Meeting documents

Councillor John Clark asked that an amendment be made to Minute 67 of the minutes on 7^th February 2018 relating to Agenda Item 6 Reports from representatives on outside organisations. He wished it amended that he stated that Yeovil Without Parish Council pledged £3500 and not £3000 as detailed in the minute.  Members were happy with this amendment and the minutes of the Area South meeting held on 7^th February 2018 of which had been circulated, were then agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cathy Bakewell, Kaysar Hussain and Sarah Lindsay.

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.

Councillor Gina Seaton declared a personal interest in Item 9, Hardington Mandeville Parish Council Grant Request and Item 10, West Coker Commemoration Hall Grant Request as she is a member of West Coker Parish Council.

Steve Elliott addressed the committee informing members of the forthcoming Yeovil Half Marathon. He informed them that it was to take place on Sunday 25^th March 2018. He said that the course was to follow the same route as last year informing members that over 1700 people had now registered to take part.   He explained the success of the children and ladies fun run, the upturn in registrations due to the recent cancellation of the Bath Half Marathon and the various entertainments that were to take place this year.

The Chairman informed members that following the cancellation of the Yeovil Refresh launch last weekend due to the bad weather he confirmed that it would now take place this Friday and Saturday 9^th and 10^th March 2018 in the Quedam Shopping Centre.

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

Councillor John Clark informed members that Full Council had approved the £94,000 capital grant and that a planning application had been submitted along with a project plan and survey study and design for the Building Regulations.  In response to a question he was hopeful the centre would be built within two years subject to funding.

David Woan President Chamber of Trade and Commerce gave members an update of the work and links with Yeovil Town and the Chamber of Trade and Commerce.  He explained the objective and aims of the group helping to promote the welfare of the town including:

·         Opportunity to gain business links and work with other stakeholders.

·         Help publicise events etc. via the website and social media.

·         Represents all sizes and reflects both rural and semi rural businesses.

·         Engage with both large and small businesses with members being Leonardo Helicopters, Yeovil Town Football Club and SSDC.

·         Executive committee comprising 15 executive members with various skill sets working day to day to provide a wide range of commerce support.

·         Three strategic partnerships:

o   Yeovil College – encourage employers to mentor students and match local employment

o   SSDC – Key stakeholder – consultation with Yeovil Refresh

o   Leonardo Helicopters – work with both the business sector and local authority. Market heritage of helicopters and promote employment opportunities.  Promote and engage with the iAero project a cutting edge aerospace technology centre soon to be built in Yeovil.

·         Bringing members together with various breakfast and lunch functions to communicate and promote business links.

·         Co-ordinate the ‘Love Yeovil’ brand and promote events such as Yeovil Half Marathon and Super Saturday.

·         Work being done to promote town via website and social media.

In conclusion he believed working together with SDDC will help create and enhance the town and become a ‘go to’ regional destination town and together will help to drive and support the economic prosperity of Yeovil into the future.

In response to questions the President Chamber of Trade and Commerce informed members that:

·         Acknowledged the need to promote and provide further marketing of the town.

·         Work with the Yeovil Innovation Centre to help promote and support the facility.

·         Appreciate the concerns regarding the empty shops in Yeovil especially the Quedam Centre.  Working well with them to engage and become involved with the Yeovil Refresh.

The Chairman thanked the President Chamber of Trade and Commerce for his presentation and excellent work.

 (voting: unanimous)  

The Area Development Lead South presented the report explaining one of the key recommendations from the Yeovil Refresh was the need to undertake a car parking review.  She clarified this was not a review of the car park charges but a review of the car parks themselves to look to rationalise them and improve signage, infrastructure etc.

In light of these recommendations the Area Development Lead South had identified £10,000 of unallocated funding within the Area South Transport Schemes funding budget and believed this to be a fair contribution from Area South.  Her recommendation therefore was that Area South allocate the £10,000 toward the review as set out in the agenda report. 

In response to questions the Area South Development Lead confirmed that the recommendation was only to allocate the monies going forward otherwise it would be lost in the next financial year.  She understood that further work regarding the Yeovil Refresh could not progress until more evidence is ascertained from the car park review.

There being no further debate it was then proposed and seconded to support the request to ring fence £10,000 from the Area South Transport budget toward the Yeovil Car parking Review.  On being put to the vote this was carried unanimously. 

 (voting: unanimous)  

 (Voting: unanimous)

Neil Dyer, representative from Hardington Mandeville Parish Council addressed the committee.  He believed the project to tarmac the currently wet, muddy lay bay to allow three parking spaces will help provide a more accessible and safe parking bay for vulnerable people living in and using the church and nearby village hall.

The Income and Opportunities Manager then presented the report and highlighted that the project has had an access audit from Access for All and they were very supportive of the project.  He also confirmed the other 50% of funding had been secured, there was strong member support and had been given long term sustainability from Somerset County Council for the maintenance of the bay.

Following a short debate members voiced full support of the officer’s recommendation and it was then proposed and seconded to agree to grant up to £1,925 to Hardington Mandeville Parish Council towards a new accessible parking bay.  On being put to the vote this was carried unanimously. 

 (Voting: unanimous)

 (Voting: 13 in favour, 0 against, 1 abstention)

The Income and Opportunities Manager presented the report and confirmed to members that the grant was for 50% of the cost for works to improve accessible toilet facilities for users of the hall.  He also confirmed full member support, that the project had scored well and that it has been supported by an Access for All review. 

There being no debate it was then proposed and subsequently seconded to award up to £2370 to West Coker Commemoration Hall for new accessible facilities.  On being put to the vote this was carried by 13 votes in favour, 0 against and 1 abstention.

(Voting: 13 in favour, 0 against, 1 abstention)

 (Voting: unanimous)

The Income and Opportunities Manager presented the report and confirmed to members that the grant was for 17% of the overall cost towards the provision of the ongoing important family support programme.

He considered this an excellent programme that has been fully endorsed and supported by the SSDC Welfare & Careline Officer and that although there was secured long term funding from September 2018 this grant was to help fund the gap between end of April and September 2018. 

The Income and Opportunities Manager also updated members that since the report had been published he was confident the 27% funding gap highlighted within his report had now been secured.  His recommendation was therefore to support the request for a grant of up to £5000 as set out in his report. 

There being no debate it was then proposed and subsequently seconded to award up to £5000 to Yeovil4Family for the provision of on-going important family support programs across Yeovil.  On being put to the vote this was carried unanimously.

 (Voting: unanimous)

The Communities Lead informed members that the Area South Development Plan End of year Report 2017/18 had incorrectly been included twice in April.  The One Public Estate Programme would be incorporated as one report along with the Yeovil Refresh report that will be most likely brought to the May committee.

The Case Services Officer confirmed the next Western Corridor Improvement Update presentation would be at the May meeting.

Councillor Peter Seib requested a response from the Highways Authority regarding the government proposal to allow local councils to charge utility companies for roadworks which cause significant disruption as he believed Yeovil had suffered enormously in recent months.

Councillor Peter Gubbins also requested an update and explanation from the Lead Specialist, Planning regarding the change in legislation regarding planning appeals and the possibility of local councils losing some planning control.

Members also requested a possible training workshop regarding the pending changes to the National Planning Policy Framework.

(Voting: Without dissent)

Members noted the Planning Appeals.