Decisions

The Committee considered and agreed the workplan and some additional agenda items/reports were suggested for future meetings.

The Committee resolved that the minutes of the Human Resources Committee held on 9 January 2024 be approved as a correct record, with an amendment minute 18, to reflect there had been 2 abstentions in the vote to approve the Chief Officer Pay Award. 

After discussing the policy and report the members of the HR Committee agreed to approve and the following H&S policies:

• Food Safety Policy
 • Slips and Trips (Same Level Falls) Policy
 • Legionella Policy.

RESOLVED:

That planning application 22/00180/OUT for up to 58 dwellings, sustainable drainage infrastructure, new open space including allotments, parking area for neighbouring cemetery, landscaping and associated infrastructure with all matters reserved except for access at Land Adjoining Wheathill Lane, Milborne Port be APPROVED, subject to the prior completion of a section 106 planning obligation and the imposition of conditions as per the officer recommendation as detailed in the agenda report.

(Voting: Unanimous in favour)

RESOLVED:

That planning application 23/01649/FUL for the construction of 49 dwellings and formation of vehicular access at Land North of Broadway Hill, Broadway Hill, Horton, Ilminster be APPROVED, subject to the prior completion of a section 106 planning obligation and the imposition of conditions as per the officer recommendation as detailed in the agenda report.

(Voting: 4 in favour, 4 against, 1 abstention – the Chair then exercised his casting vote in favour of approving the application)

This item had been withdrawn from the agenda prior to the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That planning application 22/03341/FUL for the erection of 4No. dwellings, alteration to parking layout and formation of new access at Land Rear of Council Offices, Churchfields, High Street, Wincanton be REFUSED permission, contrary to the officer recommendation, for the following reason:

01.            The overdevelopment of the site will lead to a lack of car parking contrary to Policy TA5 and TA6 of the Local Plan.

(Voting: Unanimous in favour of refusal)

That Planning Application 36/22/00024 was approved with conditions as detailed within the agenda report and the updated wording to those conditions as detailed by the Planning Officer in their presentation to the committee, with the additional wording to address the impact of lighting on neighbouring residences and businesses as proposed by the committee.

The Committee considered and discussed the report and sought and received assurance about the criteria relating to the carers leave policy.

The Committee agreed to:

• Amended wording in the reason for recommendations to note that there may be small financial costs/implication to this policy.
• To approve the carers leave policy as per amended wording.

• Defer the Home working policy until the next meeting.
• Defer the careers break policy until the next meeting.

To note the contents of the report.

The committee noted the Preliminary report for the 2023 Flood events, and were advised that this report sets out the methodology for the full S19 Flood Investigation report.   

The committee noted the items for information.

The committee noted the Month 10 Budget monitoring update.

The committee noted the report from the Task and Finish Group, chaired by Cllr Mansell.

The committee unanimously agreed to accept the recommendations as set out in the report, with the addition of:

1.     The Scrutiny Committee - Climate and Place recommends that the Planning Service reports back to this committee on the efficacy of providing;

a)    A supplementary planning document on how we approach energy efficiency developments in listed buildings, as per BANES. (Bath and Northeast Somerset Council)  

b)    A policy like Bristol City Council’s BCS14: The heat hierarchy.

The committee received a presentation on the Section 19 Reports from 2020-2022 Flood Events and the officer invited comments and questions from members.

During the discussion there was concern regarding the difficulties faced when applying for planning permission to install flood defences on listing buildings.  At the end of the debate the committee unanimously agreed to recommend that:

1.     The Scrutiny Committee- Climate and Place recommends that the Somerset Council Planning Service review its policies and advice to residents regarding the application of flood defence mechanisms to listed buildings.

Proposed by Cllr Henry Hobhouse, seconded by Cllr Steve Ashton.

The Scrutiny committee received the Annual Report of the Trading Standards Service. A brief question and answer session took place, during which members were reminded that the detail around casework could not be discussed in public session, and the committee noted the report.   

The Committee received and noted the Forward Plan, Outcome tracker and Executive Forward Plan.

The Scrutiny Manager advised that:

·         An additional meeting to discuss ‘Water Quality in Somerset’ has been confirmed for Friday 26^th April to be held at 1.30pm in Deane House, Taunton.

·         The schedule of meetings for the year 2024/2025 has not yet been finalised, but when it has this detail will be included in the committee’s Forward Plan.  

·         The intention is that the Forward Plan will include quarterly budget monitoring and performance reporting going forward.

There were two members of the public registered to speak at the meeting.

1)     Nick Hall – Glastonbury Festival Traffic Management

2)    Eva Bryczkowski- Full Council meeting venue and Bus Services

The committee heard the public questions and the verbal responses from Somerset Council officers, and both members of the public were advised that they would receive a full written response within 5 days of the meeting.

Resolved that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Climate and Place held on 17^th January 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

No declarations of interested received.

That the Strategic Planning Committee noted:

a.     The content of the report and the activity across the three affected river catchments that feed into the Somerset Levels and Moors (Tone, Parrett, and Brue) which continues to unlock the delivery of housing and affected development to ensure nutrient neutrality.

b. The recent legislative changes introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, (as summarised in paragraphs 37 to 39 of the report).

That the Strategic Planning Committee agreed:

c. to delegate authority to the Head of Planning / Chief Planning Officer in consultation with the Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee to:

i. oversee the delivery of the interim delivery strategy including approving any documents (e.g. Section 106 agreements) needed to support implementation of the interim delivery strategy, enclosed as Appendix A.

ii. spend up to £9.6m from the Local Nutrient Mitigation Capital Funding to deliver nutrient mitigation schemes in line with grant conditions and promised outstanding government funding in financial year 2024/25.

iii. commit to the spend of the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund, on the delivery of nutrient mitigation with the indicative programme of spend as detailed in Table 4 of Appendix A; to the report

For 4, Against 1, Abstention 1.

Resolved:

That planning application 3/21/23/088 for the variation of Condition No. 02 (approved plans) and Condition No. 14 (ball stop netting) of application 3/21/21/015 at land off Seaward Way, Minehead, as detailed in the Agenda report be APPROVED.

(voting: unanimous in favour)

Resolved:

That planning application 23/23/0040/LB for listed building consent for the installation of 18 No. solar panels on the south facing roof of Little Fort, St Michaels Hill, Milverton be APPROVED.

(voting: 9 in favour, 1 against)

Resolved:

That planning application 3/26/24/002 for the Change of use of owners accommodation to holiday apartment with conversion of garage and pub function room to owners apartment (retention of part works already undertaken) be APPROVED subject to the conditions listed in the Agenda report.

(voting: unanimous in favour)