Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutions.

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 )

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.

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To consider an application to add a bridleway within the Parish of Sparkford.

Councillor Mike Caswell proposed the officer’s recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Martin Wale.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Strategic Planning Committee resolved that:

·       Section C to D of application 858M (southern section) as shown on Appendix 1 to the officer’s report, which sought to add a bridleway, be refused.

(Vote – 10 For, 1 No Vote)

To consider an application to upgrade parts of footpaths to bridleway and add bridleways within the Parishes of Queen Camel and Sparkford.

Application 858M northern section

Councillor Mike Caswell proposed the officer’s recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Philip Ham.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Strategic Planning Committee resolved that:

·       the part of the application 858M which sought to upgrade part of footpath WN23/40 to a bridleway from points A1 to A2 to A3 and add a bridleway from points A3 to B, as shown on Appendix 1 to the officer’s report, be refused

·       an Order be made, the effect of which would be to amend the Definitive Map and Statement to upgrade part of footpath WN 23/40 from points A to A1 to a restricted byway, to add a restricted byway from points A1 to I to G to B and to upgrade part of footpath WN 23/38 from points B to C to a restricted byway as shown on Appendix 1.

·       an Order be made to amend the Definitive Statement to record footpath WN 23/40 as running from points X to A3 to A2 to A1 as shown on Appendix 1.

(Vote – 9 For, 2 Against)

Application 859

Councillor Mike Caswell proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Edric Hobbs.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Strategic Planning Committee resolved that:

·       the part of the application which sought to upgrade footpath WN 23/12 from points CE2 to CE3 to CE4 to a bridleway, as shown on Appendix 1, be refused.

·       an Order be made, the effect of which would be to amend the Definitive Map and Statement to upgrade part of footpath WN 23/38, from points C to CE1 to CE2 to a restricted byway, as shown on Appendix 1.

·       an Order be made, the effect of which would be to amend the Definitive Map and Statement to add a footpath from points CE4 to E2, as shown on Appendix 1.

·       an Order be made, the effect of which would be to amend the Definitive Map and Statement to upgrade part of footpath WN 23/12 from points CE4 to CE5 to a restricted byway and to add a restricted byway from points CE5 to point E, as shown on Appendix 1.

(Vote – Unanimous)

To consider an application to vary conditions 1, 8 and 11 of P/VOC/2023/00946 to allow extension of time for competition of restoration of land at Chard Junction Quarry.

Councillor Martin Wale proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Matthew Martin.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Strategic Planning Committee resolved that:

·       the following functions be discharged to Dorset Council in accordance with Section 101(1) of the Local Government Act 1972:

a.    Determination of planning application SCC/4113/2024; and

b.    Determination of any applications for the discharge of conditions or nonmaterial amendments pursuant to that application;

Subject to Somerset Council in its roles as Mineral Planning Authority and Highway Authority, together with the local Members, being consulted for their views regarding the application.

(Vote – Unanimous)