Meeting documents

SSDC Area South Committee
Wednesday, 3rd October, 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

16.

Minutes of previous meeting

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 5th September 2018.

Minutes:

The minutes of the Area South Committee held on 5th September 2018 copies of which had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

17.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence was received from Councillor Cathy Bakewell.

18.

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 Peter Gubbins declared a personal interest in Item 10 Planning Application 18/02019/FUL as he is the Portfolio Holder and personal interest in Item 11 Planning Application 17/02896/FUL as he is Chairman of the Yeovil Refresh Board.

 

Councillor Sarah Lindsay declared a personal interest in Item 11 Planning Application 17/02896/FUL as she is a member of the Yeovil Refresh Programme Board.

 

Councillor Rob Stickland declared a personal interest in Item 10 Planning Application 18/02019/FUL as he is Vice Chairman of the Yeovil Crematorium and Cemetery Committee.  He also declared a personal interest in Item 11 Planning Application 17/02896/FUL as he owns a flat in Wyndham Court however it does not face the application site and he is also a member of the Yeovil Refresh Stakeholder Group.

 

Councillor Graham Oakes declared a personal interest in Item 10 Planning Application 18/02019/FUL as he is a member of the Yeovil Crematorium and Cemetery Committee.

 

Councillor John Clark declared a personal interest in Item 11 Planning Application 17/02896/FUL as she is a member of the Yeovil Refresh Programme Board.

 

Councillor Mike Lock declared a personal interest in Item 11 Planning Application 17/02896/FUL as he is a member of the Yeovil Refresh Stakeholder Group.

 

Councillor Gina Seaton declared that she is a member of the West Coker Parish Council.

 

19.

Public question time

Minutes:

The Chairman of Friends of Ham Hill Community Group addressed the committee and asked what support was available for the future development of the Ham Hill Country Park including health and well-being, strategic and further economic development in order to benefit and attract people to the area.  He also asked what opportunities were being developed with regard to income generation to help renovate, maintain and further develop facilities for the future of the park.

 

In response the Leisure and Recreation Manager- Commercial Services & Income Generation advised that the Country Park now sits within the Commercial Directorate of the Council and agreed there was a need to develop and rejuvenate the Country Park.  It is a complex site however and she confirmed they are working towards drafting a comprehensive Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Grant Bid as detailed in the Leisure and Recreation business plan.  Before submission to HLF in 2019 she confirmed there will be broad consultation with partners, parishes and volunteers.  She acknowledged the need for appropriate income generation opportunities for Ham Hill Country Park and that work is being completed to bring these forward.

 

 

20.

Chairman's announcements

Minutes:

There were no Chairman’s Annoucements.

21.

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:

Councillor Andy Kendall informed the committee that it was his understanding that the ‘South Somerset Mind’ organisation no longer exists and that it was now known as ‘Somerset Mind’.  His comments were noted and further research would be carried out to confirm this. 

22.

Yeovil Refresh Update Report pdf icon PDF 95 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Regeneration Programme Manager presented the report and gave members an update on progress with the Yeovil Refresh. She introduced Ian Timms, the Refresh Project Manager who will be working with SSDC for three days a week.  She also updated members on the Car Park Review and that a successful bidder had been agreed, however procurement rules required a cooling off period before confirmation of the successful bidder can be given, nonetheless the project was progressing well. 

 

She concluded overall the Yeovil Refresh programme was on track and there was an increase in market confidence with new businesses opening in the town and the challenge to retain this position.

 

In response to a members question the Regeneration Programme Manager confirmed that no decisions have been made yet on the location of the disabled bays within the town centre and that it was only investigative work being undertaken at this stage.

 

There being no further debate members were happy to note the report and progress to date.

 

NOTED

 

 

23.

Area South Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 76 KB

Minutes:

Councillor David Recardo requested that the Chief Executive from Yeovil District Hospital be invited to committee early next year to give members an update on the performance and any future expansion and objectives of the hospital.

 

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)

 

 

24.

Schedule of Planning Applications to be Determined by Committee pdf icon PDF 86 KB

Minutes:

Members noted the Schedule of Planning Applications.

25.

Planning Application 18/02019/FUL Yeovil Crematorium Bunford Lane Yeovil pdf icon PDF 712 KB

Minutes:

Application Proposal: Refurbishment of the existing crematorium building to include improvements to the external envelope and façade as well as new porte-cochere.  Development of new second chapel and subsidiary spaces.  Relocation of chapel of remembrance to existing floral tributes area.  Enhancements to surrounding amenity spaces.

 

The Area Lead Planner presented the application as detailed in the agenda and with the aid of a power point gave a presentation showing the site and proposed plans.  She confirmed to members, as stated in the report that as part of the Western Corridor highways improvement works, motorists will be discouraged from turning right in to the crematorium and will instead access the site from the left hand lane only via the Bunford Lane roundabout.

 

She referred to the key considerations being the visual impact, residential amenity, highways issues/parking and Ecology.  She considered it to be a well contained site with good mature trees and planting to be retained, also being an appropriate enlargement of the site with no impact on the residential amenity due to the considered siting of the chapel.  There are no proposed changes to the routes though the site and no requirement for additional parking due to the recent overflow car park being developed. 

 

The Area Lead Planner concluded that this was a well-designed scheme that will provide the crematorium with much needed facilities and therefore her proposal was to approve the application subject to the conditions as set out in the agenda report. 

 

During a short debate Ward member Councillor Peter Seib welcomed the proposed improvements and members voiced their full support of the application. 

 

There being no further debate it was then proposed and subsequently seconded to approve the application as per the officer’s recommendation as set out in the agenda report.  On being put to the vote this was carried unanimously.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That application 18/02019/FUL be approved for the following reasons:

 

01.       The proposal will provide much needed additional accommodation for the existing crematorium to ensure that the facility can meet existing and future demand. The design has been very carefully considered and responds well to the site context. It is not considered to result in demonstrable harm to residential or visual amenity, highway safety or biodiversity. Accordingly, the proposal is considered to comply with policies SD1, SS1, TA5, TA6, EQ2, EQ4 and EQ5 of the South Somerset Local Plan 2006-2028.

 

SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING:

 

01.       The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

           

            Reason:  To accord with the provisions of section 91(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

 

02.       The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans: as set out in Schedule of Drawings received from the agent via email on 10/8/2018.

           

            Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

 

03.       No building operations above damp proof course level of the development shall take place until details  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

26.

Planning Application 17/02896/FUL Former Olds Motor Group Sherborne Road Yeovil pdf icon PDF 852 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Application Proposal: Demolition of existing buildings and the erection of a Class A1 (retail) store with associated access, parking, ancillary works and landscaping.

 

The Lead Specialist - Planning presented the application as detailed in the agenda and reminded members that the application was referred to committee for consideration at the request and in accordance with the scheme of delegation and with the agreement of the Chairman, to allow the application to be debated in public given the nature of the proposal and the significance of the development.

 

He also updated members that:

 

·         Further letters had been received from members of the public in support of the application.

·         An amendment be made to the second paragraph on page 25 of the agenda report that Wyndham Court is no longer managed by a national retirement operator but acknowledged they were now managed by the occupants of the flats.

 

With the aid of a power point presentation he then proceeded to give a comprehensive presentation showing the site and proposed plans. He confirmed as stated in the agenda report a financial contribution had been proposed from the applicant for £157,000 for sustainable transport and environmental improvements which would be part of a larger scheme for the Yeovil Town refresh. 

 

The Lead Specialist - Planning reported no significant objections had been received from statutory consultees and that the Highways Authority considered the proposals acceptable and that other matters, apart from the principle of development, have been satisfactorily resolved or can be resolved by planning condition.

 

He therefore believed that the main issue for consideration with this application was the principle of development and the issues of the Policy requirements that were required in order for the Council to make a considered recommendation.  He acknowledged the complexity of the Retail Planning Policy guidelines and for that reason introduced Matthew Morris from GVA who advises the Council on such matters. With the aid of slides he then proceeded to explain to members the details of the Retail Planning Policy.  This included:

 

·         The National & Local retail planning policy context including the sequential test:

o   The sequence of preferred locations

o   The requirement for flexibility

o   Assessing the suitability and availability of alternative sites and premises

·         The two polices in the local plan; Policy EP11 – the sequential test – town centre first and Policy EP 12 impact assessments and need for retail assessment.

·         Highlighted the boundaries of the primary shopping area of Yeovil Town centre and confirmed that in policy terms this application is outside the primary shopping area and located on edge of the centre.

·         He clarified the Cattle Market site is in-centre and therefore in a sequentially preferable location in the development plan.

·         He noted the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which indicates that the sequence for main town centre uses should be located in the town centre and then edge of centre locations.

·         Explained the approach for members on assessing the alternatives and whether it been demonstrated that there are alternative sites suitable or  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.