Meeting documents

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 September 2015.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2015 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Clare Aparicio Paul. An apology for a late arrival to the meeting was received from Councillor Adam Dance.

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 Clare Aparicio Paul, Shane Pledger, Dean Ruddle and Sylvia Seal.

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.

Councillors Neil Bloomfield and Graham Middleton declared a personal interest in planning application 15/03399/FUL as they are members of Martock Parish Council.

Councillors Derek Yeomans and Tiffany Osborne declared a personal interest in planning application 15/03472/S73A as they are members of Curry Rivel Parish Council.

Councillor Derek Yeomans declared a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

Councillors are requested to note that the next Area North Committee meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Wednesday 25 November 2015 at the Millennium Hall, Seavington (to be confirmed).

Members noted that the next meeting of Area North Committee was scheduled for 2.00pm on Wednesday 25 November 2015 at the Millennium Hall, Seavington. It was noted that there was a possibility the venue might change.

There were no questions from members of the public.

There were no announcements from the Chairman.

Councillor Sylvia Seal provided an update about the Gold Star Awards, which was very successful and had been an excellent evening at the octagon Theatre.

The Streetscene Manager summarised the report as shown in the agenda. He highlighted to members key points including:

·         A main focus over the previous six months had been weedkilling – the process was now more mechanised using two quad bikes. The service had successfully completed two treatments across the district.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 83.

The Neighbourhood Development Officer (North) advised that the report about the Conservation Service including the listed buildings at risk report was now scheduled to be made to the next meeting.

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

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

Proposal: Section 73A application to vary condition 8 of 11/00059/OUT allowed at appeal 07.10.11, to allow the hatched red on attached plan to be removed from the condition; parking and turning.

The Planning Officer updated members that since the report had been written, a further letter of correspondence from a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

Proposal: Conversion of redundant outbuildings to a dwelling.

The Planning Officer presented the proposal as detailed in the agenda report, and highlighted the buildings that should have been removed as part of a previous approved application. He noted that in some respects it was questionable if the proposal was a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

Proposal: Change of use, retention of existing pitches and second access, addition of 2 pitches and 3 twin utility blocks.

The Planning Officer updated members that since the agenda had been published, legal advice had been sought. Referring to the mention of an Injunction Order and the status being unknown  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

Proposal: Erection of a tube system solar panel on rear roof slope of dwellinghouse (Retrospective).

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda and highlighted the solar panel had been installed in the late 1990’s by a previous owner. He explained that other listed building matters that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

Proposal: Change of use of dwelling from C3 (dwelling) to mix of C3 and C1 (short stay letting accommodation).

The Development Manager introduced the application as detailed in the agenda and highlighted that some members would be aware of the site and situation as similar applications were considered a few  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

(Councillors Shane Pledger and Derek Yeomans, having declared personal and prejudicial interests left the meeting prior to the presentation of this application. Councillor Dean Ruddle in the Chair).

Proposal: Erection of a detached dwelling and change of use and alterations of existing annexe building to form a separate dwelling (part  ...  view the full minutes text for item 92.