Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A M Newton and P A Skinner.

The Chairman acknowledged that he, and other members of the Planning and Regulation Committee, had received a number of pieces of correspondence from members of the public and community action groups.

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 6 September 2021, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

That the minutes of the site visit to Land off High Street, Biscathorpe held on 1 November 2021, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee considered a report in connection the outcome of a pedestrian crossing survey following a request for a crossing facility on the A158 within North Greetwell put forward by the Parish Council. Owing to the high traffic flow on the A158, and speed limit greater than 30mph, the installation of a zebra crossing was precluded by the Pedestrian Crossing Policy. However, the policy enabled some flexibility for scheme selection and, in the case of this site, approval for a Puffin crossing was given by the Planning and Regulation Committee.

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

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

That the Committee support the submission of a funding bid for the feasibility study, design and the installation of a puffin cross at this location.

The Committee considered a report which detailed a request from Huttoft Parish Council and the local Member for the existing 40mph speed limits on the A52 through Huttoft to be reduced to 30mph. Investigations had indicated that conditions to the south of the village may be considered a 'Borderline Case', as defined within the Council's Speed Limit Policy. Therefore, the Planning and Regulation Committee could approve a departure from the criteria if they felt it appropriate.

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

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

That the Committee approved the reduction in speed limit proposed so that the necessary consultation process to bring it into effect may take place.

The Committee considered a request for the reduction of the existing 40mph speed limit to 30mph on Armtree Road, Gipsy Drove and Mere Booth Road. Investigations had indicated that conditions here may be considered a 'Borderline Case', as defined within the Council's Speed Limit Policy. Therefore, the Planning and Regulation Committee could approve a departure from the criteria if they felt it appropriate.

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

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

That the Committee approved the reduction in speed limit proposed so that the necessary consultation process to bring it into effect may take place.

The Committee considered a report in connection with a request by Horncastle Town Council to remove double yellow lines on Foundry Street and objections received to the proposed introduction of waiting restrictions on West Street, Stanhope Road, Bowl Alley Lane and Tudor Park. Objections to the proposed reduction in restrictions at Foundry Street had been received from ELDC and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue. The junction with Albert Street was very narrow and access for the District Council's refuse vehicles will be made more difficult if the restrictions are reduced. The concerns made by ELDC and Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue regarding the proposed reduction in parking restrictions on Foundry Street were noted, and it was recommended that this proposal progressed no further. Objections had been received to the proposed short length of restriction adjacent to No.67 West Street as this would prevent the resident of that property from parking across their driveway. It was recommended that the section adjacent to No.67 was removed from the traffic regulation order as a minor modification. An objection to the proposed restrictions on Stanhope Road had been received from a resident, citing that on street parking did not currently result in any issues here and they did not support the idea that removing it would improve pedestrian safety or traffic flow. However, it was considered that the order would stop vehicles displaced by new restrictions elsewhere migrating to the area where the school crossing patrol operates. Five objections had been received to the proposed restrictions at Bowl Alley Lane and its junctions with Tudor Park. Officers' consensus was that parking for staff at the two schools should be provided within the school sites to remove it from Bowl Alley Lane and Tudor Park. Redevelopment of St Lawrence School was scheduled to be completed by September 2023 and would include additional parking for staff and visitors on site. That being the case, long term parking on Bowl Alley Lane and at Tudor Park throughout the day is likely to reduce significantly at that time.

On a motion proposed by Councillor T R Ashton and seconded by Councillor R P H Reid, it was:

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

1. That the proposed revocation of double yellow lines on Foundry Street be not proceeded with.
2. That a minor modification is approved to remove the proposed restriction outside No. 67 West Street.
3. That the objection to the proposals on Stanhope Road be overruled.
4. That the objections to the proposals on Bowl Alley Lane and Tudor Park be overruled.

The Committee considered a report where planning permission was sought by Egdon Resources U.K. Limited (Agent AECOM Limited) (the applicant) for a side-track drilling operation associated testing, and long term oil production at Land off High Street, Biscathorpe in the parish of Gayton le Wold.

The Head of Planning guided members through the report and set out the main issues to be considered in the determination of the application. He also updated Members verbally on further comments and objections that had been received since the publication of the report. In addition, he confirmed to Members a number of updated conditions should the application be approved.

The report recommended that, subject to the applicant completing a Section 106 Planning Obligation to secure landscape planting and the long?term management of the habitats providing for Biodiversity Net Gain outside of the application site boundary, the Committee grant conditional planning permission to this application.

Mr Mark Abbott, CEO of Egdon Resources, was invited to address the Committee in capacity as the applicant for this proposal. He informed Members that national energy policy was aimed at reducing demand and consumption the public but it was not part of national policy to reduce emissions by limiting the production of hydrocarbons in the UK. There was no policy which stated that a net zero carbon economy in 2050 would be hydrocarbon-free. Both the Government’s energy white paper, and the Climate Change Committee, stated that oil would continue to be needed and used up to and beyond 2050.  Oil had uses for transport, heating and as an important feedstock vital to the petrochemical industry. The increase in the cost of gas had clearly shown that the UK needed to have secure and affordable energy supplies. Indigenous UK oil supplies, such as at Biscathorpe, had a significantly lower carbon footprint than imported oil. UK oil was produced under far more stringent environmental regulations than many other countries. If significant natural gas was found, this would also facilitate locally produced energy. He confirmed to Members that Egdon recognised that exceptional circumstances needed to be demonstrated for planning permission to be granted for major development in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Egdon was granted a licence by the Oil and Gas Authority in 2008 to explore and produce oil and almost all of their area lay within the AONB. All minerals were a finite resource and could only be worked where they were found. A well had already been drilled safely with no detrimental effects at this site. With any development there would be some environmental impacts. Egdon had worked very closely with Council officers for more than a year to reduce those impacts as much as possible. Some objectors had raised concerns about potential contamination to the River Bain. The site had been constructed to high standards with impermeable layers that prevented infiltration of surface water. Mr Abbott confirmed that the River Bain water quality had been monitored throughout the life of the site. Before any work  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.