Agenda and minutes

Councillor Smith advised that he was the Local Member for Agenda item 4b, however did not have any interest in the site.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2021 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

Reports of the Director for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills

Application to vary (not to comply with) conditions 8 and 17 of planning permission ES.20/03/501 MW to facilitate an increase in the site's output from 1 million tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes per year by extending the hours of operation for mineral extraction and processing from 1900 to 2200 Monday to Friday, extending the hours for the maintenance of processing plant from 0600 to 2000 Monday to Saturday to 24 hours/day Monday to Saturday and permitting up to 5 lorries associated with the on-site mineral operations to enter the site and park overnight after 1900 Monday to Friday and after 1600 on Saturdays.

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer on the proposed application by Aggregate Industries U.K. Limited to vary (not comply with) conditions 8 and 17 of planning permission ES.20/03/501 MW to facilitate an increase in the site’s output from 1 million tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes per year by extending the hours of operation for mineral extraction and processing from 1900 to 2200 Monday to Friday, extending the hours for the maintenance of processing plant from 0600 to 2000 Monday to Saturday to 24 hours/day Monday to Saturday and permitting up to 5 lorries associated with the on-site mineral operations to enter the site and park overnight after 1900 Monday to Friday and after 1600 on Saturdays.

In accordance with the County Councils scheme for public speaking at meetings, the Committee received a representation from Mr J Jessup speaking on behalf of the applicant.

The Committee discussed concerns with the proposed increased hours of operation and impact on nearby residents, however were reassured by the recommended trial period to assess the impacts.

Following a vote it was:

RESOLVED – To PERMIT the application to vary (not to comply with) conditions 8 and 17 of planning permission ES.20/03/501 MW to facilitate an increase in the site's output from 1 million tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes per year by extending the hours of operation for mineral extraction and processing from 1900 to 2200 Monday to Friday, extending the hours for the maintenance of processing plant from 0600 to 2000 Monday to Saturday to 24 hours/day Monday to Saturday and permitting up to 5 lorries associated with the on-site mineral operations to enter the site and park overnight after 1900 Monday to Friday and after 1600 on Saturdays, subject to the recommended conditions listed in the report.

Planning application to vary (not to comply with) conditions 17 (hours of working), 19 (quantity of exported sand and gravel) and 20 (limits on HGV movements) of planning permission L.15/04/805-808 MW.

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer on the proposed application by Tarmac and CEMEX UK to vary (not to comply with) conditions 17 (hours of working), 19 (quantity of exported sand and gravel) and 20 (limits on HGV movements) of planning permission L.15/04/805-808 MW.

In accordance with the County Council’s scheme for public speaking at meetings, the Committee received representations from Mr S Holyman objecting to the application and Mr M Lawer speaking on behalf of the applicant.

Councillor Smith, as Local Member advised that the nearby road was the main A5 prior to the Hints bypass and is now comparatively quiet and does have speed limits.

The Committee discussed the importance that conditions on the application must be complied with. The Committee queried if there was a Quarry Liaison Committee. The Committee were informed that there was a legal requirement for the quarry to set up a Liaison Committee however this had not been completed. The Committee sought reassurances from Mr Lawer that the Liaison Committee would be set up as required. 

Following a vote it was:

RESOLVED – to PERMIT the application to vary (not to comply with) conditions 17 (hours of working), 19 (quantity of exported sand and gravel) and 20 (limits on HGV movements) of planning permission L.15/04/805-808 MW subject to the recommended conditions listed in the report.

Application to vary conditions 5, 6 and 7 of permission ES.17/13/501 MW to allow the concrete product factory and associated mobile plant to operate on a 24/7 basis and to extend the hours during which HGVs can access the concrete product factory for a temporary 12 month 'trial' period.

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer on the proposed application by Aggregate Industries U.K. Limited to vary conditions 5, 6 and 7 of permission ES.17/13/501 MW to allow the concrete product factory and associated mobile plant to operate on a 24/7 basis and to extend the hours during which HGVs can access the concrete product factory for a temporary 12 month 'trial' period.

In accordance with the County Councils scheme for public speaking at meetings, the Committee received a representation from Ms S Gaskarth speaking on behalf of the applicant.

The Committee discussed that they supported the application and the commitment to liaise with local residents.

Following a vote it was:

RESOLVED – To PERMIT the application to vary conditions 5, 6 and 7 of permission ES.17/13/501 MW to allow the concrete products factory and associated mobile plant to operate on a 24/7 basis and to extend the hours during which HGVs can access the concrete products factory for a temporary 12 month 'trial' period, subject to the recommended conditions listed in the report.

Report of the Director for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills.

The Committee received a report on behalf of the Director for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills on the planning development control and policy making performance over the period 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2021.

The Committee were presented with details of performance against various categories of application and the respective targets. The Committee noted the performance with policy-making; the development control performance against various categories of application and the respective national and local targets; and, the staffing changes in the Planning, Policy and Development team.

The Committee expressed their thanks to the Planning, Policy and Development team.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director for Families and Communities.

The Committee considered a report detailing the work of the Safety of Sports Grounds team carried out from April 2020 to March 2021. Members noted the County Council’s statutory obligations under the relevant legislation and the activities carried out to ensure that those duties had been met.

The statutory duty under the Safety of Sports Ground Act 1975 requires that every local authority should enforce within their area the provisions of the Act. The Committee noted that whilst the anticipated formal inspection process was not completed this year due to COVID-19 controls, the Safety of Sports Grounds team had engaged with venues’ Safety Management Teams and Partners to ensure that all events that had gone ahead, had done so safely.

The Committee were advised that during 2021/21 significant focus has been required by the team to ensure the return of spectators is done so in a safe and considered manner.

RESOLVED – That (a) the activity completed in respect of Safety of Sports Grounds for the period 1 April 2020 – 31 March 21 be noted.

(b) the progress completed for this financial year to date be noted.

Report of the Director for Corporate Services.

The Committee considered a report from the Director for Corporate Services relating to the Countryside and Rights of Way Panel’s request to increase the size of the Panel from five Members to Seven and remove the provision for substitute members in the constitution.

The Committee were reminded that the Countryside and Rights of Way Panel is appointed at the first meeting of the Planning Committee following the annual Council meeting in each municipal year. In addition to the five Members of the Panel, five additional Members are also appointed as substitutes.

As the Panel is currently a committee of five, in the event of a number of apologies there may only be a small number of Members at Panel and although may still be quorate, the Panel feel that it is not ideal to consider matters as important as Rights of Way issues with such a small number of Members. It was therefore the Panel’s view to seek to increase the size of the committee to seven Members, which would have no impact on quorum.

RESOLVED – That (a) the Countryside and Rights of Way Panel’s request to increase the size of the Panel from five Members to seven and remove the provision for substitute members in the constitution be noted.

(b) the Planning Committee recommend to the County Council a change in the constitution, that the membership of the Countryside and Rights of Way Panel be increased to seven Members and to remove the provision for substitute Members.

The Chairman to move:-

“That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business which involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972 indicated below”.

Part Two

(All reports in this section are exempt)

Nil

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business which involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972 indicated below.