Agenda and minutes

The Members had before them:

A.    The Agenda papers (previously circulated);

B.    A copy of the summary presentations from the public participants invited to speak (previously circulated); and

C.   The Minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2020 (previously circulated).

None.

None.

The Council has put in place arrangements which usually allow one speaker each on behalf of objectors, the applicant and supporters of applications to address the Committee.  Speakers are chosen from those who have made written representations and expressed a desire to speak at the time an application is advertised.  Where there are speakers, presentations are made as part of the consideration of each application.

Those presentations made are recorded at the minute to which they relate.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2020. (previously circulated)

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2020 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee considered a County Matter application seeking planning permission for a temporary period of 5 years for a proposed materials recovery plant to process road sweepings and highway drainage clearance materials on Land at Station House, Saltway, Hanbury, Worcestershire.

The report set out the background of the proposal and decision made at the Committee meeting on 7 July 2020, the proposal itself, the relevant planning policy and details of the site, consultations and representations.

In response to the Committee’s resolution of 7 July 2020, the Head of Strategic Infrastructure and Economy (now Head of Planning and Regulation) commissioned AXIS P.E.D. Ltd. (AXIS) to reconsider the application and, if a recommendation of approval could be made, to provide independent advice on the terms of the reasons and for appropriate planning conditions to be identified. The recommendation made by the Head of Strategic Infrastructure and Economy in the Committee Report of 7 July 2020 was that the application be refused on a single ground relating to the Green Belt. The Head of Strategic Infrastructure and Economy was otherwise satisfied in relation to matters of a technical nature, including environmental protection and residential amenity. The conclusions of the Committee Report of 7 July 2020 in relation to these matters were considered appropriate. Therefore, it was a reasonable approach for AXIS to rely upon the Committee Report in relation to these matters and to only reconsider the matter of effects on the Green Belt and associated policy.

The report included the Head of Planning and Regulation’s comments in relation to the Waste Hierarchy, location of the development, Green Belt, landscape character and visual impact, residential amenities (including noise and dust emissions), traffic and highway safety, water environment, ecology and biodiversity, and other matters – local economy, pollution control and integrity of the railway line.

The Head of Planning and Regulation concluded that as the proposed development would recover waste materials, which would otherwise be disposed of to landfill, it would comply with the objectives of the waste hierarchy. It would also contribute to Worcestershire’s equivalent self-sufficiency in waste management capacity in accordance with Policies WCS 2 and WCS 15 of the Waste Core Strategy. It would provide recycled aggregate to the construction industry, which was a substitute for crushed hard rock for which Worcestershire now had no remaining permitted reserves (as referenced in Draft Policy MLP 11: Steady and Adequate Supply of Crushed Rock of the Emerging Worcestershire Minerals Local Plan – Publication Version).

The Head of Planning and Regulation considered that whilst a waste management facility was not explicitly referred to within Policies SWDP 2 and SWDP 12 of the South Worcestershire Development Plan, the proposal was considered broadly to be an employment site and would constitute the retention of an existing employment site and was for the re-use of previously developed land, complying with these policies.

Having reviewed the characteristics of this part of the Green Belt and taking in to account: the current nature of the application site;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1052.

The Committee considered the annual review of activities carried out by Worcestershire County Council (WCC) Directorate of Public Health (Emergency Planning) to discharge statutory duties under the Safety at Sports Grounds (SatSGs) and related legislation during 2019/2020.

The report set out details of the Safety Certificates, Safety Advisory Groups, findings for Sixways Stadium - Worcester Warriors RFC, Aggborough Stadium – Kidderminster Harriers FC, The Grandstand Worcester Racecourse, Victoria Ground – Bromsgrove Sporting FC and Worcester City FC, Non-Statutory Event Safety Management Advice, and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.

Nick Riding, Advanced Public Health Practitioner (Emergency Planning) introduced the report at the meeting and indicated that responsibility for the safety of sports grounds had transferred from Public Heath to Worcestershire Regulatory Services from August 2020. He was accompanied at the meeting by Peter Maloney from Worcestershire Regulatory Services who would answer any questions about the service going forward.

In the ensuing debate, the following points were raised:

·         It was clearly evidenced from previous member site visits of the level of care undertaken by the SAGs in relation to their duties to for the safety of sports grounds and this was welcomed

·         The Chairman wished to record his thanks to Charlie Heritage who had retired this year for all his work and support to the Committee in this area

·         Was the carpark charging policy at Sixways caused the parking problems in the local area on match days? Nick Riding advised that there was a charge for parking at Sixways which had had an impact but also because of the increase in attendance at the stadium the car park did not have the capacity to cope. In an attempt to resolve this issue, a traffic management scheme had been put in place to improve the access and egress to the site. There was a park and ride facility based at County Hall which had been successful

·         If and when the Government allowed these grounds to be open to the public, who would be responsible for ensuring that they were Covid 19 safe? Peter Maloney advised that Covid 19 security across the county for businesses had been the responsibility of Worcestershire Regulatory Services since March 2020. Advice about Covid security had been provided to businesses as they emerged from lock down and issues associated with sports grounds would be an extension of that work.

RESOLVED that:

a)    The 2019/20 Annual Review of activities carried out by the Council to manage and implement the Safety at Sports Grounds legislation be noted; and

b)    It be noted that the Council has successfully met its statutory duty in respect of Safety at Sports Grounds legislation during 2019/20.