Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Councillor S P Roe wished it to be noted that he was a shareholder in a company that owned commercial property on Burton Road in Lincoln and would leave the room during consideration of agenda item 4.1.

RESOLVED

            That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2019 be approved as a correct record signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(Councillor S P Roe left the meeting for consideration of this item)

Consideration was given to a report which outlined objections received following public consultation and advertisement of proposed residents parking scheme extensions at Burton Road, Chestnut Street, James Street and Union Road and new residents parking scheme Zone 4G at Church Lane and Northgate.

In relation to the proposed new Zone 4G, an objection to the proposed length of double yellow line on Church Lane was received and a request that this was reduced was put forward.  This would enable a resident to park across their own driveway.  In response to this objection, it was considered that a 4m reduction in the length of the restriction would not significantly impact on its desired effect and this could therefore be accommodated as a minor modification.

The report detailed the existing conditions, the proposals and objections, as well as the comments of officers.

During consideration of the proposals members commented that it was important that residents were able to park outside of their own houses.

On a motion by Councillor Mrs J E Killey, seconded by Councillor R P H Reid, it was –

RESOLVED (unanimous)

            That the objections be overruled and agree that the making of a Traffic Regulation Order including the minor modification as detailed in Appendix D of the report be approved.

(Councillor S P Roe re-joined the meeting)

The Committee received a report which sought planning permission by Beeswax Dyson Farming for the construction of a covered digestate storage lagoon, perimeter bunding and fencing and concrete apron for the storage of silage at Woodbecks Farm, Edlington Road, Edlington.

It was reported that further to the publication of the agenda, representations from Thimbleby Parish Council had been received and there had been a slight amendment to condition 4 (a), both of these had been set out in the update to the Committee circulated prior to the meeting.  It was also noted during discussion that there was a minor error in condition 3 and the references to 'leachate' should be amended to 'digestate'.

Officers guided members through the report and set out the main issues to be considered in the determination of this application.

Christian Smith, agent for the applicant, was in attendance to answer any queries from the Committee.  The following questions were asked to Mr Smith:

·         It was noted that the report indicated that the digestate would be stored all winter, prior to distribution at the appropriate time.  It was queried when that time was and whether it would only be distributed on the applicants own land.  Members were advised that the timings for spreading could be quite flexible depending on the weather conditions.  It could be late summer/early autumn and early to late spring.  It was confirmed that it would only be spread on the applicants land.

·         In relation to the site being located within a flood zone, it was queried whether it was a 1 in 1000 or 1 in 100 probability.  It was confirmed that it was 1 in 1000 probability as it was within Flood Zone 1, which was the lowest probability of flooding.

Councillor Mrs P A Bradwell OBE was in attendance as the local councillor and made the following points:

·         Edlington was a very small hamlet.

·         There was a weight restriction from A158 through village, but it stopped before the road reached Woodbecks Farm.  The worry was that people did not take any notice of this as there were a lot of farm vehicles that used this road.

·         There were significant concerns about the digestate. 

·         The access would be through Thimbleby.  The report set out that there would be one HGV vehicle per week, and they would be travelling from the Carrington Estate and the Nocton Estate.  There was a need to understand that the highways around these villages were very narrow.  It was believed that the lagoon should be located in Carrington, where the anaerobic digester was.

·         The local member also highlighted that she had not been consulted about the application, and neither had Thimbleby Parish Council.

·         It was requested that the Committee visited the area so they could visualise the area.

The Committee was provided with the opportunity to discuss the application and information presented and some of the points raised included the following:

·         Officers apologised to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36a

Consideration was given to a report which sought planning permission to construct a special educational needs and disability (SEND) school with associated external spaces works, parking and new vehicular pedestrian access off Kitwood Road at land off Kitwood Road, Boston.  The school would replace the existing Boston John Fielding School which had become overcrowded and whose facilities were out of date to meet many modern day needs.  Redeveloping and expanding the existing school was not considered an option and so it was proposed to build a new school which would not only replace existing provision but also offer expanded and improved facilities to meet an identified demand.

Since the publication of the agenda, a further representation from a local resident had been received which was set out in the update circulated to the Committee prior to the meeting.  It was also reported in the update that Sport England no longer wished to maintain an objection to the application on the basis of the amendment set out in the update being made to condition 9.

Officers guided members through the report and set out the main issues to be considered in determination of this application.

Daran Bland, Executive Headteacher of John Fielding School, spoke in support of the application and made the following points:

·         There was part of a countywide strategy which had been in the making for three years, and John Fielding School formed part of that strategy as one of 21 special schools.  The school would not be able to contribute in the fullest way possible in its current state.

·         There were currently 64 pupils on roll, and the school was not able to admit any more.  This year 17 applications were received, but the school was only able to admit two.

·         The new school would give an all needs provision and would address several countywide issues.

·         It was also reduce the time that certain pupils were travelling to meet their needs.

·         There were currently two portable cabins being used, and the new building would be purpose built.

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the Executive Headteacher and the following was noted:

·         It was commented that this was fully supported and met a need within the community, and would also provide extra places.  There had been highways issues near other schools with people parking outside residents' houses.  It was queried what provision would be made to ensure that there were not the same issues.  Members were advised that the vast majority of pupils at the school were transported by local authority transport.  There were currently four pupils who were brought by their parents.  There would be a traffic management plan in place.  The school gates would be opened at a certain time (staff would be onsite prior to this time, it was also highlighted that not all the staff drive) and the children would come into the school site by minibus.  The gates would then close to allow the children off the buses.  Access to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37a