Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence received.

Apologies were received from Councillor Roland Dibbs. Councillor Pal Hayre attended as a deputy.

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 deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

The Chairman confirmed that five deputations had been received for the meeting and that they would have 10 minutes each to address the Committee.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

Members were reminded of a remote training session on waste sites on the 27 November.

To consider a report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment regarding Variation of Condition 14 of Planning Permission 17/00172/CMAN to allow a temporary increase in annual throughput at The A303 IBA Recycling Facility, Drayton Road, Barton Stacey (Application No. 20/01480/CMAN) (Site Ref: TV231).

Variation of Condition 14 of Planning Permission Number 17/00172/CMAN to allow a temporary increase in annual throughput at The A303 IBA Recycling Facility, Drayton Road, Barton Stacey SO21 3QS (No. 20/01480/CMAN)

(Site Ref: TV231)

The Committee considered a report from the Head of Strategic Planning (item 6 in the minute book) regarding an application for a temporary increase in annual throughput at the IBA recycling Facility in Barton Stacey.

The officer summarised the application, which was a result of the pandemic and a delay in standard working practices over the past few months. Members were shows aerial photos of the site, as well as elevation photos showing stockpiles and the surroundings. The temporary increase was the equivalent of 40 lorry movements a day.

It was confirmed that there was an update report, which updated Condition 14 to read as follows: “No more than 180,000 tonnes of Incinerator Bottom Ash waste shall be delivered to the site per year except during 2020 and 2021 when no more than 205,000 tonnes of Incinerator Bottom Ash shall be delivered to the site per year”.

The Committee received two deputations on the application.
Councillor Nigel Cooper from Barton Stacey Parish Council accepted that there were delays resulting from the pandemic, but there were concerns about planning creep and elements of the application becoming more permanent. There were also concerns that the tonnage would exceed those permitted.

Rob Westell addressed the Committee on behalf of the applicant and emphasised how the site was an important part of the waste infrastructure of Hampshire. The Environment Agency had granted a variation to the existing permit to assist the site in continuing, and it had been noted that tonnage levels had fluctuated since June due to various factors. Permits and permissions had also taken longer to come through. The applicant reassured the Committee that permission was only being sought for the essential continuation of works temporarily and there was no risk of a planning creep, as feared by residents.

During questions of the deputations it was confirmed that it had been agreed by the operator that the tonnages would be calculated by calendar year.

During questions of the officer the following points were clarified:

·         The site was obliged to keep and maintain weighbridge information, which the Council had access to;

·         Condition 11 was an open-ended condition that covered any dust issues irrespective of the stock pile amounts.

During debate, the Committee accepted that the application was a temporary necessity for the site and that Hampshire County Council were in control with regards to monitoring the conditions.

RESOLVED
Planning permission was granted subject to the amended conditions

Voting:
Favour: 15
Abstentions: 1

To consider a report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment regarding Variation of Condition 1 of Planning Permission 30633/034 to extend the time period of extraction to 31 December 2022 and completion of restoration within a further period of 2 years at Grunden Sand and Gravel Ltd., Frith End Sand Quarry, Frith End, Bordon (Application No. 30633/038) (Site Ref:EH121).

Variation of condition 1 of Planning Permission 30633/034 to extend the time period of extraction to 31 December 2022 and completion of restoration within a further period of 2 years at Grundon Sand and Gravel Ltd Frith End Sand Quarry, Frith End, Bordon GU35 0QR (No. 30633/038) (Site Ref: EH121)

The Committee received a report from the Head of Strategic Planning (item 7 in the minute book) regarding an extension of time for works at a quarry at Frith End in Bordon.

The officer introduced the item, showing the Committee aerial photos and footage from the site. On a plan of the site it was indicated which areas had been processed and were due for restoration along with those that still needed to be extracted. It was anticipated that there was approximately 120,000tonnes of mineral still remaining. Flooding that had occurred following a burst riverbank and issues around Covid had meant that that more time was now required to complete the work on site and an extension to time was being sought.

The Committee received three deputations on this item. Brian Davey addressed the Committee as a local resident and had concerns over planning creep on site and felt that the extension of time was longer than what should be necessary for a 10 month delay. There was also fear that approval of the extension would lead on to further requests and expansion.

Stewart Mitchell addressed the Committee on behalf of the applicant to reassure that the request was only to assist with the delays to existing work and the site was crucial for providing mineral for Hampshire.

Councillor Mark Kemp-Gee spoke as the local Member and thanked Grundons for the liaison panel that had proved successful and well managed, and also for their support of the local Kingsley Centre, which had continued throughout lockdown. Cllr Kemp-Gee also confirmed that the site had flooded before and shared residents concerns that a two year extension seemed a long time.

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

·         The extraction at the site included both soft and silica sand

·         Future development had not been proposed and was irrelevant to the application being sought in any case

·         The flooding of the river had not been caused by the quarry

During debate, Members agreed that the flooding on site was something that would need to be addressed by the Environment Agency and that the application should only be able to complete the works previously sought for in the original permission.

It was confirmed that an update report had been circulated, which summarised updates from County Ecology, the Flood Risk permit and representations.

RESOLVED:

Planning permission was granted subject to the update report and conditions listed in Appendix A.

Voting:
Favour: 16 (unanimous)