Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs A M Austin, Mrs A M Newton, and A M Hall.

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 in relation to applications PL/0167/21 and PL/0168/21.

The Chairman and Councillor I Carrington noted that, in relation to PL/0167/21 and PL/0168/21, the officers’ report referenced the emerging Central Lincolnshire Local Plan (CLLP), while they were Members of the Central Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee, they didn’t feel that their opinions would be unduly influenced.

The Chairman noted that he was also the Chairman of West Lindsey District Council Planning Committee but hadn’t had any involvement in the decision to object to applications PL/0167/21 & PL/0168/21.

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 February 2022, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

With the permission of the Chairman, applications PL/0167/21 and PL/0168/21 were considered first following significant public presence and delay in commencement

The Committee considered a report where planning permission was sought by Egdon Resources U.K. Limited (Agent AECOM Limited) seeking to amend the date by which the restoration of the two sites needed to be completed and to vary the direction of drilling to secure an optimal ‘bottom hole target location’ within the North Kelsey Prospect.

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, objections and a petition that had been received since the publication of the report.

The report recommended that,conditional planning permissions be granted.

Ms Amanda Suddaby was invited to address the Committee in objection to this application. Her comments were as follows:

·                She stated that in seven years, eight different applications had been submitted and no real work had even begun. The application caused seven years of anxiety for local people to whom she didn’t feel this development brought benefit. The claim that Covid had caused the delay she felt was disingenuous. She suggested that the seven-year delay was intentional and had been used to expand the project through numerous variations.

·                Objections were received from seven councils, 150 individuals, three public groups and nearly 1200 petitioners. Raising numerous concerns, including adverse impacts on our well-being, amenity, local economy, environment, to the climate and ecological crisis, and, particularly, the credibility of the applicant’s expanding plans and shifting deadlines.

·                In the site’s previous application, the Committee agreed that delays were becoming unacceptable, and she felt this new deadline was unrealistic. The applicant told the Committee they needed a three-year window to allow for contingencies and were granted two applicants. The applicant now claimed that 49 weeks was a worst-case scenario. It was observed that only 52 weeks would be allowed for a 49-week project. 

·                Ms Suddaby suggested bird-nesting had started and the vicinity housed protected species, therefore work wouldn’t start until September if bird protection was appropriately observed.   The applicant’s tight timeframe also left no allowance for any hold-ups with equipment, staff, permits or bad weather. Moreover, this was not just an extension of time but also a last-minute change to the direction of drilling, based on data analysis that should have been done previously.

·                Reports relating to traffic, ecology, flood risk and land condition she felt were dated and suggested a reassessment. A new ecological appraisal could have established a biodiversity baseline for Condition Eight before the construction phase began.

·                She stated the applicant had failed to carry out road alterations to mitigate a dangerous site access on a narrow blind bend.

·                Conflicts in the Ukraine had been used by the applicant to justify this project, but Ms Suddaby suggested the application site may produce 50-200 barrels of oil a day. Ten times less oil than a recently refused application by the Committee.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

The Committee considered a report which detailed a request for the existing 40mph speed limits through Carlton Scroop 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 N H Pepper and seconded by Councillor Mrs M J Overton MBE, 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 which detailed a request for the existing 60mph speed limits on the A52 at Drayton to be reduced to 50mph. The scheme has been justified against the policy in terms of accident rate and a number of objections were received, which requested a lower limit and an extension to that proposed.

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

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

           That the objections are overruled so that the Order, as advertised, may be introduced.

The Committee considered a report in connection with a report which came to the Planning and Regulation Committee in July 2020, outlining objections to the introduction of proposed waiting restrictions and bus stop clearways on Caythorpe, High Street. Six objections were received citing impact to local business, residents’ street parking and property prices, furthermore objectors request that the proposed extent of the restrictions be reduced to mitigate these effects. A further request had been received for an additional length of restriction to be introduced further south beyond the proposed bus stop clearway opposite private driveways to aid vehicular access in and out of them, as currently parking opposite these accesses reduces the available width to carry out these manoeuvres. It was officers’ view that the proposed restrictions were the minimum required which would improve traffic flow for general traffic, and in particular for buses, whilst minimally impacting on the availability of on street parking.

As local Member for Hough, Councillor A P Maughan was invited to address the Committee via Microsoft Teams. His comments were as follows:

• This proposal actually formed part of a package of measures that were agreed with highways some years ago to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety on High Street.
• This second phase would help free up the High Street, remove parked vehicles from it and allow buses to safely pass through without getting stuck and having to turn around.
• The junction was currently not a safe place to park and there was ample parking further down the high street.
• He noted that he, the local parish council, and school strongly supported the scheme.

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

RESOLVED (unanimous)

That the objections are overruled so that the Order, as advertised, may be introduced.

The Committee considered a report where their agreement was sought to make a Prohibition Order which would prevent any future mineral development taking place at Tetford Hill Quarry, Tetford.

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

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

RESOLVED (unanimous)

That the Committee were satisfied with the reasons set out and authority be given to officers to prepare and issue a Prohibition Order