Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

County Councillor Khan joined the meeting virtually.

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.

The committee are asked to agree that the Minutes of the last meeting held on 8 December 2021 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Resolved: That the minutes of the last meeting held on Wednesday 8 December 2021 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 the variation of condition 1 of permission LCC/2016/0065 to extend the operational lifetime of the solar farm until the 31 December 2055, at Lancaster Wastewater Treatment Works, Stodday Lane, Lancaster.

The applicant had proposed an end date for all facilities including the solar array at Lancaster Wastewater Treatment Works of 31 December 2055, approximately fourteen years longer than provided for by the current permission.

The report included the views of Lancashire County Council Ecology and National Grid Gas and Electricity and an objection from Aldcliffe-with-Stodday Parish Council. No observations had been received from Lancaster City Council or the Environment Agency. Three representations objecting to the application had been received, the details of which were provided in the report.

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a location plan of the application site and Lancaster waste water treatment works, and photographs of the site, the nearest residential properties and the view from Low Wood.

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

A report was presented on an application for the retrospective change of use of haulage yard to waste recycling (skips) on land at 410 Southport Road, Scarisbrick. The Chair reminded Committee that a note was being prepared by Officers on retrospective applications.

The application had been made under section 73A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which provided for applications for the granting of planning permission for development that had already been carried out.

The report included the views of the Environment Agency and LCC Highways Development Control and details of an objection from Scarisbrick Parish Council. No observations had been received from West Lancashire Borough Council at the time of writing the report. 29 representations had been received comprising of 23 in support of the application and 6 objections, the details of which were provided in the report.

The Development Management Officer presented a Powerpoint presentation showing a location plan of the application site, aerial view of the site and nearest residential properties, diagram of the site layout and photographs of the site entrance, sorting and storage area, containers for the waste and views of the site from surrounding areas.

The Officer drew attention to the Update Sheet which provided details of a further representation received from a local resident and the two additional conditions proposed in view of the concerns raised regarding waste water issues and drainage at the site.

The Committee were informed that an objection had been received shortly before the meeting from the Environmental Protection and Community Safety Manager at West Lancashire Borough Council, the details of which were circulated to Members. It was reported to Committee that the issues raised had been covered in the report.

County Councillor Pope proposed that the application be deferred pending further investigation by West Lancashire Borough Council's Planning Department.

County Councillor Kay expressed concern about the waste water issues and proposed that the application be deferred and a site visit be arranged.

County Councillor Yates expressed concern that the application site was located within the Green Belt. Members were advised by officers that the current application was seeking planning permission for a change of use of the land and that the wider site already benefitted from a planning permission for industrial use of this site within the Green Belt. Further details on the Green Belt issues had been provided in the report. County Councillor Yates asked for West Lancashire Borough Council to check their local plan and provide details on why planning permission was already in place for the site to be on Green Belt land.

County Councillor Potter pointed out that this was already an industrial site. He considered that the conditions applied to the planning permission were satisfactory and proposed that the application be approved.

County Councillor Clarke expressed concern about rubble from the site vehicles being transferred onto the main road.  Committee were informed that conditions had been put in place to mitigate this.

County Councillor Dad seconded County Councillor Potter's proposal but  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

It was reported that, since the last meeting of the Development Control Committee on 8 December 2021, six planning applications had been granted planning permission by the Head of 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, 2 March 2022 at 10.30 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 2 March 2022 at 10.30am, County Hall, Preston.