Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence received.

Apologies were received from Councillors Mike Ford, Gary Hughes and Lulu Bowerman. Councillor Sarah Pankhurst and Hugh Lumby were in attendance as deputies.

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 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 Personal Interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider, having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 4 of the Code, whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 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 due to the number of deputations received, Section 9 of the Planning Code of Conduct had been waivered to extend the hour for deputations and allow 7 minutes per deputation.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman confirmed that due to the amount of interest in the item, the meeting would be web streamed into the Mitchell room as well as on YouTube via the Hampshire County Council website.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director of Waste, Planning and Environment regarding a proposed Energy Recovery Facility in Alton.

Development of an Energy Recovery Facility and Associated Infrastructure at Alton Materials Recovery Facility, A31, Alton GU34 4JD (No. 33619/007) (Site Ref: EH141)

The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Director of Waste, Planning and Environment (item 6 in the minute book) regarding an application for an Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) at the Alton Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).

The Chairman introduced the item, highlighting the significance of the application and the two update reports that had been circulated with some minor amendments.

The officer gave a detailed presentation on the application, and the Committee was shown aerial plans and photographs of the site and surrounding area, as well as the importance of the proposed site and how it would operate. 5,598 representations had been received from 4,049 individuals and the key issues were summarised.

The Committee received deputations from Emma Barnett - No Wey Incinerator Action Group, Christopher Napier – CPRE Hampshire, Alison Melvin - Binsted Eco Network, William Butler – West End Flower Farm, Dr Alexandra Roberts – Froyle Parish Council, Councillor Mark Merryweather, Farnham Town Council, Councillor Adam Carew - East Hants District Council, Councillor Rob Mocatta – South Downs National Park and Councillor Martin Tod – Hampshire County Council, who all spoke against the proposals.

The main reasons for objecting were:

• The location was not suitable for such a big development;
• There was no need for an ERF;
• The visual impact of the site on the landscape, walkers and local residents as well as visitors to the South Downs National Park;
• A devastating impact on local businesses and potential tourism;
• The impacts on the local road network;
• Emissions and plumes from the chimney stacks; and
• Finding an alternative to incinerating and shifting focus to increasing and improving recycling.

The applicant spoke to support the application, stating how the County was running out of landfill, exports commercial and industrial (C&I) wastes the importance of finding an alternative for businesses to manage C&I waste. It was confirmed that 365,000 tonnes was currently being exported or going to landfill each year. The ERF is a well-established technology. Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) technology would be implemented once the technology was available and regulated. The ERF was focussed on C&I waste rather than municipal solid wastes . The emissions would also be safe and closely monitoring by an Environmental Permit regulated by the Environment Agency.

County Councillors Jackie Porter, Andrew Joy and Mark Kemp-Gee also spoke as local Members. Councillor Jackie Porter and Mark Kemp-Gee shared their objections of the proposal and Councillor Andrew Joy read a statement of objection on behalf of Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP who felt that the benefits did not outweigh the negative aspects of the application.

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

·      Assessment work included in the Environment Statement on the emissions and potential health effects and it concluded that there would be no risk to human health.  Public Health England, the Public Health team at Hampshire County  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.