Agenda and minutes
PDF 197 KBVenue: Ashcombe Suite, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN. View directions
Contact: Cheryl Hardman or Rianna Hanford Email: cherylh@surreycc.gov.uk, Email: rianna.hanford@surreycc.gov.uk
Note: Meeting postponed half an hour due to Social Care Services Board call-in, starting at 9am.
Media
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
To receive any apologies for absence and notices of substitutions under Standing Order 40. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Ernest Mallett. |
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MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2015. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2015 were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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PETITIONS
To receive any petitions from members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 65 (please see note 7 below). Additional documents: Minutes: There were no petitions. |
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PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
To answer any questions received from local government electors within Surrey in accordance with Standing Order 66 (please see note 8 below). Additional documents: Minutes: Malcolm Robertson, a Local Resident, asked a question in relation to item 7. The question and response was tabled and is attached as annex 1.
A supplementary question was asked and a general response was given at the meeting, a formal response would be confirmed and sent to the questioner.
The following points were made by the Local Resident in the supplementary question: · Thanked Surrey County Council (SCC) officers for the timely response to the question. · Informed the Committee that the response to the submitted question raised concern regarding the EU directive on endangering human health and harming the environment incorporated into English Law by waste regulations of 2011. It was felt that the council considers the EU directive as being of less importance then national guidelines. It was added that SCC should appreciate that the rule of law was paramount and planning guidelines rank well below the law of the land. · Informed the Committee that the supplementary question was based on the fact that the Committee was reliant on the response of consultees and independent experts. It was asked how the Committee was able to come to an informed decision if a major consultee was yet to consider matters in depth and, just as importantly, if there has been a failure to gain independent expert advice.
The Planning Development & Control Team Manager gave a general response to the supplementary question. The following response was given: · Noted that points raised in the supplementary question were addressed in the officer report. It was made clear that planning guidance confirms that authorities should rely on permitting regimes working properly and should not seek to amend or challenge guidelines. In this particular case SCC had taken the decision and was advised by the EA, no objections had been raised. It was noted that the detail given by the EA should be accepted. · It was noted that the report details advice received by the SCC geotechnical officer, which brought no objection. What was required in terms of advice and legislation had been met. · It was confirmed that a full response to the supplementary question would be provided in writing. The questioner requested that the National Planning Casework Unit (NPCU) would also receive the formal response. The Chairman agreed for this to be arranged.
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MEMBERS' QUESTION TIME
To answer any questions received from Members of the Council in accordance with Standing Order 47. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no Member questions. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Notes: · In line with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, declarations may relate to the interest of the member, or the member’s spouse or civil partner, or a person with whom the member is living as husband or wife, or a person with whom the member is living as if they were civil partners and the member is aware they have the interest. · Members need only disclose interests not currently listed on the Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · Members must notify the Monitoring Officer of any interests disclosed at the meeting so they may be added to the Register. · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no Declarations of Interest. |
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Changes to the planning conditions attached to the Charlton Lane Eco Park planning permission (ref: SP13/01553/SCC dated 25 September 2014) in order to incorporate minor material amendments to the surface water drainage and containment design associated with the tank area located to the north of the Recyclables Bulking Facility and Anaerobic Digestion Facility buildings. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of Interest:
None
Officers: Alan Stones, Planning Development & Control Team Manager Mark O’Hare, Senior Planning Officer Caroline Smith, Transport Development Planning Team Manager Nancy El-Shatoury, Principal Solicitor
Speakers: Peter Francis, a local resident, made representations in objection to the application. The following points were made: · Informed the Committee that he had provided advice and guidance to the applicant and Surrey County Council (SCC) on objections in relation to the proposed bunding arrangements in particular the Anaerobic Digestion Plant (AD). It was noted that there had been other areas where serious incidences had occurred, and examples of these were given to the applicant. · Noted that the tank area should be located a minimum prescribed distance from the wall, added that the drawings provided in the report did not allocate five tanks at the required distance. Any leakage from the tanks could flow to the other side of the wall. · Expressed to the Committee that the tank area must be re-designed or additional tank protection should be established. Officers were asked how this would be rectified. · It was expressed to the Committee that the applicant did not wait for approval from SCC before confirming the new tank and wall area design. · Deferring approval of this application could allow more time for further design faults.
Malcolm Robertson, a local resident, made representations in objection to the application. The following points were made: · Informed the Committee that the original tank design by SITA had been rejected by the EA, requiring an improved design, the new tank design had not yet been submitted to the Environment Agency (EA) for scrutiny. · Noted that there was a serious concern for the risk of fire, due to the tanks containing methane. · Other causes for concern for the risk of fire/explosion were the close proximity of tanks to one another and lack of access for emergency service vehicles. · It was expressed that no advice was provided on fire safety, SCC were not advised of crucial issues. · It was expressed to the Committee that the application should either be rejected or deferred until adequate information is provided from the applicant.
Gareth Philips, the applicant, spoke in support of the application. The following points were made: · Informed the Committee that the applicant had discussed bund design with the EA. · A secondary cladding had been provided on the wall in case of failure of the tank skin. · Drew the Committee’s attention to paragraph 24 of the officer’s report The EA would not permit the application if SITA had not met all the pre-operational requirements. · Noted that there were further submissions that were required but construction could continue before these were completed. · Noted that there were no objections received from Thames Water. · Noted that views expressed crossed over to permitting issues instead of planning.
The Local Members had not registered to speak and Ian Beardsmore would speak as a member of the committee
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The Senior Planning Officer introduced the report and informed the Committee that ... view the full minutes text for item 48/15 |
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Planning & Regulatory Committee will be on 6 January 2016. Additional documents: Minutes: The next Planning and Regulatory Committee will be held on 6 January 2016 at 10.30 am. |