Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence received.

Apologies were received from Cllr Carter, Cllr Cooper, Cllr Harvey, Cllr House and Cllr Price.

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore all Members with a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and agreed

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman confirmed that a Site Visit was scheduled to Botley on Monday 2 October, with a coach leaving the Council Offices at 9:30.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

The deputation procedure was explained and it was confirmed that one deputation had been received for the meeting.

Committee considered a report from the Head of Strategic Planning (Item 6 in the Minute Book) regarding an application for the development of a Highways Waste Management Facility in Winchester.

The officer introduced the report and showed Committee aerial photos depicting the site and surrounding road network, as well as nearby points of interest, with the nearest housing being 225 metres away to the south east. Elevation and entrance photos of the site were shown, as well as a detailed layout plan. It was confirmed that one objection had been received from Winchester City Council due to the site being in countryside.

The Officer confirmed that Condition 2 was to be amended to read “no site preparation or groundworks associated with the construction of the topsoil

storage barn, wet waste drying area (and holding tanks/soakaways), portacabins or weighbridge shown on plans LAY-01 and LA.08.dwg shall take place…” due to the application being part retrospective.

The Committee received one deputation from Stuart Austin and Luke Bridges on behalf of the applicant. Mr Austin described how none of the Key Consultees had made objections to the proposal apart from Winchester City Council. The site was not remote and surrounded by main roads, and could be accessed from the road network without passing any residential properties. Mr Bridges told Committee how the location was central in Hampshire with a good amount of space for processing and storage. The industry was heavily regulated and the site would be closely monitored if it was to be approved.

During questions of the deputations, the following points were clarified:

·         Headlights from vehicles wouldn’t be a problem for drivers as there were established bunds along the east and western boundaries.

·         The permission sought was for permanent permission

·         There would be no processing at night as only vehicles would be in operation. Noise from the site during the day was not a concern to the Environmental Health Officer due to the close proximity of the M3

During questions of the officer, the following points were clarified:

·         An alternative site had not been suggested by Winchester City Council

·         It was not felt that this proposal set a precedent as it was in a unique location close to the industrialised area around the junction.

During debate, Members agreed that the site lines and access to the site was more than adequate and the location of the site between two such busy roads was suited to industrial activity.

RESOLVED:

Planning permission was GRANTED subject to the conditions listed in integral appendix B.

Voting:

Favour: 11

Abstentions: 1