Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutions.

There were no apologies as all members were present.

To approve the minutes from the previous meeting held on Tuesday 13 February 2024.

Resolved that the minutes of the Planning Committee - North held on 13 February 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and note any declarations of interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

(The other registrable interests of Councillors of Somerset Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: City, Town & Parish Twin Hatters - Somerset Councillors 2023 )

Councillor Bob Filmer declared an Other Registrable Interest on application 24/23/00016 as he was a Division Member, he had made comment on the Outline application but had made no comment on this application and declared that he had an open mind and had not made any decision and will listen to all the merits of the debate before casting his vote.

Councillor Tony Grimes declared an Other Registrable Interest on application 24/23/00016 as he was a Division Member but had made no comment on application 24/23/00016.

Councillors Bob Filmer and Alistair Hendry declared an Other Registrable Interest as they were members of an Internal Drainage Board but took no part in discussion on these applications.

The Chair to advise the Committee of any items on which members of the public have requested to speak and advise those members of the public present of the details of the Council’s public participation scheme.

For those members of the public who have submitted any questions or statements, please note, a three minute time limit applies to each speaker.

Requests to speak at the meeting at Public Question Time must be made to the Monitoring Officer in writing or by email to democraticservicesteam@somerset.gov.uk  by 5pm on day, date, year – usually Weds before.

Details of public speaking are captured under the minutes of the appropriate application.

To consider an application for the approval of the details of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale, for the erection of 40no. dwellings.

That planning application 24/23/00016 Land to the north of Old Bristol Road, East Brent, Highbridge be Deferred to allow for the confirmation from the Affordable Housing officers that they were supportive of the application and consider location of affordable housing within the site; also for a review of the LEAP to a more central position within the site.

(For 8, Against 5)

The planning officer introduced the Reserved Matters application to the Committee with the assistance of a power point presentation. He provided the following highlights of his written report:

The Reserved Matters application was now for 40 dwellings

The Outline application had been approved by the Planning Inspector, the footpath had been agreed and the separate application for the access had also been agreed. The temporary construction access would be removed once the works had been completed.

The levels of the site would not be increased as previously proposed for flood prevention, instead a new pumping station would be built for foul water with a drainage pond for surface water, with a maintenance gap agreed for the rhyne maintained by the IDB, however the rhyne on the west side of the site would need to be maintained and a condition was proposed

16 units of Affordable Housing had been proposed which reflected the outline permission that sought the erection of up to 40 dwellings and formation of access with some matters reserved, securing 40% affordable housing pursuant to the HNA 2018; ; although it was noted that a more recent housing needs assessment dated 2021 had been undertaken showing that 12 homes were needed. The planning officer confirmed that as a general rule you cannot revisit an extant permission and case law confirmed that quantum is not a consideration under the reserved matters of scale.

Landscaping, open spaces and materials to be used for the dwellings were all confirmed as suitable.

The committee were addressed by 5 local residents against the application. Their comments included:

Ø  No consultation had been undertaken by the applicants

Ø  No mitigation had been provided

Ø  Red line boundary is part of their boundary and not Highways land with no legal right to build a bridge across the rhyne, also footpath land still disputed

Ø  Concerns on flooding in the locality and increase in incidents, pumping station/private sewerage not consulted on and will also affect neighbouring dwellings

Ø  Would like LEAP to be moved to the centre of the site

The committee were addressed by a member of the Parish Council who disputed that the Affordable Housing should reflect the most recent Housing Needs survey, they also considered that the LEAP be moved to a central location within the site, that the flooding issues and drainage had not been agreed and that the Parish Council had raised a number of issues within their written response to the consultation on this application which hadn`t been addressed.

The agent then addressed the committee confirming that 40 dwellings proposed with the 16 Affordable Homes as per the outline application, a S73 application approved the footpath, open space, landscaping agreed as per the consultation responses and the design and appearance reflected the character of East Brent. 

Members sought clarification on points raised by the public speakers from the planning officer. It was confirmed that the level of the site would not be raised as proposed previously, with the drainage pump  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.

To consider an application for the retention of change of use to domestic land and proposed erection of a double fronted garage with parking area and associated works.

That planning application 21/23/00013 26 Church Lane, Compton Bishop, Axbridge be Approved with conditions as detailed within the agenda report.

(Unanimous)

The planning officer introduced the application to the committee with the assistance of a power point presentation. She confirmed that an additional reason for the referral to committee by the parish council was due to the potential impact on the Mendip Hills AONB. It was noted that traditional materials would be used and that there would be no overlooking of adjacent dwellings. Additional parking would be created and there were no adverse impacts on the highway; conditions were agreed to mitigate any ecology issues.

The planning officer responded to questions from the committee and confirmed that the change of use of the land had been in place for some time and that no enforcement action had been taken, it was also confirmed that there was no other option for the placing of the garage due to the siting of the septic tank and trees on the land.

It was proposed by Councillor Hendry that the application be approved and Councillor Martin seconded the proposal.

Resolved:

That planning application 21/23/00013 26 Church Lane, Compton Bishop, Axbridge be Approved with conditions as detailed within the agenda report.

(Unanimous)

To receive the report on Planning Appeals Decided between 01/02/2024 – 29/02/2024.

The committee noted the Planning Appeals Decided report submitted with the agenda.

The committee noted the Planning Appeals Decided report submitted with the agenda.