Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2017 be confirmed as a true record and signed by the chairman

The Committee considered a report detailing the work of the Safety of Sports Grounds team carried out during April 2016 to March 2017. 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 the Safety of Sports Ground team achieved their business objectives and carried out inspections at all designated grounds and 7 of the 8 regulated stands.

The Committee were informed that due to changes in use and spectators attendance, Newcastle Speedway had not received a formal inspection however visits to the premises had taken place. The Committee were also informed that Burton Albion, when promoted to the Championship had 3 years to convert their stadium to an all seater stadium. Burton Albion at that time determined that expansion to capacity was not viable. This is the clubs second year in the Championship and no work has currently been planned to convert to an all seater stadium

RESOLVED – that the annual report on the Safety of Sports Grounds for 2016/17 be noted.

Reports of the Director for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills

Greener Composting’s application to vary condition 13 of the composting facility planning permission L.12/01/823 W to allow receipt of compostable green waste from Local Authority Household Waste Recycling Centres on Sundays and Public/Bank Holidays

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer on the proposed application to vary condition 13 of the composting facility planning permission to allow receipt of compostable green waste from Local Authority Household Waste Recycling Centres on Sundays and Public/ Bank Holidays.

The Members sought clarification from the officers regarding the proposed hours and the Shenstone Parish Council objections; expressed some concerns about the general introduction of working on Sundays and Bank Holidays from a local amenity point of view; and, acknowledged the lack of objections to this application.

Following a vote it was:

RESOLVED – To PERMIT the application to vary condition 13 of the composting facility planning permission to allow receipt of compostable green waste from Local Authority Household Waste Recycling Centres on Sundays and Public/Bank Holidays

Greener Composting’s application to construct a biomass boiler facility instead of the permitted in-vessel composting facility

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer on the proposed application to construct a biomass boiler facility to replace the permitted in-vessel composting facility.

The Committee were informed that there have been no objections to the application, however Shenstone Parish Council had some concerns.

Members commented that this is a basic agricultural building and the visual appearance and quality of the design could be improved by extending the cladding to the ground; made a general point about the impact of HGV traffic on small country lanes and the costs of repair falling on the County Council and officers explained the circumstances when it would be reasonable to impose conditions to address the impact on local roads; sought clarification and assurances about the source of biomass and officers explained that the source would be over-sized wood from the adjacent composting facility and the conditions of the permission would limit it to that source.

Members voted that a condition be added to the recommendation to improve the visual appearance of the proposed building in addition to the recommended condition to update the approved landscaping scheme.

Members expressed concern that the Applicant could import wood fuel from outside of Staffordshire in order to produce more electricity.. Members voted that a condition be added to the recommendation, that in the event that further wood fuel be required, it should be locally sourced in accordance with Policy SC2 of the Lichfield Local Plan.

Following a vote it was:

RESOLVED: To PERMIT the application to construct a biomass boiler facility to replace the permitted in-vessel composting facility subject to additional conditions:

a)            To require details to improve the visual appearance of the building to be submitted for approval; and,

b)            Should further wood fuel be required, it should only be with wood fuel sourced locally in accordance with Policy SC2 of the Lichfield Local Plan.

J. C. Bamford Excavators Limited’s application to construct a demonstration facility to incorporate workshops, welfare and customer hospitality and changing rooms together with separate covered grandstand and associated works

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer on the proposed application to construct a demonstration facility to incorporate workshops, welfare and customer hospitality and changing rooms together with separate covered grandstand and associated works.

Members sought clarification about the consultation responses and requirements to remove the grandstand should mineral operations re-commence.  Officers confirmed the limited response from consultees and the reason for the requirement to remove the grandstand was to avoid mineral sterilisation.  Members welcomed the application by JCB and the investment in Staffordshire.

Following a vote it was:

RESOLVED: To PERMIT the application to construct a demonstration facility to incorporate workshops, welfare and customer hospitality and changing rooms together with separate covered grandstand and associated works

The Committee considered the ‘county matters’ and consultation with Staffordshire County Council dealt with by the Director for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills under delegated powers.

RESOLVED: That the report be received.

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)

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

Report of the Director of Economy, Infrastructure and Skills

(Exemption Paragraph 5 & 7)