Agenda and minutes

29.1     The Committee approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 18 December 2019. 

Disclosures by all members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the member regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

30.1     Councillor Tom Liddiard declared a prejudicial interest in Item 5 in that he is the political and electoral agent for a number of people who expressed views on the Proposals, and so withdrew from the Chamber during consideration of this item.

30.2     Councillor Kathryn Field declared a personal interest in Item 5 as a member of Rother District Council, and a prejudicial one as far as the Item affects Battle, in that she had published material in support of those specific proposals, and so withdrew from the Chamber during the consideration of Appendix 1 Sites 7 and 8, and Appendix 3 Sites 1 and 2.   

30.3     Councillor Richard Stogdon declared a prejudicial interest in Item 6A in that he used to have a commercial relationship with the applicant, and so withdrew from the Chamber during consideration of the Item.  The Vice Chair chaired the meeting in his absence. 

30.4     Councillor Bob Bowdler declared a prejudicial interest in Item 6B in that he had already made a written objection to the proposal.

31.1     Reports referred to in the minutes below are contained in the minute book.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

32.1     Councillor Tom Liddiard left the Chamber during consideration of this Item.  Councillor Kathryn Field left the Chamber during consideration of Appendix 1 Sites 7 and 8, and Appendix 3 Sites 1 and 2.   

32.2     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, together with the written comments provided by the Local Members.

32.3     The following people spoke to make representations on the following sites:

32.4     Councillor Angharad Davies spoke in support of the Recommendation with regard to Appendix 1 Site 6 (Staplecross School) and Site 22 (Robertsbridge).

32.5     The following Local Members made written representations on the following sites: 

32.6     The Members have considered the report, the comments of the public speakers and  Local Members and agree with the reasons for recommendation set out in paragraph 3 of the report, with the exception of Appendix 1 Site 22 – High Street and Station Road, Robertsbridge regarding the two pay and display bays. 

32.7     The Committee RESOLVED to: (1) not uphold the objections to the draft Order as set out in Appendix 1 with the exception of Site 22 – Robertsbridge;

(2) to uphold in part the objections to the draft Order as set out in Appendix 2;

(3) to uphold the objections to the draft Order as set out in Appendix 3 and in regard to Appendix 1 Site 22; and

(4) recommend to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport that the Traffic Regulation Order should be made in part.  

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

33.1     Councillor Richard Stogdon left the Chamber during consideration of this Item.  Councillor Barry Taylor chaired the meeting. 

33.2     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, together with the written comments recommending refusal of the application of the Local Member.

33.3     Mike Pickup, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the recommendation. 

33.4     Members have considered the report and comments of the Local Member and public speaker, and agree with the conclusion and reasons for recommendation set out in paragraph 7 of the report.

33.5     The Committee RESOLVED to grant planning permission, subject to the following conditions:

1.      The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the drawings, plans and documents listed in the Schedule of Approved Plans.

         Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

2.      The green waste composting facility, including the wood waste processing activities shall only operate between the hours of 0700 and 1800 on Mondays to Fridays inclusive and 0800 and 1230 on Saturdays, and not at all on Sundays, Bank and Public Holidays except for a maximum of two deliveries per month, limited to one delivery on a Sunday, between the hours of 0800 and 1230 and for essential maintenance and emergency works, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

         Reason: In the interests of the amenity of the locality and occupiers of residential properties within the vicinity of the site, in accordance with Policy WMP25 of the East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Plan 2013 and Saved Policy EN27 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998. 

3.      The total amount of waste imported to the site, including wood waste, shall not exceed 75,000 tonnes per annum.

         Reason: To enable the County Planning Authority to control the development in the interests of the amenity of the locality, in accordance with Policy WMP25 of the East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Plan 2013 and Saved Policy EN27 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998.

4.      The amount of wood waste imported to the site shall not exceed 10,000 tonnes per annum.

         Reason: To ensure the wood waste processing activities remain ancillary to the composting activities.

5.      The green waste composting activities shall not take place other than in the area labelled 'Green waste composting area' as shown on the approved Block Plan (Ref: 1215/2 Rev G), dated April 2016.

         Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of the amenity of the locality and occupiers of properties in the vicinity of the site, in accordance with Policy WMP25 of the East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Plan 2013 and Saved Policy EN27 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998.  

6.      Wood waste processing and the stockpiling of unprocessed wood waste material shall not take place other than in the blue cross hatched area as indicated for this purpose on the approved Block Plan (Ref:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

34.1     Officers recommended that consideration of this item be deferred to a future meeting, on the basis that the applicant had agreed an extension of time for determining the application, in order to allow for further mitigation measures that seek to address the recommended reasons for refusal to be submitted by themselves and then duly consulted on and assessed by the County Planning Authority.     

34.2     The Committee RESOLVED to defer consideration of the application until March 2020.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

35.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

35.2     The Committee RESOLVED to note the report.