Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutions.

Apologies were received from Councillors Henry Hobhouse and Jenny Kenton.

It was noted that Councillor Jason Baker was in attendance online via Teams.

At the start of the meeting the Chair proposed that Councillor Oliver Patrick be Vice- Chair for the duration of the meeting.  This was unanimously agreed by the committee.

Members will be asked to agree the minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 December 2023 at the next meeting of Planning South Committee – scheduled for 30 January 2024.

Members noted that the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th December 2023 would be agreed and signed off at the meeting scheduled for 30^th January 2024.

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 )

Having taken legal advice prior to the meeting Councillor Sue Osborne declared an Other Registrable Interest in Item 5 Planning Application 16/05500/OUT as she is a member of Ilminster Town Council and also a member of the Town Councils Open Space Committee.  For transparency she would address the committee as the Division Member for Ilminster and then leave the room for the debate and vote.

At the time Item 7 on the agenda was presented, on recognising the property Councillor Martin Wale declared a Non-Registrable interest in Item 7 Planning Application 23/01939/FUL as he was friends with the husband of the applicant. He left the room for the debate and vote.

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.

Requests to speak at the meeting at Public Question Time must be made to the Monitoring Officer in writing or by email to democraticservicesteam@somerset.gov.uk  by 5pm on Wednesday 3 January 2024.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To consider an outline application for residential development for up to 400 dwellings with associated access.

RESOLVED:

That planning application 16/05500/OUT for up to 400 dwellings with associated access at Land South West of Canal Way, Ilminster, Somerset 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: 6 in favour, 2 against, 0 abstentions)

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda report along with the background and history of the application.   With the aid of a Powerpoint presentation highlighted key elements of the proposal including:

·         An indicative masterplan showing proposed pedestrian and cycleway access points and zebra crossings throughout the site.

·         Land use parameter plan.

·         Scale and height plan.

·         Proposed facilities within the scheme.

·         Photos of recent flooding within the site.  She acknowledged part of the site floods; however, this had been taken into account with the submitted drainage proposals and therefore deemed acceptable.

·         Details of the proposed access to which Highways had not raised an objection.

·         The key considerations:

o   Somerset Council is joint applicant with Persimmon Homes SW

o   Original application had been recommended for approval in November 2017 subject to a Section 106 legal agreement but the decision was delayed due to phosphates and has since undergone a comprehensive review.

o   The phosphates mitigation solution includes the temporary fallowing of 110 ha of land in the ownerships of Somerset Council. It is anticipated within 5 years a long term solution, potentially the provision of a wetland or purchase of nutrient credits, will come forward, if not the land will be planted with woodland.

o   The original proposed primary school was no longer required due to the re-structuring of the school system in Ilminster as there is now capacity in existing schools subject to S106 contributions.

o   Proposed on site football pitch has now been removed due to landscape harm of Herne Hill and objection from Sport England.   Contributions are being sought for off-site facilities in Ilminster.

The application was recommended for approval subject to planning obligations and conditions as set out in the agenda report.

Four members of the public addressed the committee in objection to the application. Some of their points included:

·         Raised concerns regarding the proposed phosphates solution and the fallowing of land and questioned the timescales involved.  Felt land was a community asset and that the local community should be involved.  Why wait until 2030 to plant trees?

·         Felt the existing well used cycleway running alongside the site should be included into the scheme with responsibility to the developer to upgrade and maintain it. 

·         Concerns raised regarding only one access to and from the site with medical centre nearby.

·         Emergency access still inadequate for emergency services.

·         Insufficient parking provision and concerns for pedestrian safety with inadequate cycle and pedestrian access to green spaces.

·         Resources and facilities in the area are over-stretched.

·         Concerns regarding flooding on the site and potential for increased flooding risk, inadequate proposed drainage solutions.

·         Phosphates mitigation solutions not adequately addressed.

·         Lack of employment opportunities.

·         Roundabout and local road network cannot support the increase in traffic.

A spokesperson for Ilminster Parish Council then addressed the committee and some of his points included:

·         Would increase the local population by 20%.

·         Point of access is a key issue, Canal Way already very busy.

·         Concerns regarding flooding and the proposed mitigation solutions.

·         No provision for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

To consider an application for Change of Use from C3 residential to C4 HMO (no external changes).

RESOLVED:

That planning application 23/02163/COU for Change of Use from C3 residential to C4 HMO (no external changes) at 196 Sherborne Road, Yeovil BA21 4HL be APPROVED, subject to the imposition of conditions as per the officer recommendation as detailed in the agenda report plus an additional condition to limit the number of occupants to 6 persons.

(voting: unanimous)

The Planning Officer presented the application as detailed in the agenda report.   With the aid of a Powerpoint presentation highlighted key elements of the proposal including:

·       Corrections to some typos within the report referring to property address numbers and the number of occupants.

·       Site location and proposed plans.

·       Current parking space and rear private access of site although not classed as a legal right of way.

·       The key considerations:

o   Relevance of the HMO Article 4 Direction.

o   Parking Standards.

o   Residential Amenity.

She also suggested that an additional condition be included as follows:

‘The accommodation hereby permitted shall not be occupied by more than (6) persons and that there should be no further subdivision of the property”.

Reason: In the interests of clarity as to the extent of the planning permission.

The application was recommended for approval subject to the imposition of conditions as set out in the agenda report and the additional condition to limit the number of occupants to six.

Councillor Tony Lock, Division member addressed the committee.  He voiced his support of the application and understood it would only increase the occupancy by one person.  He said that if approved the HMO licence would ensure the property is brought up to an acceptable standard that would have to be maintained. He felt it would regularise the accommodation for tenants and that there would be no detriment to the residents and local area.

In response to members questions the Planning Officer clarified the location of the bin stores and cycle provision. 

There being no further debate it was proposed by the Chair and seconded by Councillor Steve Ashton, to approve the application subject to the imposition of conditions as per the officer recommendation as detailed in the agenda report plus an additional condition to limit the number of occupants to 6 persons.

On being put to the vote, the proposal was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED:

That planning application 23/02163/COU for Change of Use from C3 residential to C4 HMO (no external changes) at 196 Sherborne Road, Yeovil BA21 4HL be APPROVED, subject to the imposition of conditions as per the officer recommendation as detailed in the agenda report plus an additional condition to limit the number of occupants to 6 persons.

(voting: unanimous)

To consider an application for change of use of adjoining land to residential, erection of extensions and alterations to property in order to create a multi-generational dwellinghouse, erection of a detached garage.

RESOLVED:

That planning application 23/01939/FUL for Change of use of adjoining land to residential, erection of extensions and alterations to property in order to create a multi-generational dwellinghouse and erection of a detached garage at Ilford Farm, Ilford Lane, Ilton be APPROVED, subject to the imposition of conditions as per the officer recommendation as detailed in the agenda report.

(voting: unanimous)

The Lead Specialist presented the application as detailed in the agenda report.   He confirmed the application was only before the committee due to the applicant being a member of staff.  With the aid of a Powerpoint presentation highlighted key elements of the proposal including the site location, residential curtilage, and proposed plans. 

The application was recommended for approval subject to the imposition of conditions as set out in the agenda report.

On recognising the property and following advice from the Legal Officer Councillor Martin Wale declared a Non-Registrable interest as he was friends with the husband of the applicant. He immediately left the meeting for the debate and vote.

During a short debate members voiced their full support of the application, and it was proposed by Councillor Tim Kerley and seconded by Councillor Mike Best, to approve the application subject to the imposition of conditions as per the officer recommendation as detailed in the agenda report.

On being put to the vote, the proposal was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED:

That planning application 23/01939/FUL for Change of use of adjoining land to residential, erection of extensions and alterations to property in order to create a multi-generational dwellinghouse and erection of a detached garage at Ilford Farm, Ilford Lane, Ilton be APPROVED, subject to the imposition of conditions as per the officer recommendation as detailed in the agenda report.

(voting: unanimous)

Members noted the planning appeal decisions for the Planning South area.