Meeting documents

Details of all Members’ interests in District, Town and Parish Councils can be viewed on the Council Website

The Statutory Register of Member’s Interests can be inspected via request to the Democratic Service Team.

Any new or updated declarations of interest will be received.

The Committee will consider the accuracy of the attached minutes.

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 1 December 2022 were accepted as accurate and signed.

The Chair will allow members of the public to present a petition on any matter within the Committee’s remit. Questions or statements about the matters on the agenda for this meeting will be taken at the time when the matter is considered and after the Case Officers have made their presentations. Each speaker will be allocated 3 minutes. The length of public question time will be no more than 30 minutes.

The Chair advised that: -

(a)  a member of the public had submitted a statement as an objector and 2 agents had registered to speak in respect of agenda item 5 -application No. SCC/3854/2021

(b)  a member of the public had registered to speak (objector) in respect of agenda item 6 – application No. SCC/4015/2022 -

The statements were considered as part of relevant agenda item.

Section 73 application to vary conditions 2 (approved plans), 3 (noise mitigation) and 4 (night time noise limit) in respect of planning permission reference 2017/3147/CNT (section 73 application to amend condition 2[approved plans and specification], 3 [noise mitigation] and 5 [dust control] in respect of planning permission 2013/2083 for the construction of an Anaerobic Digestion plant)"

To consider this report.

Note – members of the Committee will be undertaking a site visit ahead of the meeting.

The purpose of a Members’ site visit is to view the site and its surroundings. The site visits are fact-finding exercises and there will be no discussion of the merits of the applications, nor will any decision be taken. Somerset County Council’s Constitution states that "applicants, owners, agents, objectors and other interested parties are able to attend site visits and observe but there should be no lobbying of Committee members."

Section 73 application to vary conditions 2 (approved plans) and 3 (noise mitigation) in respect of planning permission reference 2017/3147/CNT (section 73 application to amend condition 2 [approved plans and specification], 3 [noise mitigation] and 5 [dust control] in respect of planning permission 2013/2083 for the construction of an Anaerobic Digestion plant)

Applicant – BioConstruct

Committee members had undertaken a site visit ahead of the meeting.

The Committee RESOLVED:

1. That planning permission be GRANTED, subject to the prior completion of a section 106 agreement to secure the financial provisions of the Travel Plan (highway works) (reason: In the interest of highway safety and the amenity of the local area), and to secure highway improvements and landscape works in line with the permissions granted in 2013, Reference 2013/2083 and 2017, Reference 2017/3147/CNT and the agreement dated 4 February 2015, and to the conditions set out in section 10 of the Report and to the following amendments: -

(a) the additional condition: -

Condition:  No further waste materials for processing shall be imported to the site following a period of 12 months from the date of this permission until such time as the right turn lane on the A371 (which is the subject of a s106 legal agreement) has been fully constructed, consolidated and surfaced to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority in accordance with the approved design and specification.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

(b) That Condition 6 (Highway Works) set out in section 10 of the Report be replaced with the following: -

"Prior to the commencement of the development, a Travel Plan is to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority including. 

·         Soft and hard measures to promote sustainable travel

·         Targets and safeguards by which to measure the success of the plan

·         A timetable for implementation of the measures

·         Monitoring regime of travel habits. 

The development shall not be occupied unless the agreed measures are being implemented in accordance with the agreed timetable.  The measures should continue to be implemented for a period of five years from the  travel plan being approved."

2. That authority to undertake any minor non-material editing which may be necessary to the wording of those conditions be delegated to the Service Manager – Planning and Development, Enforcement and Compliance.

Application by West Heritage Trust for proposed new roadside sign.

To consider this report.

Proposed new roadside sign.

Applicant – South West Heritage Trust

The Committee RESOLVED:

1. That advertisement consent be GRANTED subject to conditions set out in section 10 of the report.

2. That authority to undertake any minor non-material editing which may be necessary to the wording of those conditions be delegated to the Service Manager – Planning and Development, Enforcement and Compliance.

To consider this report.

(There is a covering report and 6 appendices).

The Committee RESOLVED to support the proposed changes to the Diversion Policy.

To consider this report.

The Committee NOTED the briefing Report on the consultation on the draft Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) for the new Somerset Council. This sets out how the LPA will engage and consult with the community and stakeholders on planning matters.

The Chair may raise any items of urgent business.