Agenda and minutes

None Received.

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.

County Councillor P Buckley declared a non pecuniary interest in agenda items 4 & 5 as his wife is a member of the Borough Council for the area concerned.

County Councillor P Hayhurst declared a non pecuniary interest in agenda items 4 & 5 as a member of Fylde Borough Council and in item 5 as the county councillor for the area concerned and as a member of Elswick Parish Council and Elswick Community Project which had received grants from the applicant.

County Councillor D Howarth declared a non pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 as a member of South Ribble Borough Council and as a county councillor for the area concerned.

County Councillor B Yates declared a non pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 as a member of South Ribble Borough Council.

County Councillor P Rigby declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 5 as the applicant had been allowed to access his land for testing purposes.

The committee are asked to agree that the Minutes of the meetings held on the 21^st and 28^th January 2015 at Appendix A and Appendix B respectively, be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting held on the 21 and the 28 January 2015 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

A report was presented on an application for the variation of conditions 1 and 2b of permissions 05/09/0376 and 06/09/0395 to allow landfilling and landraising activities to continue until 31 December 2035 with restoration within 12 months of cessation of landfilling and landraising and to amend the final restored landform at Clifton Marsh Landfill Site, Preston New Road, Newton with Clifton, near Preston.

The report included the views of Preston City Council, Newton-with-Clifton Parish Council and the Health and Safety Executive.

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation showing an aerial view of the site and the nearest residential properties. The committee was also shown a site layout plan and photographs of the site from various aspects.

Following debate during which concerns were raised at the length of the proposed time extension, it was Moved and Seconded that:

"Conditions 1 and 2b of permissions 05/09/0376 and 06/09/0395 be varied to allow landfilling and landraising activities to continue until 31 December 2020". 

On being put to the vote the amendment was Lost.

Following further debate it was Moved and Seconded that:

"Conditions 1 and 2b of permissions 05/09/0376 and 06/09/0395 be varied to allow landfilling and landraising activities to continue until 31 December 2025". 

On being put to the vote the amendment was Lost.

Following further discussion and questions to the officers with regard to the ongoing requirement for the disposal of general waste together with low level radioactive wastes it was:

Resolved: That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report to the Committee and to the applicant entering into a section 106 agreement in relation to the extension of the aftercare period to a total period of 15 years.

Councillor P Rigby left the room during consideration of this application as he had declared a pecuniary interest in the item.

A report was presented on an application for the retention of the site compound and access track for a further three years to allow pressure testing and seismic monitoring of the Bowland Shale reservoir, followed by plugging and abandonment of the existing exploratory well and site restoration at Grange Road Shale Gas Exploration Site, land on the south side of Grange Road, Singleton.

The report included the views of Fylde Borough Council, Natural England, the Environment Agency, Singleton Parish Council, the Health and Safety Executive, the Department for Energy and Climate Change and details of three hundred and one letters of representation received including approximately 220 cyclostyle letters. 

The Committee visited the site on the 23 February 2015.

The Head of Development Management presented a PowerPoint presentation showing an aerial view of the site and the nearest residential properties. The committee was also shown a site layout plan and photographs of the site from various aspects.

The Head of Development Management reported orally that the County Council's Ecology officer was of the view that if the applicant could demonstrate that the proposed schedule was compatible with avoiding disturbance during the wintering bird season then, and as indicated in Natural England's response (dated 11/02/15), the  County Council would be able to screen the project for the likelihood of significant effects (Habitats Regulations Assessment) and should be able to conclude no likely significant effect on the European site either alone or in combination.

This had been discussed with Natural England, who confirmed that where their response (dated 11/02/15) referred to development being carried out in strict accordance with the submitted details; this was a reference to the commitment to avoid undertaking disturbing works during winter (bullet point 1), and NOT to spring commencement and completion within a three year period (bullet point 2) unless it is clear that spring commencement would be compatible with avoiding disturbance during the wintering bird season.

It was also reported that representations had been received from Friends of the Earth on behalf of Singleton Against a Fracked Environment (SAFE). They maintained that:

•  The grant of planning permission would be unlawful in respect of ecological matters;

•  The officer report was flawed in respect of matters relating to noise;

•  There were unanswered questions regarding well integrity and ground water;

•  That alternatives have not been properly considered.

The matters raised were also included in the presentation made by SAFE and summarised below.

A presentation was received from SAFE on Monday 23rd February. The committee was informed that:

•  No Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) had been carried out and therefore assessments regarding Special Protection Area species (particularly pink footed geese and whooper swans) were inadequate and faulty;

•  The application to collect seismic data was linked to applications at Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road which had not been determined and therefore this application was premature;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

A report was presented on an application for the replacement of two existing gates/barriers with 2.4m high security gates, installation of additional gates adjacent to the garage and additional 2.4m high weld mesh security fencing at the rear of the tennis courts and to part of the boundary at Penwortham Girls High School, Cop Lane, Penwortham, Preston.

The report included the views of South Ribble Borough Council and details of one letter of representation received.

The Development Management Officer reported orally that two further letters of representation had been received objecting to the proposal, including one from County Councillor David Howarth.  County Councillor Howarth was of the view that the communal footpath from Alcester Avenue to Cop Lane had been used as a public right of way and advised that it would be subject to a claim for a public right of way.

The Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation showing an aerial view of the site and the nearest residential properties. The committee was also shown a site layout plan together with a diagram showing an alternative route from Alchester Avenue to Cop Lane and photographs of the site from various aspects.

Mrs Bell, a local resident addressed the committee. Mrs Bell informed the committee that the proposed new gates would block a communal right of way used by local residents to access local shops, the bus stop and farmers market. It was pointed out that the proposed diversion was much longer and therefore less convenient. It was appreciated that the school wished to secure the site but it was suggested that an alternative path should be provided. The committee was urged to defer the application pending the outcome of the claim for a public right of way.

County Councillor Howard, the local councillor for the area, addressed the committee. He informed the committee that:

·  The route had been used by members of the public for over 40 years.

·  The route was used by elderly residents to access local amenities such as the health centre and the church hall.

·  The school would not be secure even with the benefit of the additional fencing and gates, as access was available at other points of the boundary.

·  The application should be deferred as the route was likely to be the subject of an application to be designated a formal right of way in the near future.

Councillor Howard had previously expressed a view on the application and therefore left the room once he had spoken.

Following debate and questions to the officers by the Members, it was agreed that the officers would write to the applicant on behalf of the committee to advise that the requirements to secure the site to protect pupils and prevent unauthorised public access were recognised and that the erection of the proposed fencing was supported.  However, it was felt that the applicant should also be advised that the committee was concerned that:

·  The proposed fencing and the replacement of two existing gates/barriers with 2.4m high security  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

A report was presented on an application for the formation of an internal road along and inside the northern boundary of the school between the vehicle entrance and the west side of the infant and junior playground to create a one–way system within the school site, and the creation of a new parking area to provide 3 minibus parking spaces at Morecambe Road School, Morecambe Road, Morecambe.

The report included the views of Lancaster City Council, the County Council's Developer Support (Highways) and Specialist Adviser (Ecology), and details of three letters of representation received. 

Resolved: That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report to the committee.

It was reported that since the last meeting of the Development Control Committee on the 28 January, 2015, six planning applications had been granted planning permission by the Executive Director for Environment in accordance with the County Council's Scheme of Delegation.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

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 8 April 2015 at 10.00 a.m. in Cabinet Room B - the Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston.

Resolved: That the next meeting of the Committee be held on Wednesday 8 April 2015.