FUL

 

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 told members that this application was originally passed in 2016 however the Council had now received an application to vary some of the previous approved plans and conditions. 

 

She updated that the Highways Authority had no objections to the majority of the proposal; however they had objected to variation of Condition 15 in relation to the travel plan.  It was suggested that this objection could be resolved by requiring that the Travel Plan be submitted three months prior to occupation.

 

She believed the design has maintained its contemporary approach and layout with no loss of floor space and that there was no change to the highways proposal. Therefore after considering all of the issues as outlined in the agenda report, her proposal was to approve the application with the amendment to condition 15 and as set out in the agenda report.

 

The applicant then addressed the committee and explained she was acting on behalf of SCC as architect and planning consultants.  She said this proposal was being led by South West Enterprise Partnerships with an aim to nurture aerospace innovation.  She believed these were modest changes and were within budget in order for the development to proceed with the funding that has been secured.  She confirmed that although the overall footprint of the building had reduced the internal net floor space remained the same and therefore the number of employees would not be reduced.  She said SSDC are committed to this scheme and that the contractor has been approved with work due to start in October this year with the aim to open in September 2019.

 

Councillor Nigel Gage, Ward member voiced his support of the application and believed this to be an excellent scheme.

 

There being no further debate it was then proposed and subsequently seconded that planning permission be approved as per the officers recommendation as set out in the agenda report and with the amendment to condition 15 to include the travel plan be submitted three months prior to occupation.  On being put to the vote this was carried by 10 votes in favour, 0 against and 2 abstentions.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That application 18/01630/S73 be APPROVED for the following reasons:

 

01.       The proposed variations to the approved plans are considered to respect the character of the area and cause no demonstrable harm to visual amenity or highway safety. The development  represents sustainable development that aims to improve the economic condition of the area, is of a design that is distinctive and inventive and development which respects the character of the area and causes no operational issues to the adjacent airfield or the local highway network in accordance with the aims and objectives  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

32.

Planning Appeals (For Information) pdf icon PDF 23 KB

Minutes:

Members noted the Planning Appeals.