Agenda and draft minutes

SWT Phosphates Planning Sub-Committee
Thursday, 30th March, 2023 9.00 am

Venue: The John Meikle Room - The Deane House. View directions

Contact: Tracey Meadows Email: t.meadows@somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk 

Webcast: View the webcast

Items
No. Item

20.

Apologies

21.

Minutes of the previous meeting of the Sub committee pdf icon PDF 148 KB

    To approve the minutes of the previous meeting of the Subcommittee

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    To approve the minutes of the previous meeting of the committee.

     

    Resolved that the minutes of the last meeting of the Phosphate Planning Sub- Committee on 21 July 22 be approved.

     

    Proposed by Councillor Hassall, seconded by Councillor Wren.

     

    The motion was carried.

22.

Declarations of interest

    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:

    No further declarations were declared.

23.

Final Report to the Phosphate Planning Sub Committee pdf icon PDF 988 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Slide presentation presented to the Sub-Committee reported on the progress report undertaken to address the issues of achieving phosphate neutral development in the River Tone catchment.

     

    The purpose of the report was to provide and overarching update for the Phosphates Planning Sub-Committee of the actions that have been completed in regard to addressing the phosphates issues in Somerset West and Taunton (and across Somerset as a whole) since the Sub-Committee’s establishment.

     

    To agree the preferred option for the allocation of Phosphate credits (‘p credits’) of the next round of SWT P-credits.

     

    Set out areas of further work for the new Somerset Council from 1 April 2323. This is in recognition of the fact that this will be the last meeting of the Somerset West and Taunton Phosphate Planning Sub-Committee.

     

    During discussion of this item the following comments, queries were raised

     

    ·         Pleased that the new Somerset Council will be in a stronger position to deal with this;

    ·         Did we know why 20% of the applicants had withdrawn? This would applications that have elapsed. Some have given reasons, others have not. Applicants may have also found their own phosphate solution;

    ·         By unlocking the credits of 55,000 each, we managed to recoup a quarter of the 2 million outlay ? in terms of recouping that money, there are various trigger points. We are using a company to manage planning obligations and financial obligations. If the precise figure is required I would need to come back to you on that because it is all various trigger points;

    ·         Assurance sought that this process will go seamlessly into the new Somerset Council; this will be reviewed moving forward as we are probably one of the first authorities in the country to have a credit scheme;

    ·          

     

    Resolved that:- the Phosphate Planning Sub-Committee resolve to:

     

    a)    Agree option 2 for the allocation of P Credits;

    b)    Notes the content of this report;

    c)    The activity of the SWT P Credits scheme which is now starting to unlock the delivery of housing which has been on hold in the River Tone catchment due to the phosphate nutrient neutrality;

    d)    The outcomes of lobbying work undertaken by both Officers and Members.

    e)    The planned future activities, as set out in the draft “Action Plan”

     

    Proposed by Cllr Coles, seconded by Cllr Blaker

     

    The motion was carried.

     

24.

Any other business