Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Macey

Chairman stressed that he hadn't had any contact with Bardney Parish Council or local parishioners; He felt comfortable to sit in the Chair for minute 16. In addition, he noted that he was the local member for Bardney and Cherry Willingham.

In respect of Minute 22A Councillors Ashton, Austin and Skinner declared that they were Boston Borough Councillors, and had been invited to consultations prior to this meeting. However, this in no way pre-determined their position and they would be approaching this application with an open mind.

Councillor Ashton clarified that he would be speaking as local member for Minute 21A, thus would abstain from voting.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 5 July 2021, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee considered a report in connection with a 97 signature petition and two objections received to the proposed introduction of waiting restrictions on Silver Street, Bardney. It was noted that Bardney Group Parish Council requested for waiting restrictions to be considered at other locations within the village and not at the site under consideration. The alternative locations were monitored but the introduction of restrictions here couldn’t be justified. Assessment of parking at Silver Street however indicated that waiting restrictions proposed would facilitate traffic flow whilst having a low impact on the availability of on street parking.

Members noted that an objection suggested that disabled people may have a reduced convenience; however, blue badge holders would actually be entitled to park over yellow lines for a limited period of time.

On a motion proposed by Councillor I G Fleetwood and seconded by Councillor P Skinner, it was:

RESOLVED (unanimous)

That the objection be overruled so that the public advertisement of the proposal, as shown at Appendix B of the report, could be carried out.

The Committee considered a report in connection with a funding bid for the introduction of a zebra crossing in Lincoln, as show at Appendix B of the report.

Councillor R B Parker was invited to address the Committee in his capacity as local member for Carholme, City of Lincoln. His comments were as follows:

• A parent whom was a risk manager, felt concern about potential road safety difficulties both at the start and end of the school day. This resulted in Highways Officers and the Road Safety Partnership meeting with Councillor Parker to consider safety options.
• Both he and the Headteacher supported the recommendations made within the report. As he understood, the Headteacher often had complaints from parents about near misses because of the substantial traffic outside of the school.

On a motion proposed by Councillor I G Fleetwood and seconded by Councillor T R Ashton, it was:

RESOLVED (unanimous)

1. That the criteria set out in the Pedestrian Crossing Policy be considered and the submission of a funding bid for a feasibility study, design and installation of a Zebra crossing at this location be supported.

2. That the submission of a funding bid for a feasibility study, design and installation of a zebra crossing in the vicinity of Lincoln, Westgate be approved.

The Committee considered a report in connection with objections to the introduction of a proposed off street parking places order at the above sites. In summary, the report outlined that the proposed parking places order would result in the car parks being closed from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. throughout the year, and between Good Friday and 31st October, charges would be levied between 10am and 5pm daily. Additional restrictions on larger vehicles would also be introduced. Payment via a cashless system (Pay by Phone) is proposed. The scheme aims to manage parking in these car parks to maximise space and improve access within the sites.

Local residents submitted objections that they would no longer be able to visit the beaches at any time without charge. Other objections were made on the grounds of exclusion of those without mobile phones and disadvantage to those on a low income. In addition, anglers raised objections as they currently have access to these car for overnight fishing via a permit system, which would no longer apply should the scheme be approved. The Council intended to set up a permitting system to facilitate anglers to park overnight. This however would take some time to put in place.

Councillor C J Davie was invited to address the Committee in his capacity as local member for Ingoldmells Rural, East Lindsey. His comments were as follows:

•                     These sites have had considerable problems for a number of years; thousands of pounds had been lost in assets through damage to barriers etc.

•                     These sites had become increasingly popular recently causing particular traffic management issues for residents.

•                     A permit system for anglers was an absolute certainty, and its implementation would be a priority.

Members were concerned that anglers hadn’t been effectively advertised to, advising them of the proposed changes. They suggested that signage was erected at the sites, detailing the amendments to parking. In addition, they were worried that a delay of up to a year for permits wouldn't support the view of Lincolnshire being open and accommodating to tourism. The mobile booking system may discriminate against less technologically adept residents; Members suggested that permits be extended to local residents.

On a motion proposed by Councillor Mrs A M Newton and seconded by Councillor T J Smith, it was:

RESOLVED (9 to 1)

That this application be deferred until the next meeting of the Planning and Regulation Committee to allow further exploration and consideration of a permitting system.

The Committee considered a report where planning permission was sought by Angus Energy Weald Basin No.3 Limited for a sidetrack drilling operation from an existing borehole Well Site to enable a lateral borehole to be drilled up to 1500m to the south west at Saltfleetby B Well Site, Howdales, South Cockerington. The proposal sought to allow the applicant to access currently inaccessible reserves of natural gas within the existing gas field to ensure the longer term future of the Saltfleetby Well Sites. The proposed drilling operations would be temporary and production would be managed through the existing infrastructure and allow the development of the approved processing plant to permit direct supply of natural gas to the National Transmission System.

The Applications Manager guided members through the report and set out the main issues to be considered in the determination of the application.

The report recommended that, following consideration of the relevant development plan policies and the comments received through consultation and publicity, that conditional planning permission be granted.

George Lucan, CEO of Angus Energy Limited ("Angus"), was invited to address the Committee in his capacity as applicant for this proposal. This application was part of a larger project of restoring production at the field following the closure of Theddlethorpe refinery.  There were three parts; pipeline, process, and side-track. The pipeline, which bypassed the Theddlethorpe refinery, was 90 per cent complete and already approved by this Committee. He was proud to have spent approximately £500,000 locally on this work alone. The process facility, also approved by this Committee, replicates some of the facilities at Theddlethorpe in cleaning and compressing gas for National Grid. This would be completed this year, drawing on further expertise from the Humber basin. He expected 10 FTEs on the site as a consequence. The side-track accelerated production from the field at a time Angus would need the cash flow most in order to pursue their other net zero projects and was critical to the commercial success of the remainder of the project. Angus is committed towards the net zero energy transition and we welcomed the recent Energy white paper. The applicant's skills as drillers had prompted them to explore geothermal power as our means of contributing to the nations efforts in transitioning away from carbon intensive energy production.  If successful today, he expected to be able present a further pilot geothermal application to this Committee for the field itself, utilising existing wells on the field. In this part of Lincolnshire there was good heat at reasonable depth.  Angus was also energetically acquiring sites elsewhere in the UK and geothermal projects have genuinely occupied over 50 per cent of management time over the last year. However, deep geothermal was a pioneering technology and it would demand considerable upfront investment.  Without on-going revenues from careful husbandry of their existing fields, he would not be able to pursue these projects. This side track was truly important to their ability to fulfil the government’s aims as set  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20a

The Committee considered a report where Planning permission was sought by Lincolnshire County Council to construct a Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) with a single storey welfare building canopies, improved site access and surface water attenuation pond at Former Landfill Site, Kirkby Lane, Tattershall Thorpe. The proposed HWRC was to replace the existing facility which was located approximately 1.2km to the north within the Kirkby on Bain Landfill Site. The landfill site and HWRC were owned and operated by FCC and the existing HWRC was to cease operating in 2021. Without an alternative facility local residents and users of the existing site would have to travel longer distances to dispose of bulky and large household and garden wastes. This proposal would therefore ensure the existing and continued demand and need for such a facility was maintained. In terms of location, the site was located within the open countryside and was a former landfill site. A small-scale facility such as this was appropriate in such a location and on such a site where it served a local need and where any environmental and amenity impacts could be suitably minimised or mitigated. In this case, whilst objections and concerns had been raised about the location and impacts of the development, officers were satisfied that, subject to suitable conditions, the development could be carried out without giving rise to any significant or unacceptable adverse effects on the local landscape, highway network or the wider environment and any nearby residents. Therefore the proposal was considered to accord with cited policies contained within the NPPF, Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan and East Lindsey Local Plan.

The Applications Manager guided members through the report and set out the main issues to be considered in the determination of the application.

The report recommended that, following consideration of the relevant development plan policies and the comments received through consultation and publicity, conditional planning permission be granted.

Mike Reed, Delivery & Transformation Manager (Waste), was invited to address the Committee in capacity as the applicant for this proposal. He explained that, if a replacement facility wasn't provided, then a big gap in household waste service would appear. There was a large population in Horncastle, Coningsby and Woodhall Spa that would have to travel further afield to dispose of their material; the nearest sites would be in Sleaford or Market Rasen. This would represent and inconvenience to service users. In addition, an environmental risk of fly tipping from would likely ensue. Fly tipping would also have an impact on District Councils whom would have a responsibility to collect fly tipped materials. The Council did own and operate ten other facilities around the County; many were in built up areas. People were initially concerned about implications of such developments; however these concerned proved to be unfounded. Operation was permitted under very tight restrictions from the Environment Agency; this gave officers a lot of confidence in their ability to operate this type of facility. Four facilities had residential properties as immediate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21a

The Committee considered a report where planning permission was sought through the Development Consent Order (DCO) procedure by 'Alternative Use Boston' for the Boston Alternative Energy Facility at Boston. The proposal was to construct Energy from Waste Plant that would have an annual throughput of 1.2 million tonnes of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) that would be brought to the site by boat via the River Haven. The facility would have a total gross generating capacity of 102 MWe and would deliver approximately 80 MWe to the National Grid.

The Head of Planning guided members through the report and set out the main issues to be considered in the determination of the application.

The report recommended that, the Committee confirmed that the proposed scheme was contrary to the policies of the Minerals and Waste Local Plan and the Planning Inspectorate was informed of the Councils objections to the scheme together with the conclusions of the other matters that fell under the responsibility of the County Council to comment on.

Councillor Smith vacated the room for a period during officers' report and abstained from the vote to determine this application. He continued to contribute to the discussion.

Sam Williams, Boston Alternative Energy, was invited to address the Committee in capacity as the applicant for this proposal. Boston Alternative Energy had been in the in operation for over 25 years and had developed sites within the county including a gasification site adjacent to the subject site. The Boston Alternative Energy Facility was classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project resulting in the need for a development consent order. Lincolnshire County Council was one of the statutory consultees in this process. While this project may not be totally adherent to the Council's waste polices, he hoped to convince the Committee of its benefit. A wharf would be constructed to avoid undue impact to the port or adjacent road network. The energy from waste plant itself had a capacity of 1.2 million tonnes to produce approximately 85 MWe of electricity. Resources were being put into offering a carbon capture facility for this application. A lightweight aggregate facility was proposed to mitigate ash residue from the energy from waste process. The feedstock for the plant was subject to existing contracts; however, the applicant sought to work with the Council to seek waste policy compliance. 350 skilled jobs would be created during construction and 160 skilled and semi-skilled jobs during operation. Apprenticeship opportunities would be offer with the support of Boston College. Contracts and agreements were already in place with the Port of Boston for use of their pilot services. As part of the development of the site, the habitats for wildlife would be improved across the edges of the River Haven. Local retail and hospitality would also see a benefit from this development. Boston Alternative Energy was open to receiving processed waste from Lincolnshire County Council subject to contracts and permissions.

Referencing the suggestion that this application would include the facility for carbon capture, Members sought  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.