Agenda item

To vary condition 1 of planning permission 139434 to extend the period to restore the site at land to the east of Smithfield Road, North Kelsey Moor, Market Rasen - Egdon Resources Ltd (Agent AECOM Ltd) - 141307

Minutes:

Since the publication of the report officers reported that additional comments had been received in connection with the application. These comments had been circulated to members in the Committee's update and had been placed on the Council's website to be viewed by the public. A further representation had been received since the update was published but this did not raise any further material planning issues that had not already been addressed in the report.

 

Amanda Suddaby, an objector, commented as follows:-

 

·         I was deeply disappointed by the previous vote but I would like to thank those Councillors who felt able to heed the concerns of local people.  I hoped the full Committee would continue to bear those concerns in mind because I would wager that Egdon would be back asking for more and North Kelsey would not be restored by the end of next year.

·         I had two requests in connection with the security compound extension - the first was that an updated Ecological Appraisal should be conducted to take account of the impact of extra security lighting introduced last year along with the security compound. I had already covered the reasons for this previously and in correspondence and the second was in regard to working hours. Last July, Egdon requested an increase in working hours for both sites. Thankfully, you voted against this to protect local communities from the disturbance that would arise from longer working hours.

·         At the time the open report to the Committee stated that “hours of work for the security site would be carried out in line with the adjacent well site” but this was not carried through in the Decision Notice issued by the Planning Officer after the meeting. Instead they allowed the extension of hours for the security compound.

·         When queried, I was told that the Committee should have taken the vote twice for it to count-even though the security compound hours were supposed to align with those of the main site, on which you had clearly voted.

·         So we now had two sets of operating hours on the same site which would only lead to confusion and make enforcement difficult.

·         To simplify this, could one of the Councillors propose that the hours for the construction and restoration of the security compound be brought into line with those of the main site, namely, stopping work at 5.30pm on weekdays.

·         I believed this was the Committee’s intention last year and I would be grateful if you would please rectify this procedural misunderstanding.

There were not any questions asked of Amanda Suddaby.

Paul Foster, representing the applicant, commented as follows:-

 

·         This application was directly linked to the previous application for the extension of time for the well site.

·         The security compound laid directly adjacent to the well site and was needed to ensure that the well site remained secure during all stages of development.

·         Egdon had a duty of care to ensure that subcontracted workers, suppliers, deliveries and visitors were protected.  In view of the potential threat of protestors gaining access to the site, Lincolnshire Police and Egdon’s security consultants had been in discussions about the continued need for a security compound. The level of risk of protestor activity had not diminished since planning permission was granted in July last year.

·         Owing to the current COVID-19 restrictions, Egdon’s plans to undertake oil exploration operations in 2020 have had to be suspended. As a result, the installation of the security compound had been delayed.  Additional time was therefore being sought to allow the security and welfare units to be retained on site for an extended period.

 

A member asked Paul Foster about the variation of closing times between this site and the previous site in minute 23.

 

Paul Foster stated that the applicant was not seeking any changes to the conditions in connection with the operational hours for the security compound.

 

Officers stated that there was no reason to prevent the Committee changing "Condition 4" to show that the hours of operation of the security compound site should read -  "Monday to Friday 07:00 to 17:30 hours".

 

A Member enquired about the need for the applicant to submit an up to date ecological survey because the previous one was out of date. Officers stated that a new Condition would be required to address this matter.

 

On a motion by Councillor Mrs A M Newton, seconded by Councillor Mrs M J Overton MBE, it was –

 

RESOLVED (11 votes for, 0 votes against and 1 abstention)

 

That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report and the following additional changes:-

 

Condition 4

 

The construction and restoration of the site hereby permitted shall only be carried out during the following hours:

 

Monday to Friday 07:00 to 17:30 hours;

Saturday 07:00 to 13:00 hours; and

No construction or restoration operations shall occur on Sundays, bank holidays and public holidays.

 

Condition 6

 

Prior to the commencement of development, a Phase 1 habitat survey shall be undertaken and a scheme to mitigate any undue adverse effects shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Mineral Planning Authority. The approved scheme shall thereafter be implemented in full.

 

Reason: To ensure adequate protection for nature conservation interests.

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