Agenda and minutes

The Democratic Services Officer will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

The Democratic Services Officer read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

There were no apologies for absence or substitutions.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number and site in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or another interest, (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Cllr Shaun Hughes declared that he had already stated his objection to the application 21/02973/OUT Parcel 3589, Silver Street, Midsomer Norton (item 1 under the main applications list) and would not participate in the debate or vote, but he would address the Committee as adjacent ward member.

Cllr Eleanor Jackson confirmed that she had declared an interest previously in relation to application 21/02973/OUT Parcel 3589, Silver Street, Midsomer Norton (item 1 under the main applications list) as she had objected to an associated application for a housing development which had now been approved by Mendip District Council.  She confirmed that as this application had been determined, she did not have an interest in relation to 21/02973/OUT which was only concerned with the access road, footpath and cycle links, open space, landscaping and associated works access.

Cllr Lucy Hodge declared that she had already stated her objection to the planning application 20/02964/FUL Lansdown Lawn Tennis & Squash Racquets Club, Northfields, Lansdown (item 2 under the main applications list) and therefore would not participate in the debate or vote, but she would address the Committee as local ward member.

There was no urgent business.

To note that, regarding planning applications to be considered, members of the public who have given the requisite notice to Democratic Services will be able to make a statement to the Committee immediately before their respective applications are considered. There will be a time limit of 3 minutes for each proposal, i.e., 3 minutes for the Parish and Town Councils, 3 minutes for the objectors to the proposal and 3 minutes for the applicant, agent and supporters. This allows a maximum of 9 minutes per proposal.

The Democratic Services Officer informed the meeting that there were a number of people wishing to make statements on planning applications and that they would be able to do so when these items were discussed.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 27 July 2022 as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Cllr Eleanor Jackson moved that the minute be confirmed as a correct record, this was seconded by Cllr Shelley Bromley and:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 27 July 2022 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There are no site visit applications.

There were no site visit applications for consideration.

The following applications will be considered in the morning session starting at 11am:

1.  21/02973/OUT Waddeton Park Ltd Parcel 3589, Silver Street, Midsomer Norton

2.  20/02964/FUL Lansdown Lawn Tennis & Squash Racquets Club, Northfields, Lansdown

3.  22/02560/FUL 31 St Mark's Road, Widcombe, Bath

4.  22/01578/LBA 31 St Mark's Road, Widcombe, Bath

5.  22/01966/FUL 22 Lambourn Road, Keynsham, Bristol

The Committee considered: 

A report by the Head of Planning on various planning applications and update report in relation to items 1, 2, 3 and 4 under the main applications list.

Oral statements by members of the public and representatives.  A copy of the speakers’ list is attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes. 

RESOLVED that in accordance with the delegated powers, the applications be determined as set out in the Main decisions list attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes. 

Item No. 1

Application No: 21/02973/OUT

Site Location: Parcel 3589, Silver Street, Midsomer Norton

The Case Officer introduced the report which was an application for an access road, footpath and cycle links, open space, landscaping and associated works relating to a housing development site in the adjacent Mendip District area and had been deferred from the meeting of 29 June to allow officers to investigate the feasibility of securing a pedestrian crossing as part of the development.  She reported that Mendip District Council had since approved the associated application. 

She confirmed that officers considered that securing a pedestrian crossing was feasible in view of the increased use of the junction that would occur as a result of the development, and the officer recommendation was that officers be delegated to permit the application subject to the conditions in the report and the completion of a Section 106 Agreement to secure the following financial contributions:

1. £10,000 towards improving local bus infrastructure.

2. £392,300.77 towards the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone Cycleway.

3. £21, 285 towards Targeted Training and Recruitment.

4. £488,255 towards Green Space and Parks Infrastructure.

5. £180,419.53 towards a controlled pedestrian/cycle crossing on Silver Street.

The following public representations were received:

1.  Gordon MacKay, Midsomer Norton Parish Council, requested that developer contributions provide safe walking/cycling access to nearby key locations in Midsomer Norton.

2.  Rosie Dinnen, agent, speaking in support of the application.

Cllr Shaun Hughes declared an interest and withdrew from the Committee and made the following points as the adjacent local member:

1.  He was opposed to the application for the housing development in the Mendip area and the associated access application as he did not consider there to be any benefits for the community in Midsomer Norton. 

2.  This application would add many vehicle journeys to Silver Street and was a backward step in tackling the climate emergency.

3.  Silver Street was already at capacity and the road and junctions were gridlocked.  The condition of the road deteriorated within the Mendip boundary.

4.  Mendip District Council had not made an effort to improve infrastructure.  If the Committee was minded to permit the application, the £1m contribution should be allocated to solve the problems of infrastructure.

In response to Members questions, it was confirmed:

1.  The main housing development had been approved along with the previously agreed access into the site, and this application only related to access road, footpath and cycle links, open space, landscaping and associated works.  If the Committee was minded to refuse the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

The Committee is asked to note the report.

The Committee considered the appeals report. 

In response to Members’ questions, officers responded:

1. Withies Green site: the application was on hold after being referred to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities and the Council had not been given a timetable for this being resolved.
2. Resourceful Earth had withdrawn its appeal, but the officers had not been advised of the reasons for this decision. 

In relation to the 3 Ruskin Road appeal, Cllr Eleanor Jackson passed on the thanks of Westfield Parish Council to officers supporting the appeal and asked for clarification of the dates of the appeal being lodged and determined. 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.