Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutions.

Apologies were received from Councillors Brian Bolt and Gill Slocombe (who is on a leave of absence until 30 April 2025)

To approve the minutes from the previous meeting.

Resolved that the minutes of the Planning Committee - North held on Tuesday 11^th February 2025 be confirmed as a correct record.

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 )

Councillor Bob Filmer declared an Other Registrable interest in all applications as a member of the Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board but had not taken part in any discussions.

Councillor Alistair Hendry declared an Other Registrable interest in all applications as a member of the Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board but had not taken part in any discussions.

Councillor Bob Filmer declared a Registrable interest in application 31/24/00005 as Division member for Brent. He was open minded and not predetermined.

Councillor Tony Grimes declared a Registrable interest in application 31/24/00005 as Division member for Brent. He was open minded and not predetermined.

Councillor Matt Martin advised that he was predetermined on application 50/24/00044 as detailed in the committee report.  He would therefore leave the room for the vote.

Councillor Mike Murphy declared a Registerable interest in application 11/24/00089 as a member of Burnham and Highbridge Town Council. He was open minded and not predetermined.

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.

We are now live webcasting most of our committee meetings and you are welcome to view and listen to the discussion. The link to each webcast will be available on the meeting webpage, please see details under ‘click here to join online meeting’.

Requests to speak at the meeting under Public Question Time must be made to democraticservicesnorth@somerset.gov.uk  by 5pm on the Wednesday prior to the meeting.  For those wishing to speak on an application, requests must be made by 5pm on the Thursday prior to the meeting.

There were no members of the public registered to speak under Public Question Time.

Variation of Condition 29 of Planning Permission 11/18/00087 (Outline application with some matters reserved, for the erection of up to 110 no. dwellings) to allow preliminary groundworks and works of demolition before the approval of the surface water drainage scheme.

That Planning application 11/24/00089 Variation of Condition 29 of Planning Permission 11/18/00087 (Outline application with some matters reserved, for the erection of up to 110 no. dwellings) to allow preliminary groundworks and works of demolition before the approval of the surface water drainage scheme at Land at Lakeside, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 4EX be GRANTED planning permission in line with the officer recommendation and verbal update at Committee.

Voting: 8 in favour, 2 abstentions.

The Planning Officer presented 11/24/00089 and explained that this is an application is to vary the trigger point of condition 29 (surface water drainage scheme) to allow for preliminary groundworks and demolition prior to the approval of the surface water drainage scheme. The condition was recommended by the LLFA, who do not object to the change in the trigger point. The LPA therefore recommend approving the variation to condition 29.

She advised that since the committee report had been published, the surface water drainage scheme had now been approved.

Two members of the public spoke in objection to the principle of the development, their comments included:

·         This development will only be accessible through Lakeside, and the increase in traffic will be dangerous for pedestrians such as children playing.

·         There is only one access road into Lakeside from the A38 and it is narrow and has tight bends.

·         The development is too close to a conservation area which should be protected.

·         Local facilities and vital services will not cope with the increased population

In response to the concerns raised by members of the public, the Area Planning Manager North advised that the decision before the committee today was solely to approve a change to condition 29 to allow for groundworks to begin.

After a brief discussion during which members were content with the change to condition 29, the recommendation to grant planning permission was proposed by the Cllr Kathy Pearce and seconded by Cllr Matt Martin. When put to the vote the proposal was carried by 8 in favour and 2 abstentions.

That Planning application 11/24/00089 Variation of Condition 29 of Planning Permission 11/18/00087 (Outline application with some matters reserved, for the erection of up to 110 no. dwellings) to allow preliminary groundworks and works of demolition before the approval of the surface water drainage scheme at Land at Lakeside, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 4EX be GRANTED planning permission in line with the officer recommendation and verbal update at Committee.

Voting: 8 in favour, 2 abstentions.

Boundary extension and change of use of land to the West of the existing site to create 20no. additional touring pitches to include erection of facilities building, demolition of outbuildings, creation of bund to the North boundary and associated landscaping.

That Planning application 31/24/00005 Boundary extension and change of use of land to the West of the existing site to create 20no. additional touring pitches to include erection of facilities building, demolition of outbuildings, creation of bund to the North boundary and associated landscaping at Batch Nurseries, Rectory Way, Lympsham, Weston-super-mare be GRANTED planning permission in line with the officer recommendation.

Voting: 11 in favour (Unanimous)

The Planning Officer presented 31/24/00005 by way of a Powerpoint presentation and explained how the proposed extension of the existing touring caravan site would enhance the existing business, would have a minimal impact on the character of the surrounding area and would not lead to a detrimental impact in respect of highway safety or on residential amenity.

The applicant addressed the committee and asked members to grant permission. There were no other members of the public registered to speak on the application.

After a brief discussion, Cllr Hendry proposed to move the officer’s recommendation to grant permission subject to completion of a section 106 agreement to secure the long-term management and monitoring of the biodiversity net gain through a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) and landscape planting scheme over a period of 30 years. This was seconded by Cllr Filmer, and when taken to the vote was carried by 11 in favour (unanimous).

Resolved

That Planning application 31/24/00005 Boundary extension and change of use of land to the West of the existing site to create 20no. additional touring pitches to include erection of facilities building, demolition of outbuildings, creation of bund to the North boundary and associated landscaping at Batch Nurseries, Rectory Way, Lympsham, Weston-super-mare be GRANTED planning permission in line with the officer recommendation.

Voting: 11 in favour (Unanimous)

The erection of 1no. building to be used as a cattery, and associated works.

That Planning Application 50/24/00044 The erection of 1no. building to be used as a cattery, and associated works at Land to the South-East of Snipefield Lane, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 be DEFERRED for further information on the relationship with the proposed key holder dwelling, the locational requirement for the proposed building, and details of the licensing requirements that require the scale of building proposed.

Voting: 9 in favour, 2 abstentions.

The Area Planning Manager North informed the committee that the Agent for the application had been critical of the report, believing it does not contain all of the details. He told members that he was not in agreement with this statement, and he believes that the report that is before the committee contains all of the necessary information.

The Planning Officer then presented the report with a Powerpoint presentation highlighting key elements such as the main considerations, planning balance and reasons for the recommendations to refuse planning permission.

 A representative from Wedmore Parish Council spoke in support of the application. Her comments included:

·         The proposed development complies with Wedmore Neighbourhood Plan policies, as detailed in section 7 of the report.

·         The proposed development is compliant with adopted Sedgemoor Local Plan policies as detailed in section 7 of the report.

·         The cattery is a much-loved local business.

·         The lease on the current site is expiring.  If the cattery business cannot relocate to a new site it will have to close. 

The Division member Cllr Harry Munt, in attendance online, spoke in support of the relocation of the cattery. His comments included:

·         There is no alternative site for this business.

·         The report contains inaccuracies.

·         The proposed new buildings are low impact and would not ruin the landscape.

·         The site is working, rural land and therefore a good choice for this business.

·         The parish council and residents support it.

·         The cattery is a valued local service that brings employment opportunities, as well as wellbeing support for children with additional needs. 

In response to the comments made by members of the public and the Division member, the Planning Officer advised that:

·         The Wedmore Neighbourhood Plan policies are not relevant.

·         The Sedgemoor Local Plan references used by Wedmore Parish Council are incorrect.

·         The proposed use could be delivered at a more sustainable location and does not functionally rely on a rural site.’.

·         There is no functional need for a 24-hour keyholder to be on site. 

Through the Chair, the Applicant responded to the last point and advised the committee that she believes the statement made by the officers concerning no functional need for a 24 -hour keyholder to be incorrect, and that recent changes to Licensing Laws now state that a business of this nature requires a 24-hour keyholder.

During the debate, members expressed several views including:

·         Some members felt that overturning the officer’s recommendation would set a precedent for over-development in unsustainable rural locations.

·         Some members felt that each planning application should be judged on its own merits.

·         Some members felt that they didn’t have enough information about relevant Licensing Laws.

·         Concern that the applicant may not have been given enough time to challenge the reasons for refusal.

·         During the debate Cllr Hendry proposed to overturn the officer’s recommendation and grant planning permission on the basis that there had been no objections from any statutory consultees. This proposal did not receive a seconder and so it fell.

The Area Planning Manager advised that there  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

The committee noted the appeal decisions.