Agenda and draft minutes
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Contact: Tracey Meadows Email: t.meadows@somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk
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Apologies
To receive any apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillors Habgood, Firmin, Lithgow, Tully and Wakefield. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting of the Planning Committee
To approve the minutes of the previous meetings of the Committee on the 10 and 24 June 2021. Additional documents: Minutes: (Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on the 10 and 24 June 2021 circulated and with the agenda)
Resolved that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 10 and 24 June 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.
Proposed by Councillor Hill seconded by Councillor Hassell
The Motion was carried. |
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Declarations of Interest or Lobbying
To receive and note any declarations of disclosable pecuniary or prejudicial or personal interests or lobbying in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.
(The personal interests of Councillors and Clerks of Somerset County Council, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes.) Additional documents: Minutes: Members present at the meeting declared the following personal interests in their capacity as a Councillor or Clerk of a County, Town or Parish Council or any other Local Authority:-
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Public Participation
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 requested to speak, please note, a three minute time limit applies to each speaker and you will be asked to speak before Councillors debate the issue.
Temporary measures during the Coronavirus Pandemic Due to the temporary legislation (within the Coronavirus Act 2020, which allowed for use of virtual meetings) coming to an end on 6 May 2021, the council’s committee meetings will now take place in the office buildings within the John Meikle Meeting Room at the Deane House, Belvedere Road, Taunton. Unfortunately due to capacity requirements, the Chamber at West Somerset House is not able to be used at this current moment.
Following the Government guidance on measures to reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19), the council meeting rooms will have very limited capacity. With this in mind, we will only be allowing those members of the public who have registered to speak to attend the meetings in person in the office buildings, if they wish (we will still be offering to those members of the public that are not comfortable in attending, for their statements to be read out by a Governance and Democracy Case Manager). Please can we urge all members of the public who are only interested in listening to the debate to view our live webcasts from the safety of their own home to help prevent the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). Additional documents: Minutes:
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Erection of 2 No. luxury canvas holiday lodges (resubmission of 3/30/20/002) Little Haddon Farm, Skilgate to Little Haddon Farm, Skilgate, TA4 2DE Additional documents: Minutes: Erection of 2 No. luxury canvas holiday lodges (resubmission of 3/30/20/002) Little Haddon Farm, Skilgate to Little Haddon Farm, Skilgate TA4 2DE
Comments from members of the public included:
· Crucial information had been submitted to the Planning Officer to substantiate the status as a working farm; · Planning advise on the definition of diversification was sought from Defra, the National Farmers Union and a Planning Solicitor; · The decision should be made on current legislation and guidance; · The reasons for refusal were grossly conflicting, unsubstantiated and fraught with inaccuracies; · The application supported local support to the local economy; · A precedent had already been set by a farm 4 miles down the road which sits outside of the development zone and was granted farm diversification permission to erect six canvas tents, all were larger and more visible than ours; · Concerns that Policy EC11 was missed in the previous planning reports; · Six letters of support had been received for the application; · The applicant was compliant with the Council Policies EC9 and EC11 of the Local Plan. · The applicant had worked hard to develop their business; · There would be no significant increased traffic movement to the site; · Wimbleball lake which was near the site would be ideal as it had lots of water sports facilities. The site also included an all-terrain mobility scooter and a wheelie boat with wheelchair access which was ideal for people with disabilities; · This was a small development in a small community where the economy was underpinned by small enterprises; · This development was a for all and not to be dictated to who could stay there; · If this application was not supported we would make a very clear statement that inclusivity and accessibility were of no consequence to the committee; · Good initiative, sensitive and well supported beneficial;
Comments by members included;
· Concerns that there were no legal definition for what a farm was in planning terms; · Defra recognised this as a working farm and EC11 did apply; · Need to appreciate the aims of the development; · This application posed no harm to the community, nor would it set a precedent; · Ecological aspect could be conditioned; · Concerns with the un-native trees being planted; · What guarantee do we have that these glamping tents would only be for people with disabilities; · The development would create employment; · Concerns for the late request of an ecology report; · This was a sensitive development with minimal impact on the long standing condition of the ground that it will effect; · These were only temporary structures and we should be supporting tourism in the West Country;
Councillor Palmer proposed and Councillor Hassell seconded a motion for the application to be APPROVED against Officer recommendation, subject to the satisfactory resolution or the ecological matters that are set out in the report. Authority delegated to officers in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair to agree planning conditions once ecological matters are addressed;
Reason - The Committee were satisfied that the application was Farm Diversification and did not conflict with Policy EC11 of the ... view the full minutes text for item 29. |
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Variation to Section 106 agreement to vary Part 3 of Appendix 3 of the S106 relating to application 42/95/0038 which restricts occupancy to certain user groups at Canonsgrove Halls of Residence, Honiton Road, Trull Additional documents: Minutes: Variation of Section 106 agreement to vary Part 3 of Appendix 3 of the S106 relating to application 42/95/0038 which restricts occupancy to certain user groups at Canonsgrove Halls of Residence, Honiton Road, Trull
Comments by members of the public included:
· Highway concerns; · Concerns that existing conditions were overlooked; · The minibus should be re-provided up to 31 March 2023; · Concerns that this Variation to the Section 106 agreement was causing a diminution of the quiet and peaceful residents enjoyment; · Pleased that the amendment to the S106 agreement as a temporary accommodation for the homeless people would to be temporary up to 31 March 2023; · Concerns with the ongoing issues of crime and anti-social behaviour affecting Staplehay, Trull and onwards into Taunton; · More than 140 reported Cannonsgrove- related incidents had been reported in the village since the current used commenced, including serious crimes and anti-social behaviour. Cannonsgrove was a main issue in the recent local by-elections, with problems affecting the community during the day and night; · A meaningful , balanced and democratic Liaison Group is run as previously required by SWT Members; · Concerns that the current use of the site was not safe or accessible, nor did it support communities, health, social and cultural well-being and did not comprise sustainable development that created social cohesive and inclusive communities and failed to address accessibility to necessary service or to ensure a better quality of life for everyone; · The Secretary of State and Minister for Housing stated that all homeless were to be taken off of the street due to Covid, Cannonsgrove provided a safe place for the homeless with complex needs; · Tenants at Cannonsgrove have the best opportunity to make fundamental changes to their lives; · Safeguarding leads were provided on site to support the residents of Trull; · Two persons every week were able to move on from Cannonsgrove. They were provide with help to support their new healthy lifestyle; · The Council was actively seeking alternative accommodation for the homeless; · A monthly report on any updates regarding incidents and their resolutions was given to the Parish Council; · SCAT regularly contravened the S106 that was put in place to protect the village and to ensure that the planning application as submitted was met; · Placing the homeless at Cannonsgrove was in direct contravention of policies that were in place that was not really for a community to be bringing to the authority; · Conditions stated that there was minibus operating on site, that was incorrect and needed amending; · Concerns that people from the site were not wearing masks on the 97 bus service or in the village shop. This was not acceptable for elderly vulnerable residents and had serious impact on the wellbeing of many and confidence in using these vital services; · Concerns with intoxicated people walking dangerously in the roads or behaving abusively as they pass through the village on route to the town; · Concerns with men discussing their purchase of spike in town; · Concerns with the impact on existing residents of the village ... view the full minutes text for item 30. |
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Change of use of land from agricultural to mixed agricultural and equine use and laying of hardstanding at Merlands, Stapley Road, Biscombe, Churchstanton (in accordance with amended plans received on 16 April 2021) Additional documents: Minutes: Change of use of land from agricultural to mixed agricultural and equine use and laying of hardstanding at Merlands, Stapley Road, Biscombe, Churchstanton (in accordance with amended plans received on 16 April 2021)
Application Deferred to allow for the resolution of an outstanding complaint regarding the site. |
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Erection of summer house at Toms House, Langford Budville Road, Langford Budville (retention of part works already undertaken) Additional documents: Minutes: Erection of summer house at Toms House, Langford Budville Road, Langford Budville (retention of part works already undertaken)
Comments by Members included;
· Did the applicant use the residence and if so for how long? · How long had the applicant owned the property? · Concerns were raised on the marketing of the property on a website for holiday accommodation; · Concerns that these conditions were tied to an individual but in these circumstance the unique needs justifies this;
At this point in the meeting a 30 minute extension was proposed and seconded.
Councillor Aldridge proposed and Councillor Weston seconded a motion for Conditional Approval to be APPROVED as per Officer recommendation;
The motion was carried
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Appeals Lodged and decisions received
Latest appeals and decisions received. Additional documents: Minutes: Latest appeals and decisions noted. |