Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence.

To approve the minutes from the previous meeting.

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 and you will be asked to speak before Councillors debate the issue.

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’.

To note the forward plan.

To agree a draft site allocations report for Regulation 18 consultation identifying sites to progress a limited update the Mendip Local Plan Part II. 

Resolved that The Planning and Transport Policy Sub-Committee agreed the following:

a)    the draft site allocations consultation document in appendix 1 which identified the housing sites as directed in the High Court Order made on 16 December 2022 and varied on 14 July 2023.

b)    that the draft site allocations consultation document, environmental reports and supporting documents listed in this report were published for a six-week public consultation as soon as practicable but no later than 28th February 2024.

c)     that any minor changes necessary to the documents following this meeting and prior to the start of consultation were delegated to the Head of Planning for approval in order to expedite the consultation.

d)    noted the timescales for the review and that responses to the consultation and any final amendments were due to be reported to this Sub-Committee on 20 June 2024 to meet the amended timetable as proposed to the High Court.

To adopt the Ruishton and Thornfalcon Neighbourhood Plan.

Resolved that the Planning and Transport Policy Sub-Committee agreed:

a)    That the Ruishton and Thornfalcon Neighbourhood Plan be ‘made’ (adopted) as part of the Development Plan and to be used in determining planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area which was the Parish of Ruishton and Thornfalcon.

To adopt the Wells Neighbourhood Plan.

Resolved that the Planning and Transport Policy Sub-Committee agreed:

a)    That the Wells Neighbourhood Plan be ‘made’ (adopted) as part of the Development Plan and to be used in determining planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area which was the Parish of Wells.

To adopt the Somerset BNG Guidance Note as a material planning consideration.

Resolved that the Planning and Transport Policy Sub-Committee agreed the following:

a)    To adopt the Somerset BNG Guidance Note as a material planning consideration in the preparation of pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes.

b)    To delegate approval of future updates to the Guidance Note as follows:

                        i.         Minor amendments including textual and visual changes and enhancements to be delegated to the Executive Director for Climate and Place in consultation with the Lead Member for Environment and Climate Change and the Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets.

                       ii.         Updates relating to changes in national Government legislation and guidance, or the need to reference or update reference to other local or national evidence or strategy documents, or other changes which would not necessitate further public consultation to be delegated to the Executive Director for Climate and Place in consultation with the Lead Member for Environment and Climate Change and the Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets.

                     iii.         More significant or substantive updates beyond those listed above to be brought back to this sub-committee for approval.

c)     To adopt the local BNG validation requirements as an addendum to existing adopted local validation checklists for each of the Local Planning Authority’s planning areas and functions (north, south, east, west and minerals and waste) until such time as these are updated and the requirements can be fully integrated.

To note the update report.

Resolved that the Planning and Transport Policy Sub-Committee noted the report.