To consider a report by the Service Director – Environment, Infrastructure and
Economy.
Minutes:
The Committee considered a report by the Head of Planning on the proposed delegation of powers to Bournemouth Borough Council to enable them to decide a planning application for the development of a new road junction and associated works on the A338 Wessex Way to provide a link to the Wessex Fields Business Park and the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (Application No 8/18/3149/DCC).
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Members were reminded that when this matter had previously been considered at their meeting on 4 January 2018, the decision to delegate the determination of the application to Bournemouth was made by the County Council. However, as the next opportunity for the County Council to meet was not until 28 March 2019 - which would delay the consideration of this strategically important infrastructure project - it was now proposed that the matter instead be referred to the Chief Executive who, under delegated authority, had power to authorise the delegation to Bournemouth Borough Council, in cases of urgency.
Accordingly, consistent with the approach that was taken previously, an endorsement of the principle from the Committee was now being sought before the Chief Executive was asked to consider the matter. |
A visual presentation explained what the application was about - made jointly by the Borough Council and the County Council - showing the road scheme’s delineation; its reasoning; what it was designed to achieve; what benefits it would bring and how it would be implemented. The characteristics of the scheme were drawn to the Committee’s attention and what considerations would need to be assessed as part of the process. The substantive part of the application lay within Bournemouth Borough Council’s administrative area, with only a marginal proportion being located within the County’s area - this being within the Borough of Christchurch.
The necessity for improvements to be made to traffic management across the network in that area, the means by which this should be done and the benefits this would bring had been acknowledged previously by Committee. The permission being sought was an important part of a package of proposals designed to promote economic growth along the Bournemouth International Airport Corridor to relieve congestion, improve traffic management and access arrangements to the hospital and the adjoining business park development. |
The Committee were then provided with the opportunity to ask questions of the officer’s presentation and about what they had heard and officer’s provided clarification in respect of the points raised as necessary.
The Chairman also took the opportunity to explain that, whilst he had been asked by officers if the matter could be reported directly to the Chief Executive, he had decided that, in the circumstances and given the significance of the application, the Committee should be given the opportunity to decide on how the matter should be progressed.
Recommended
That Regulatory Committee advises the Chief Executive that it supports the proposal to delegate the planning application for a new road junction on the A338 at Wessex Field to Bournemouth Borough Council to determine.
Reason for Recommendation
To avoid duplication of work and to reduce the potential risk of a legal challenge arising from two different planning authorities interpreting and carrying out planning procedures in a slightly different way.
Supporting documents: