Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 21st April 2021 via video conferencing
Present: Cllr Andy Brewer (Chairman), Cllrs Nick Tolley, Helen Groves, Louise Parkin, Bill Hancock, Sue Harvey, with Lorna Williams (Deputy Clerk) in attendance.
One member of the public was present and one member of the Press
Cllr Groves left the meeting due to a misunderstanding by staff regarding regulations for use of video links.
Public Participation
There were no speakers.
42/21/PC Apologies
Cllrs Peter Clayton
43/21/PC Declarations of Interest in items on this agenda & dispensations granted
Cllr Sue Harvey declared an interest on application 11/21/009 and would leave the meeting.
44/21/PC Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on Wednesday 21st March 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
Cllr Hancock left the meeting
45/21/PC Presentation from Andre Doyle and three other officers from Somerset County Council:
Regarding the delivery of a series of improvement schemes on a stretch of the A38 which runs from the Edithmead Roundabout at Junction 22 of the M5 in Sedgemoor to the South Bristol Link.
The improvements were to address issues relating to congestion and to better connect communities by active travel modes, by improving road safety and minimising environmental impacts.
The main interest from the meeting was the alterations and improvements to the Edithmead roundabout. These included the widening of and extra provision of lanes, from both Burnham and Highbridge.
For more information on the proposed scheme go to www.a38mrn-engagement.com
Cllr Sue Harvey left the meeting
46/21/PC Planning Applications considered
11/21/009
| Location: | 76 Berrow Road, Burnham On Sea, Somerset, TA8 2EZ |
| Proposal: | Change of use of a dwelling to 6 no. bedroom residential care home. |
| Case Officer: | Shanta Parsons |
| Applicant: | Mr Major |
The meeting was encouraged to see an increase in parking spaces from two to ten.
Comment: Support in principle, however there was concern over the lack of individual bathroom facilities, 1no. bathroom for 5 bedrooms seems inadequate, would prefer to see rooms with an en-suite facility.
Cllr Sue Harvey re-joined the meeting
11/21/015
| Location: | 2 Saxondale Avenue, Burnham On Sea, Somerset, TA8 2PR |
| Proposal: | Formation of new access and erection of garage, with external works |
| Case Officer: | Amelia Elvé |
| Applicant: | Mr & Mrs Osborn |
Comment: Support on the grounds of improved road safety.
11/21/024
| Location: | Electronic Communications Apparatus, Marine Drive, Burnham On Sea, Somerset, TA8 |
| Proposal: | Proposed installation of a 15 metre-high monopole supporting 6 no. antennas and 2 no. transmission dishes, 4 no. equipment cabinets and development works ancillary thereto. |
| Case Officer: | Amelia Elvé |
| Applicant: | Hutchison 3G UK Ltd |
The applicants appeared to have partially taken the views of the Town Council in account and have reduced the height of the mast from 20m to 15m, but have not explained why they did not consider the suggested alternative site beside the Fire Station practice tower, other than commenting it was too close to housing. The meeting agreed with all of the Parks and Open Spaces comments and wished to echo their response.
Policy S3 only addresses infrastructure delivery – there is heightened concern over the lack of SDC providing a Telecoms Policy and the Town Council would request that this is addressed.
Comment: Object on the grounds that the proposal for a 15m phone mast would be detrimental to the visual appearance of our award winning wildlife and leisure park. The new ancillary equipment such as cabinets, dishes and antennas, all add to a negative visual impact.
We would implore that mitigation measures were put in place e.g the pole was painted green, planting of shrubs around the cabinets to minimise the visual impact and that shrubs are maintained at the company’s expense.
11/21/027
| Location: | 14 Braithwaite Place, Burnham On Sea, Somerset, TA8 2PJ |
| Proposal: | Application to determine if prior approval is required for the erection of a single storey rear (East) extension extending 5.5m from the rear elevation |
| Case Officer: | Shanta Parsons |
| Applicant: | Mr & Mrs Jinks |
There was no requirement for the Town Council to be consulted on this application.
11/21/034
| Location: | Little Newton, 137B Berrow Road, Burnham On Sea, Somerset, TA8 2PN |
| Proposal: | T1 Copper Beech – Crown lift over public highway to give 6m clearance from ground level. T2 Birch Tree – Fell and replace with Himalayan Birch. |
| Case Officer: | Janette Burton |
| Applicant: | Mr P Madden |
Comment: No observations
11/21/035
| Location: | 81A Church Street, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 3HS |
| Proposal: | Yew (T1) – Raise branches over road to 5.2m. Common Lime (T3) – Reduce crown by 3m to suitable secondary branches. |
| Case Officer: | Janette Burton |
| Applicant: | Diocese of Bath & Wells |
Comment: No observations
47/21/PC Applications considered under delegated authority
Business & Planning Act 2020
Application for a New Pavement Licence
Premises address: The Globe Inn 17 Newtown Road Highbridge
TA9 3HX
The Chairman in consultation with the Deputy Clerk considered the application under delegated authority.
The response sent to Licencing:
The Town Council objects to the application as proposed.
- They would like to see the area clearly defined as front outdoor space, keeping a distance from the adjoining property – a table appears to be sited just to the right of a neighbours front door.
- There are concerns over the excessive number of tables that can be positioned safely to allow a socially distanced gap between each table
- 30 people also seems excessive in this space. So clear measurements of the space and tables is required.
- The proposed operating hours of 11am to 11pm would be detrimental to the amenity of local residents due to noise, we believe that 9pm would be acceptable time.
However, if the application was for a more limited number of tables and people and a semi-permanent barrier installed to define the width e.g. Planters, this would make the application acceptable to the Town Council.
Correspondence from the Clerk
48/21/PC To note the proposed public path diversion order of Footpath:
AX 32/33 in the Parish of Burnham and Highbridge
The meeting requested that the Deputy Clerk to responded to Sedgemoor, asking that the existing footpath should be kept open and maintained whilst the formation of the new route was created.
49/21/PC To receive notification of the Burnham-on-Sea Farmers Market Road Closures for 2021: 30th April, 28th May, 25th June, 30th July, 27th August, 24th September
The meeting NOTED the dates of the Farmers Market road closures.
50/21/PC To consider the consultation – Draft Self-Build and Custom Build Homes Supplementary Planning Document
The meeting agreed that the Self Build document should be kept on file as it would be a useful document to refer to if future applications were submitted.
51/21/PC Date of Next meeting
It was noted that the next meeting of this committee will be held on Wednesday 12th May 2021 at 7pm.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 20.13hrs