Agenda and minutes

Members and officers must declare any pecuniary or personalinterest in any business on the agenda. They should also make declarations at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting. Consideration should be given to leaving the meeting if the nature of the interest warrants it. If in doubt, contact Democratic Services before the meeting.

23.1    In accordance with the County Council’s Code of Conduct,
Cllr Oakley declared a Personal Interest in Item 4, Planning Application WSCC/021/23 because his electoral division is Chichester East immediately bordering the application site to the north.  It includes Oving Parish Council, which has raised a number of concerns.

The Committee is asked to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on
5 September 2023 (cream paper).

24.1   The Committee resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on
5 September 2023 be approved and that they be signed by the Chairman.

Items not on the agenda that the Chairman of the Committee is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances.

25.1   There were no urgent matters.

Report by Head of Planning Services.

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

WSCC/021/23 - Regularisation, consolidation and extension to the existing waste transfer facility including an increase in throughput of waste at Recycle Southern Ltd, Elbridge Farm, Chichester Road, Bognor Regis, PO21 5EF

WSCC/021/23 - Regularisation, consolidation and extension to the existing waste transfer facility including an increase in throughput of waste at Recycle Southern Ltd, Elbridge Farm, Chichester Road, Bognor Regis, PO21 5EF

26.1   The Committee considered a report by the Head of Planning Services, as amended by the Agenda Update Sheet (copy appended to the signed copy of the minutes), introduced by James Neave, Principal Planning Officer, who gave a presentation on the proposals, details of the consultation and key issues in respect of the application, changes to the report and to proposed Condition 5.  Additionally, the Committee was asked to note an amendment to correct typographical errors in the ‘Reason’ for Condition 7 ‘Highways Improvements’ which should read: “In the interests of highway safety, and to reduce the potential for mud and debris from entering the public highways, and to minimise dust emissions in the interests of public health and amenity, and the local environment.”

26.2   Mr Christian Smith, Director of GP Planning, the Agent for the applicant, spoke in support of the application. Recycle Southern, a local company, employs up to 55 local people, some of whom cycle to work using the cycle path network.  The company undertakes visits and engagement with local residents to discuss concerns and improvements.  The proposal would be a significant investment to enable substantial improvements, including a new wheel washing facility, surfacing and improved access to the A259.  The waste transfer and treatment facility is one of only a few on the south coast.  Demand has increased due to the closure of landfill sites and other waste management facilities.  Customers are private and public sector, including Biffa, which operates the County Council’s Waste and Recycling Handling Contract.  The site is controlled through an Environmental Permit from the Environment Agency; 100% compliance was shown during the last compliance assessment monitoring visit.  The location is acceptable under the Waste Local Plan.  There is an identified need to increase waste recycling capacity in this area.  The site is adjacent to the Strategic Lorry Route Network and well-located to major centres of population and waste arisings.  There are no objections from technical consultees, e.g. the Environmental Health Officers, the Highway Authority, and the Environment Agency.  The proposed conditions and the Environmental Permit will ensure negative impacts are controlled and minimised to acceptable levels.

26.3   Cllr Keir Greenway, local County Councillor for Bersted, spoke on the application that is, in part, retrospective due to overtrading since 2018.  Officers note the 2014 permitted activity and the proposed activity but did not note the current HGV movements and there may be some misunderstanding that the proposed extra 90 HGV movements per day are already taking place.  Evidence of generated dust impacts include dust inside residents’ properties and covering vehicles, including at the Honda dealership opposite, which is not in the direction of the prevailing wind.  Dust kicked up on the busy A259 is believed to be down to a poor sweeping regime.  The proposed conditions and mitigations may not be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held at 10.30 am on Tuesday,
9 January 2024 at County Hall, Chichester. 

Report by the Head of Planning Services, Director of Law and Assurance and Assistant Director (Highways Transport and Planning).

The Committee is invited to ask about planned agenda items and to note the following report:

Current Planning Applications, Current Definitive Map Modification Orders (DMMOs), Town and Village Green Applications (TVGs) and Public Path Orders (PPOs) under investigation.

27.1   The next scheduled meeting of the Planning and Rights of Way Committee will be on Tuesday, 9 January 2024 at 10.30 am.

27.2   Members noted the report on ‘Current Planning Applications, Current Definitive Map Modification Orders (DMMOs), Town and Village Green Applications (TVGs) and Public Path Orders (PPOs) under investigation’.  The item that may be scheduled for consideration at the next meeting of the Planning and Rights of Way Committee is DMMO 2/19: Henfield and Woodmancote, although it should be noted
that scheduling can be subject to change.