Decisions

Resolved:

That planning application 19/00655/OUT for the outline planning application for the development of up to 60 residential dwellings (Use Class C3), together with associated highways and drainage infrastructure, public open space and landscaping. Details of access are submitted for approval with all other matters (Layout, Scale, Appearance and Landscaping) reserved for later approval at Land OS 9609, Brewham Road, Bruton be DEFERRED for the following reason:

01.      To seek further highway assessment regarding concerns over the proposed pedestrian safety mitigation and off site highway works

(voting: 11 in favour, 1 against)

Resolved:

That planning application 22/00765/OUT for the outline planning application for residential development of up to 70 dwellings with associated works (details of access to be determined) at Scotts Nurseries (Merriott) Ltd, Higher Street, Merriott, Somerset, TA16 5PL be APPROVED as per the officer recommendation, the following reason:

The Council's lack of a five-year housing land supply lends significant weight when considering the planning balance. In this case, the site is located in a sustainable location with access to a range of services and facilities and would result in the effective re-use of previously development land. The proposal is not considered to result in such a significant and adverse impact upon visual amenity, residential amenity, highway safety, flood risk/drainage or ecology/biodiversity as to justify a refusal of planning permission. Therefore, in terms of the 'planning balance', it is considered that there are no adverse impacts that would 'significantly and demonstrably' outweigh the benefits of providing up to 70 dwellings in this sustainable location. The proposal is considered to be in accordance with Policies SD1, SS1, SS2, SS4, SS5, SS6, HG3, TA1, TA4, TA5, TA6, HW1, EQ1, EQ2, EQ4, EQ5 and EQ7 of the South Somerset Local Plan 2006-2028, and the aims and objectives of the NPPF.

Approve subject to conditions and a Section 106 that secures the following obligations:

1.            The provision of affordable housing,

2.            Contribution towards the provision of sport, play, open space and strategic facilities. 

3.            Highway infrastructure and works.

4.            Education contribution

5.            Travel Plan

6.            Management of Public Open Space

7.            NHS Contributions

8.            Phosphate mitigation strategy

(voting:6 in favour, 5 against and 1 abstention )

Resolved:

That planning application 20/02297/OUT for the outline planning application with access to be determined and all other matters reserved, for the residential development of the land for up to 65 dwellings and safeguarding of land for a new GP Practice; alongside public open space, a drainage scheme and associated works at Land North of Brewham Road, Bruton be DEFERRED for the following reason:

01.         To seek further highway assessment regarding concerns over the proposed pedestrian safety mitigation and off site highway works

(voting: 10 in favour. 1 against and 1 abstention)

Resolved that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Corporate and Resources held on 29 May 2024 and 19 June 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

Apologies were received from Councillor Diogo Rodrigues (substituted by Councillor Sue Osborne) and Councillor Nick Cottle (substituted by Councillor Simon Coles).

Apologies were also received from Councillor Theo Butt Philip, Jason Vaughan, Nicola Hix and Alyn Jones.

No members of the Public had registered to speak.

None

The committee resolved to note the progress of the timeline and milestones of delivery of the Improvement and Transformation Programme and the risk register as detailed for each area.

The committee noted the draft report to the Executive Committee which detailed the sites due for disposal, with each site considered and verbal clarification where needed from Officers.

Members requested that a further email be sent to Division Members where appropriate to highlight the sites in their area being proposed for disposal.

The committee noted the reports submitted with the agenda and looked forward to receiving monthly update reports as agreed on both 2023/24 Outturn and the 2024/25 monthly budget monitoring reports.

The members noted the Forward Plans and had no other suggestions for the committee`s work plan.

Resolved:

That planning application 23/02871/OUT for the outline planning application with all matters reserved except for means of access for the erection of up to 60 dwellings with public open space, landscaping, sustainable drainage system and vehicular access point at Land Off Tintinhull Road, Coppits Hill, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 3PW be DEFERRED for the following reason:

01.To seek further highway assessment regarding concerns over the proposed pedestrian safety mitigation and off site highway works.

(voting: 9 in favour, 2 against )

Members noted a number of actions had been carried out since the last meeting including the recruitment of Sally Foster as a Co-opted Member of the Standards Committee.  Sally was welcomed to the Committee. 

A number of actions were to be carried forward and these are set out below in the minutes.

RESOLVED

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 27 March 2024 were approved as a correct record.  

Councillor Bill Revans proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Liz Leyshon.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council RESOLVED to:-

1)    Appoint and designate the statutory role of Section 151 Officer to Maria G. Christofi, the Interim Chief Financial Officer, with effect from 1 September 2024 until a permanent Section 151 postholder was appointed.

2)    Agree, subject to the agreement of the Council to (1) above, to amend the Constitution, Financial Regulations and the Officer Scheme of Delegation and empower the Interim Chief Financial Officer to undertake all of the statutory functions of a Section 151 Officer and take all decisions related to the role.

Councillor Liz Leyshon proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Mandy Chilcott.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council RESOLVED to approve the Annual Treasury Year-End Report 2023/24 as being in compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice for Treasury Management.

The Licensing Sub-Committee resolved to GRANT the application for a premises licence as submitted for the Olive Bar and Kitchen, Martock Workspace, Stoke Road, Martock under section 18 of the Licensing Act 2003 subject to the following conditions to promote the licensing objective(s) of the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance:

1. The relevant mandatory conditions under the Licensing Act 2003;
2. Conditions consistent with the applicant’s Operating Schedule

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive:

a.     Noted the 2023/24 draft outturn for services. 

b.     Noted that the final 2023/24 outturn for Revenue, Capital, and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) will be reported to the Executive at a later meeting 

c.     Noted the 2024/25 emerging issues identified at Month 2

d.     Agreed to continue to receive monthly budget monitoring report which sets out the forecast outturn for the year with details of any mitigations and actions being taken to address any forecast variances. 

e.     Agreed to receive a report at a later meeting setting out proposals to change how the control boards and panels operatein light of the experience and learning over the last year.

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion the Executive approved the report being in compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice for Treasury Management and recommends it to Full Council at the next available meeting.

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive agreed and adopted the plan attached as Appendix A, prior to submission to MHCLG and subsequent publishing on the Council’s internet site. Executive delegated authority to the Executive Director for Strategy, Workforce, and Localities, in consultation with the Lead Member for Transformation and Human Resources, to make any minor amendments prior to submission.

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive resolved to:

1.              Approve the basis for the Council to enter intolease/licence agreements with 2 local partners to take accommodation at DeaneHouse, Taunton as set out in the business case in Appendix A; 

2.              Delegate authority to the Service Director – Strategic AssetManagement and Head of Estates Operations in consultation with theLead Member for Economy, Planning and Assets to enter into andcomplete the Lease/Licence Agreements, and coordinate necessary resourceto implement the decision; 

3.     Delegate authority to the Service Director – Strategic AssetManagement to authorise expenditure as identified in the business caseto remodel B Block at County Hall using a proportion of income from thefirst year of the licenses; 

4.     Relocate impacted staff from Deane House to County Hall,implementing revised parking arrangements as agreed via collectiveconsultation with Trade Unions.  

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive resolved to:

a.    Devolve the operational services and staff relating to the following

·       Somerset Council assets

·       Yeovil Recreation Centre (and Café)

·       Yeovil Country Park (and Nine Springs café)

·       Westlands Entertainment Venue

·       South Somerset Heritage Collection

(the Devolved Services) to Yeovil Town Council, in line with the Council’s adopted Asset and Services Devolution Framework from 1st August 2024.

b.    Transfer existing equipment used by Somerset Council to deliver the Devolved Services which will become surplus to Somerset Council requirements as a result of the devolution to Yeovil Town Council from 1st August 2024, unless they have indicated they do not want it.

c.    Delegate authority to the Service Director, Strategic Asset Management, in consultation with the Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets and the Executive Director (Communities) to agree the transfer of or grant of rights over the following land and property assets on appropriate terms as soon as practically possible on or after 1st August 2024, provided the Interim Head of Legal Services is satisfied that all relevant legal requirements have been met:

·       Land at Milford Road (freehold transfer)

·       Former Monmouth Hall Store (freehold transfer)

·       Yeovil Recreation Centre (and Café)

·       Yeovil Country Park (and Nine Springs café)

·       Westlands Entertainment Venue (sub-lease)

·       Part of Lufton Depot housing the South Somerset Heritage Collection (lease)

d.    Grant such licences to Yeovil Town Council to occupy the land and premises currently used by Somerset Council to deliver the Devolved Services at:

·       Yeovil Recreation Centre (and Café)

·       Yeovil Country Park (and Nine Springs café)

·       Westlands Entertainment Venue

·       South Somerset Heritage Collection

as will enable them to deliver the Devolved Services as if they were the owners of that land and premises.

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion the Executive agreed: 

a.    that the Council pays SUEZ an additional £3M this financial year, and further payments until the end of the contract as set out in the confidential annex. 

b.    To delegate authority to Head of Legal Services to draw up and complete the legal documents to bring effect to this decision. 

c.    To make changes within the contract to deal with unforeseen circumstances in the Clinical Waste Collection Service 

d.    To obtain protection by increasing the liability cap within the contract. 

e.    To delegate authority to the Chief Executive to sign off the final contract variation. 

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices, debate and an amendment, the Executive approved the consultation exercise on proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction scheme for 2025/26, as set out in Appendix 2, following the removal of Part 3 – Removing the disregard of £25 a week from earnings, and Part 5 – Removing the disregards for certain incomes and families with disabilities from the consultation.

That application 2024/0086/LBC be APPROVED in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation.

Votes – Unanimous

That planning application 2023/2342/FUL be APPROVED in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation, with an informative regarding the prohibition of water draining onto the highway.

Votes – Unanimous

That planning application 2023/2369/FULbe REFUSED in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation.

Votes – Unanimous

That planning application 2020/1513/FUL be APPROVED contrary to the Officer’s recommendation as it was deemed that the site was in a sustainable location and that it would not be harmful to the rural character of the area. That delegated authority be given to Officers to impose necessary planning conditions, to be agreed in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair.

Votes – Unanimous

Resolved:

To Refuse Permission for the following reason:

The existing dwelling is a small rural building that has been converted sensitively to residential use with regard to its simple form and rural character. The proposed single storey rear extension by its siting, massing and appearance would result in an incongruous design that is out of keeping with the existing rural building and is contrary to adopted policy which states any extension must not affect the character or significance of these rural buildings. The location changes the linear form to a L shaped form as well as the introduction of a mis-match roof style will result in incongruous design that fails to comply with Sedgemoor’s Adopted Planning Guidance Note on the Conversion of Agricultural Buildings, Policy D2 of the Local Plan (LP) and paragraph 139 and 209 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

(For 8, Abstention 1).

Resolved:

To Refuse Permission for the following reasons:

The proposed cabins would be situated to the south of the existing accommodation, which is contained within the existing east and south boundaries that enclose the holiday site. Due to the proposed development projecting beyond the established layout of the existing development and into the adjoining field, the proposed cabins would become visually prominent within the landscape, which is located within a countryside setting. Taking into account the scale of the proposal site and the number of cabins proposed there would be a detrimental impact on the landscape character of the immediate locality and the wider countryside. The cumulative effect when viewed with the existing development would cause a visual harm to the area that could not be adequately mitigated and therefore would be contrary to Policies CO1, D2 and D17 of the Sedgemoor Local Plan.

The location of the proposed cabins would not be screened by the existing permitted bunding and insufficient information has been submitted with regards to any further bunding being proposed as part of the development. As a result there insufficient information to confirm that the proposal would not result in a detrimental impact on the amenity value of the cabins from noise and disturbance generated by the adjacent motorway. As such the proposal would not contribute to an improvement in the quality of the tourism offer or the image of the area as a tourism location. The proposal would therefore be contrary to Policies D2 and D25 of the Sedgemoor Local Plan.

(Unanimous)

Resolved:

To Refuse Permission for the following reasons:

The proposal for the conversion of the existing building to 9 self-contained residential dwellings would result in an overdevelopment of the existing small hamlet of Edingworth taking into account the present density and scale of the settlement. As such the provision of 9 dwellings within this location would be out of keeping and unsustainable with the size and built form of the locality, which is a significant distance from existing services and facilities to serve such an increase in residential occupants. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policies S2, CO1 and D2 of the Sedgemoor District Local Plan.

The information submitted to support the planning application is of insufficient quality to fully assess the visual impact of the development on the site and surrounding area and therefore the Authority is unable to confirm the proposal would result in a high quality development as required by Policy D2.

(For 5, Against 4, Abstention 1)

Resolved:

To Grant Permission subject to the conditions detailed within the Officer`s report.

(For 7, Against 3)

Resolved:

To Grant Permission subject to the conditions detailed within the Officer`s report.

(Unanimous)

Resolved:

To Grant Permission subject to the conditions detailed within the officer`s report.

(For 10, Against1)

Resolved:

To Grant Permission subject to the conditions detailed within the Officers report and the completion of a Section 106 Agreement.

Unanimous

That the committee noted the reports as detailed within the agenda for the Appeals Received and Appeal Decisions for June 2024.

Resolved:

That the Habitats Regulation Assessment Report originally dated 11^th September 2020, updated in June 2023 and 21^st May 2024 be endorsed by the Planning North Committee, as the competent authority. In reaching the decision to agree the Habitats Regulation Assessment, the Council considers that the proposed development would not have an adverse impact on the integrity of a European site.

Unanimous

All Councillors were present for the meeting.

That planning application 2023/0385/FULbe REFUSED in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation which was updated verbally at the meeting to remove the 2^nd reason for refusal regarding residential amenity.

Votes – 5 for, 4 against

That planning application 2023/2183/FUL be APPROVED in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation.

Votes – 6 for, 1 against, 1 abstention