Issue - meetings

Report by Head of Planning Services.

The Committee is asked to consider and determine the following application:

WSCC/030/21 - A clay quarry and construction materials recycling facility (CMRF) for CD&E wastes including the use of an existing access from Loxwood Road, the extraction and exportation of clay, and restoration using suitable recovered materials from the CMRF to nature conservation interest including woodland, waterbodies and wetland habitats

at Pallinghurst Woods, Loxwood Road, Loxwood, West Sussex RH14 0RW

WSCC/030/21 – A clay quarry and construction materials recycling facility (CMRF) for CD&E wastes, including the use of an existing access from Loxwood Road, the extraction and exportation of clay, and restoration using suitable recovered materials from the CMRF to nature conservation interest including woodland, waterbodies and wetland habitats.  Pallinghurst Woods, Loxwood Road, Loxwood, West Sussex RH14 0RW.

4.1     The Chairman advised all present that he had been made aware of representations from members of the public who were concerned that there has not been a physical site visit for Committee members in advance of considering the Loxwood application.  National guidance and the County Council’s own Constitution make it clear that site visits are not mandatory to enable a Committee to take a decision on an application.  The County Council’s Constitution (Part 3 Section 3 - Code of Practice on Probity in Planning, para 8.1 Committee Site Visits) sets out that “A site visit may be justified where the complexity or technical aspects of the proposals or public concern at the issues raised is such that Members’ understanding would substantially benefit from a site visit.”.  In view of the rough terrain and remote location of the site it was considered preferable to have a virtual site visit as opposed to an in-person one.  This ensured that Committee members were able to remotely view the site and gain an appreciation of the issues involved.  This had not precluded individual members of the Committee from visiting the site on their own.

4.2     Michael Elkington, Head of Planning Services, advised that a letter from the applicant’s agent, dated 13 May 2022, was received by Planning Officers and Mr Tony Kershaw, Director of Law and Assurance in his capacity as Monitoring Officer.  It requested that the Committee report be withdrawn in order to correct alleged inaccuracies in information on which the Committee decision would be based.  The report has not been withdrawn.  An Agenda Update Sheet was published on 17 May 2022.  Both the letter and Agenda Update Sheet are available on the planning website.  Concerns were also stated that not all emails and requests for information have been responded to.  The Committee was reassured that Officers have engaged as appropriate with the agent, due process has been followed and all relevant information in relation to the application has been properly considered.

4.3     The Committee considered a report by the Head of Planning Services, as amended by the Agenda Update Sheet (copies appended to the signed copy of the minutes).  The report was introduced by Chris Bartlett, Principal Planner, who gave a presentation on the proposals, details of the consultation and key issues in respect of the application.  In respect of the Agenda Update Sheet Mr Bartlett noted that since the publication of the Committee report the following has occurred:

·        The Council has published its Annual Monitoring Report for minerals and waste planning, affecting some details in the Committee report, as noted.

·        A final response to the planning consultation has been received  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4