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.

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 democraticserviceseast@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.

To consider an application for the erection of 74 dwellings, 1no.children with disabilities home, including means of access, drainage, landscaping and associated works.

RESOLVED

That planning application 2023/0867/FUL be REFUSED contrary to the Officer’s recommendation for the following reasons:

The site is located outside of the housing development limit and is therefore contrary to the settlement strategy, as outlined in Policies CP1 (Mendip Spatial Strategy), CP2 (Supporting the Provision of New Housing) and CP4 (Sustaining Rural Communities) of the Mendip District Local Plan Part I. As the Council cannot currently demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply, the presumption in favour of sustainable development applies, as outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework. Although the site is adjacent to the settlement of Frome, the harms of the proposal would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. Harms include the principle of the proposal and being contrary to Policy  DP1 (Local Identity and Distinctiveness), Policy DP4 (Mendip’s Landscapes) and Part 1 of Policy DP16 (Open Space and Green Infrastructure) of the Mendip District Local Plan Part I. As such, the proposal is not considered to constitute sustainable development and is contrary to Policies CP1, CP2, CP4, DP1, DP4 and Part 1 of DP16 of the Mendip District Local Plan Part I and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Votes – 6 for, 3 against, 2 abstentions

To consider an application for the conversion of a building to a 3-bedroom dwelling.

RESOLVED

That planning application 2021/1226/FUL be REFUSED in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation.

Votes – Unanimous

To consider an application for the demolition of outbuildings to be replaced by the erection of single outbuilding, erection of a gate to existing access and associated works.

RESOLVED

That planning application 2022/0669/FUL be REFUSED in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation.

Votes – Unanimous

To consider an application for the erection of a temporary custom build agricultural dwelling.

RESOLVED

That planning application 2024/1408/FUL be REFUSED in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation.

Votes – 6 for, 3 against, 2 abstentions

To consider an application for the change of use of an agricultural barn to a residential single storey dwelling and addition of single storey extension.

RESOLVED

That planning application 2024/1319/FUL be APPROVED contrary to the Officer’s recommendation as a departure to the development plan as, taking into account the location of the site, the proposed re-use of a rural building and the contribution towards the housing supply, it was deemed that the harms of the proposal did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. That delegated authority be given to Officers to issue the permission subject to advertising the application as a departure and the imposition of necessary planning conditions.

Votes – 9 for, 1 against, 1 abstention

To consider an application for the erection of a dwelling and car port and formation of vehicular access.

RESOLVED

That planning application 2024/0607/FUL be REFUSED in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation.

Votes – Unanimous

To note the appeal decisions made by the Planning Inspectorate between 16 November 2024 and 19 December 2024.