Agenda and minutes

County Councillors J Eaton and J Parr replaced County Councillors P Rigby and M Dad on the Committee respectively.

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 Hayhurst declared a non pecuniary interest in agenda item 4 as a member of Fylde Borough Council. He also declared a non pecuniary interest in agenda item 5 as a member of Fylde Borough Council and as the County Councillor for the area concerned.

The Committee are asked to agree that the Minutes of the last meeting held on 25 October 2017 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

In response to a question raised in respect of item 5 of the Minutes, the Development Management Officer advised that the applicant had until 1 May 2018 before the current planning permission expired.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 October 2017, be confirmed and signed by the Chair of the Committee.

A report was presented on a non-material amendment to planning application LCC/2014/0096.

The report included the views of the Fylde Borough Council, the County Council's Highways Development Control, Lancashire Constabulary, Westby with Plumptons Parish Council, Medlar-with-Wesham Town Council and 106 letters of representation. The report also included the views of Friends of the Earth and County Councillors Oades and Dowding.

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation showing an aerial photograph of the site and the nearest residential properties. The Committee was also shown photographs of the site and evidence of protester activity on the access road.

The Officer reported orally that since the publication of the committee report, four additional letters of support had been submitted raising the following issues:-

·  The protests disrupt the routines of local people and businesses

·  Preston New Road is regularly fully or partially blocked. This has caused delays to visitors, local residents, businesses and even the emergency services. The additional hours would be an easy solution to an increasing problem.

·  The noise from the night time traffic movements will just be part of the general traffic noise in the area and the night time deliveries are preferable as they will cause less disruption to local commuters at peak times.

The Officer also reported that the applicant had submitted an email from the North West Ambulance Service to the Police which confirmed that on at least 2 occasions, ambulances had been unable to get to emergencies in Wrea Green and therefore had to return to the M55 and go via junction 3. The email also confirmed that there had also been occasions where patient transport vehicles have had to collect or take home patients by a longer route due to the A583 being closed.

The Officer advised that it was proposed to amend the third bullet point of Condition 19b so that it reads 'No more than 30 HGVs shall enter the site and no more than 30 HGVs shall leave the site in any one period between 18.30 and 07.30 hours'.

Four members of the public including a representative of Friends of the Earth addressed the Committee. They reiterated the objections set out in the committee report in relation to the increase in night time noise levels, light pollution levels and the impact on local residents.  They also raised the following issues:

·  The proposal is not non material as it has significant implications for local residents and the highway network.

·  The proposal should be the subject of an environmental impact assessment.

·  The application is an example of incremental changes to the permission which should not be allowed; the applicant should not be allowed to amend this key condition set by the Planning Inspector or in any way dilute the effectiveness of the conditions.

·  There have been many changes, the Traffic Management Plan is now on version 11.

·  The extended hours would not necessarily mean an end to protestor activity and associated road closures.

·  Undertaking operations at night would increase the risk  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

A report was presented on a proposal to visit the revised access routes with regard to the proposed Roseacre Wood exploration well site.

The Committee was informed that a report detailing the planning and highways implications of the revised access routes including the results of the consultation exercise, would be reported to the next meeting of the Development Control Committee on 24^th January 2018. The conclusions of the Committee after considering that report would form the basis of any evidence presented by the County Council to the reopened public inquiry.

The Development Management Officer advised that a site visit would provide the Committee with a clearer understanding of revised access routes. It was therefore proposed that the Committee should visit the site and the proposed access roads prior to considering the proposal at the next meeting on the 24 January, 2018.

Resolved: That the Development Control Committee visit the site and the proposed access routes prior to considering the proposal at the next meeting on the 24 January 2018.

A report was presented on a retrospective application for an enclosure to house a 300kW biomass boiler with a 5.8m highexhaust stack and the provision of an associated fuel silo and ash bin at City Centre Commercials, Tower House, Simonswood Industrial Estate, Stopgate Lane, Simonswood, Kirkby.

The report included the views of West Lancashire Borough Council, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council and the County Council's Highways Development Control. It was noted that no letters of representation had been received.

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation showing an aerial photograph of the site and the nearest residential properties. The Committee was also shown photographs of the enclosure and the plant.

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

A report was presented on a retrospective application for the erection of two sections of fencing and gate at West Lancashire Community High School, School Lane, Skelmersdale.

The report included the views of West Lancashire Borough Council, the County Council's Highways Development Control and details of one letter of representation received.

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation showing an aerial photograph of the site and the nearest residential properties. The Committee was also shown photographs of the fencing and gate.

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 committee on 25 October 2017, nine planning applications had been granted planning permission by the Head of Service Planning and 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 24 January 2018 at 10.00 a.m. in Committee Room B - the Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston.

Resolved: That the next meeting of the Committee be held on Wednesday 24 January 2018.