Agenda and minutes

13.1     RESOLVED to approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2016.

14.1     Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Buchanan and Field.

14.2     It was noted that Councillor Galley had given apologies at the previous meeting, and so would not participate in the consideration of item 6. 

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.

15.1     Councillor Taylor declared a personal interest in Item 6 in that he is a Member of Eastbourne Borough Council, a member authority of the Joint Waste Partnership, but he did not consider this to be prejudicial. 

15.2     Councillor Wallis declared personal interests in Item 6 in that: he is the Portfolio Holder for Waste at Eastbourne Borough Council; and that he is employed by TR Fastening which is located on the Bellbrook Industrial Estate.  He did not consider these to be prejudicial.  

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

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

17.2     Members have considered the report and agree with the conclusion and reasons for recommendation as set out in paragraph 3 of the report.

17.3     RESOLVED to (1) not uphold the objection to the draft Traffic Regulation Order; and

(2) recommend to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport that the draft Order be made as advertised. 

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

18.2     Members have considered the report and agree with the conclusion and reasons for recommendation as set out in paragraph 3 of the report.

18.3     RESOLVED to (1) not uphold the objection to the draft Traffic Regulation Order; and

(2) recommend to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport that the draft Order be made as advertised. 

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

19.1     The Committee, with Councillor Galley abstaining from taking part, considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.  The Chair referred to the additional submission made by the Applicant’s agent following the deferral at the previous meeting.

19.2     Councillor Wallis proposed that conditional permission be granted, and conditions were circulated.  The motion to grant planning permission, subject to conditions, was moved, seconded, voted on and agreed.

19.3       Councillor Wallis set out the reasons for approval during his proposal of the motion, and it was further agreed that the formal reasons for approval be delegated to officers in consultation with the Chair, along the lines of:

o   No objections from the statutory bodies;

o   The amendment to the application to address the requirements of the Highway Authority and the positive working relationship between the parties;

o   The application is on a site that is safeguarded for existing waste management uses under Policy WMP6;

o   The proposed development accords with waste management policies in the Waste and Minerals Plan, the emerging Sites Plan and Saved Policy BS3 of the Wealden Local Plan; and

o   The application’s purpose to manage the throughput of waste more efficiently through the provision of new equipment that would maximise the recovery of recyclates and the increase in the operational capacity of the site, which accord with Policy WMP22; and

o   The proposed increase in employment.

19.4     RESOLVED to grant planning permission subject to the following conditions: 

1.         The development hereby permitted shall be for a temporary period only expiring on 31 December 2023. On or before this date the use shall cease and the paper card reception building, the materials recovery building and the covered conveyor shall be demolished and/or removed from the site and the land restored to its former condition in accordance with a scheme which shall have first been submitted to and approved in writing by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

Reason: The proposed development is appropriate for a temporary period only in order not to prejudice the reinstatement of the Lewes to Uckfield Railway Line, in accordance with Saved Policy TR17 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998.

2.         The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the drawings listed in the Schedule of Approved Plans.

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

3.         The proposed materials recovery building and covered conveyor shall not be constructed unless and until details of the measures to protect the trees on the eastern and southern boundaries of the site have been submitted to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport and approved in writing. If as a result of further site investigations it can be demonstrated that some or all of the trees along these boundaries cannot be retained or will be likely to be damaged by the development such that their removal would be required the applicant shall submit details on how the site would be screened from the adjacent premises to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

20.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.  The Chair reported that Councillor Bennett, the Local Member, had not received any objections to the proposal. 

20.2     Members have considered the officer’s report and agree with the conclusion and reasons for recommendation as set out in paragraph 7 of the report.

20.3     RESOLVED to grant planning permission subject to the following conditions:

1.      The mobile classroom unit hereby permitted shall by 31 August 2021 be removed and the land restored to its former physical state of a grassed field or as agreed in accordance with a scheme submitted to and approved in writing by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

         Reason: The nature of the development is considered appropriate for a temporary period only.

2.      The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the plans listed in the Schedule of Approved Plans.

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

3.      Prior to the commencement of the development hereby permitted a Construction Traffic Management Scheme shall be submitted to and approved by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport and shall include the size of vehicles, routeing of vehicles, the proposed access to the site and hours of operation. The hours of delivery/collection should avoid peak traffic flow times and AM/PM peak School travel times. Details should also be provided on the contractors' parking which should be provided off-street. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved Construction Traffic Management Scheme, unless with the prior written agreement of the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

         Reason: In the interests of highway safety and amenity, in accordance with Saved Policies TR3 and EN27 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998.

4.      Within 3 months of the occupation of the development hereby permitted, an updated Travel Plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport. The Travel Plan should include targets for reduced car use and a programme to monitor targets. This will need to recommend realistic proposals for providing for and improving non-car modes of travel, through walking, cycling and public transport and assess the residual impact of the development on the surrounding highway network with ameliorative measures as necessary. The updated Travel Plan thereafter shall be implemented in full.

         Reason: To increase awareness and use of alternative modes of transport for school journeys in accordance with Saved Policy TR3 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998.

5.      The development shall not be occupied until cycle and scooter parking areas have been provided in accordance with details to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport and the areas shall thereafter be retained for that use and shall not be used other than for the parking of cycles and scooters.

         Reason: In order that the development site is accessible by non-car modes of transport, in accordance with Saved Policy TR3 of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

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

21.2     A motion to agree the recommendation and to extend the deadline to 22 September 2016 was proposed, seconded, voted on and agreed.

21.3     Members have considered the report, and agree with the conclusion and reasons for recommendation with an extension of the deadline, as set out in paragraph 2 of the report.

21.4     RESOLVED to (1) amend the resolution in respect of application RR/741/CM to allow a further extension of time for the completion of the Legal Agreement;

(2) authorise the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to grant planning permission upon completion of the Legal Agreement in (1) above subject to conditions along the lines of those agreed at the meeting of the Planning Committee on 14 October 2015; and

(3) agree that if the Legal Agreement is not completed by 22 September 2016 the application will be referred back to the Committee for consideration.