Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Permanent replacement

County Councillor Westley replaced County Councillor S Rigby on the Committee.

Temporary replacement

County Councillor Schofield replaced County Councillor Kay at this meeting.

To note the appointment by the County Council on the 25 May 2023 of County Councillors Maxwell-Scott and B Yates as Chair and Deputy Chair of the Committee, respectively, for 2023/24.

Committee noted the appointment by the County Council on 25 May 2023 of County Councillors Maxwell-Scott and Yates as Chair and Deputy Chair of the Committee, respectively, for 2023/24.

The Chair expressed his thanks to the former Deputy Chair, County Councillor Paul Rigby, for his invaluable support over the past two years.

Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

No pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests were disclosed.

A report was presented on the Constitution, Membership and Terms of Reference of the Development Control Committee.

Resolved: That the Constitution, Membership and Terms of Reference of the Development Control Committee be noted.

The committee are asked to agree that the Minutes of the last meeting held on 26 April 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Resolved: That the minutes of the last meeting held on 26 April 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

The Update Sheet will be considered as part of each related agenda report.

The Update Sheet was circulated prior to the meeting (copy attached).

A report was presented on an application for a variation of condition 2 of planning permission LCC/2014/0096, to allow the date of final restoration of the Preston New Road Exploration Site, Off Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, Westby with Plumptons, to be postponed until 30^th June 2025.

The report included the views of Fylde Borough Council, Westby Parish Council, the Environment Agency, LCC Highways Development Control, the North Sea Transition Authority, Health and Safety Executive and United Utilities. No observations had been received from Weeton-with-Preese Parish Council or Kirkham Town Council.

County Councillor John Singleton had raised an objection on behalf of residents in the Fylde West division stating that these residents had been most affected by multiple earth tremors recorded near the application site.

Eighty four representations (including those from the Preston New Road Liaison Committee established as a condition of the planning permission), the Preston New Road Action Group and the Roseacre Awareness Group, had been received objecting to the application, in addition to two letters of representation from Mark Menzies – MP for Fylde and objections from Friends of the Earth.

Committee's attention was drawn to the Update Sheet which included corrections to pages 15 and 17 of the agenda which should have stated that 5 January 2017 was the commencement of the development at the site. Therefore under condition 2 of the original planning permission, the date for completion of restoration was 5 April 2023. The Update Sheet also provided a replacement condition 1 referring to time limits.

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a location plan of the application site and the nearest houses and air photographs of the site showing the site access and road, gas flare, soil storage mound, perimeter acoustic and security fencing and well heads.

It was reported that the Restoration timeline provided in the Committee report and presentation was a sequential process and that various works must be completed before the next stage could commence; it was not possible to proceed directly to the restoration stage. The three options when the suspension notice expired at the end of June 2023 were as follows:

(a)  Agree a plan to reuse one or both wells;

(b)  Agree a plan to bring one or both wells into production;

(c)  To require one or both wells to be plugged and abandoned.

This application had been made on the basis of option (c) being followed.

Ms Susan Holliday, Preston New Road Action Group, addressed the Committee and made the following points:

In January 2022, Cuadrilla wrote to Lancashire County Council confirming their intention to decommission by April 2023. This was put on hold when they were given more time to plug the wells. If they expected to be able to restore in 12 months last year, why do they now need two years? Also, condition 6E states that the schedule for site restoration should not be greater than 12 months; Cuadrilla appears to be padding out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

A report was presented on an application for the construction of four control kiosks and associated landscapingat Mere Brow Wastewater Treatment Works, Mere Brow Lane, Tarleton.

The report included the views of West Lancashire Borough Council, the Environment Agency and Tarleton Parish Council. No representations had been received.

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a location plan and diagram of the application site, an air photograph of the application site and nearest houses, a comparison diagram of the kiosk locations of permission LCC/2022/0015 with the current application, and photographs of the view from Mere Brow Lane and the access road to the waste water treatment works.

A query was raised in relation to the comments from Tarleton Parish Council stating that the proposed kiosks would be 9 metres high. It was confirmed to Committee that the kiosks would be 4 metres high and that the base level of the buildings would be set at a level of  around 5 metres above ordnance datum.

Resolved: That planning permission be granted, subject to conditions controlling time limits, working programme and landscaping, as set out in the Committee report.

County Councillor Paul Rigby joined the meeting at this point. This item was considered prior to Item 8.

A report was presented on an application for a variation of condition 8 of planning permission LCC/2016/0084 at Foggs Farm, Hobbs Lane, Claughton-On-Brock, to allow the permitted number of HGVs leaving the site to increase from 2 to 6 per day.

The report included the views of LCC Highways Development Control. No observations had been received from Wyre Borough Council or Claughton Parish Council. One representation objecting to the application had been received.

Committee's attention was drawn to the Update Sheet which included an additional clause to condition 6 proposing that the provisions of this condition would not apply to tractors and trailers.

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a location plan, air photograph of the application site and the buildings used for production of bedding materials, and photographs of Hobbs Lane, the site entrance onto Hobbs Lane, the site building and drying plant.

The Development Management Officer answered questions from Committee.

County Councillor Berry expressed concern in relation to the increase in vehicle movements from a road safety perspective, including the unlimited movement of farm vehicles and trailers on a single track road. In addition, County Councillor Berry asked that a condition be included in relation to wheel washing as the road surface was very muddy.

County Councillor Schofield referred to the comments from Highways detailed in the Committee report and considered that their request to impose a condition to manage HGV movements to no more than two within any hour should be included in the planning permission.

In relation to Committee's concerns about stones, mud and debris being transferred onto the highway, the Development Management Officer suggested that an additional condition could be included stating that measures would be taken to avoid any mud or debris being tracked out of the site entrance.

After a discussion, it was Proposed and Seconded:

"That the Recommendation in the report and Update Sheet be accepted, subject to an additional condition being imposed to manage HGV movements to no more than two leaving the site in any 60 minute period".

Upon being put to the vote, the Amendment was Carried.

It was further Proposed and Seconded:

"That the Recommendation in the report and Update Sheet be accepted, subject to an additional condition being imposed to manage HGV movements to no more than two leaving the site in any 60 minute period and subject to the installation of wheel cleaning facilities".

Upon being put to the Vote, the Amendment was Lost.

It was further Proposed and Seconded:

"That the Recommendation in the report and Update Sheet be approved, subject to an additional condition being imposed to manage HGV movements to no more than two leaving the site in any 60 minute period, and subject to an additional general condition stating that measures will be taken to avoid mud or debris being tracked out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

A report was presented on an application for a proposed 2.4 metre high mesh fence to the front boundary of Gillibrand County Primary School, Grosvenor Road, Chorley, to replace the existing hoop top fence.

The application had been submitted as the school were experiencing issues with vandalism and unauthorised access. The new fencing was required in order to provide a higher degree of security.

The report included the views of Chorley Council and LCC Highways. Three representations objecting to the application had been received.

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a site location plan and aerial view of the application site, location of the proposed fencing, car park and vehicular entrance, elevations and photographs of the existing fencing and the boundary with 4 Grosvenor Road.

The Development Management Officer answered questions from Committee.

Resolved: That planning permission be granted subject to conditions controlling approved plans and tree protection, as set out in the Committee report.

It was reported that, since the last meeting of the Development Control Committee on 26 April 2023, nine planning applications had been granted planning permission by the Head of Environment, in accordance with the county council's Scheme of Delegation.

Resolved: That the report be taken account of.

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Member’s intention to raise a matter under this heading.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

The next meeting of the Development Control Committee will be held on Wednesday, 19 July at 10.30 am in Committee Room B - the Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston.

Resolved: That the next meeting of the Committee be held on Wednesday 19^th July 2023 at 10.30am in Committee Room B – The Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston.