Agenda and minutes

Prior to the start of the meeting, the Chairman paid tribute to Councillor Mrs Angela Newton MBE, who had passed away on 30 August 2022, and had been a member of this Committee, and passed on his best wishes to Cllr Mrs Newton’s friends and family.

The Committee observed a minutes silence as a mark of respect for Councillor Mrs Newton MBE.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A M Austin, Mrs S A J Blackburn, A M Hall, Mrs M J Overton MBE and Mrs C L E Vernon.

Councillor T J N Smith wished it to noted that in relation to agenda item 4.1, he had not had any conversations with his employer in relation to this request for a review of the speed limit.

RESOLVED

          That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2022 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(NOTE: it was requested that Councillor R P H Reid’s apologies for the above meeting were recorded)

The Committee considered a report which detailed investigations into a reduction in the speed limit through the village of Lea.  Surveys indicated that this site may be considered a borderline case, as defined within the council’s speed limit policy.

The Programme Leader: Minor Works and Traffic introduced the report and shared a presentation which detailed the area that was under consideration.

The Committee were supportive of the proposal and commented that as the mean speed recorded was 36mph people were already traveling within the conditions of the road which supported the request for a reduction.

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

RESOLVED (unanimous)

That the reduction in speed limit be approved and the necessary consultation proceed to bring it into effect be pursued

The Committee considered a report which detailed objections received to proposals for a permit parking scheme zone 5B - Lincoln, Foster Street, Mill Lane, Princess Street and Vernon Street. Which were publicly advertised from 31 March to 29 April 2022.

The Programme Manager: Minor Works and Traffic introduced the report and shared a presentation which showed the locations of the streets to be included within the permit parking scheme zone 5B.

It was reported that there was majority support for the scheme, but a number of objections had been received, mainly related to those properties that had been excluded from the scheme.

Some of the concerns which had been raised included access to parking by family and carers, as well as displacement parking from nearby streets and potential effects on property prices.  It was noted that access for family and carers was catered for within the scheme, and officers were not aware of permit parking schemes affecting property prices.

It was commented that this scheme was on the fringe of Lincoln town centre and it was accepted there may be a ripple effect in relation to displacement parking.

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

RESOLVED (unanimous)

That the objections be overruled, and the scheme as advertised (with the addition of further properties to the list of those eligible for permits) be introduced.

The Committee considered a report in connection with objections received to proposed waiting restrictions at Mount Street, Grantham.

The Programme Manager: Minor Works and Traffic introduced a report and presentation which detailed the area affected and the objections received. Concerns were raised that retaining on street parking here would still obstruct larger vehicles and reduce visibility of pedestrians. It was commented that the restrictions proposed manage parking so as to maintain access for all vehicles and improve pedestrian safety.

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

RESOLVED (unanimous)

          That the Committee overrules the objections and approves the proposals as advertised.

The Committee considered a report which set out the request for planning permission sought by Glentham Agricultural Contractors Ltd to construct an on-farm anaerobic digestion plant, associated infrastructure, lagoons and feedstock clamps at land off Barff Lane, Glentham.

The feedstocks would be purpose grown agricultural feedstocks and farm based waste feedstocks.  The main issues that needed to be considered in the determination of this application were the location, air quality and odour, highways and traffic and visual impact.

The Head of Planning guided members through the report and set out the main issues to be considered in the determination of the application.  It was reported that planning permission had originally been granted by West Lindsey District Council in October 2020 for an Anaerobic Digestion Plan (AD Plant) and associated infrastructure on land off Barff Lane, Glentham.  At that time, the AD Plant was to use 100% agricultural feedstocks including maize, rye and straw and as a result fell within the remit of the district council as it was not a waste management operation.  Since this permission was given, the rules regarding the qualification for energy subsidies had changed and the new scheme (Green Gas Support Scheme) had a principal criterion for enrolment in this scheme which was that 50% of the biomethane, by energy content, must be produced using waste or residue feedback.

The Committee was advised that in order to qualify for the new scheme, the applicant proposed to change the feedstocks for the AD plant to 50% waste and residue feedstocks.   This change fell outside the scope of the planning permission granted by West Lindsey District Council and would result in the AD Plant being considered a waste management operation and the applicant was seeking planning permission from the County Council, as Waste Planning Authority, for a very similar development to that previously granted by West Lindsey District Council.

It was highlighted that one of the benefits to this change was that less land would be required to grow the energy crop, and it would help it to become a more sustainable form of development.

In terms of consultation and publicity, the Committee was advised that the local parish council had not objected to the proposal, however, comments had been made by Bishop Norton Parish Council.  It was also noted that there were no objections from the Environment Agency, but there were some advisory comments to be added to the conditions.  Objections from residents were set out on page 51 of the agenda pack, and it was highlighted that a further objection had been raised by a local resident which was included in the update circulated to the Committee.

It was highlighted that there had been a request from the applicant to amend recommendation 6 to include maize within the feedstock.  The officer advice was that there was no problem with this request and it was suggested that recommendation 6 was amended to include this.

The applicant, Chris Barton, spoke in favour of the application and made the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.