Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on:-

9 December 2019, 27 May 2021, 12 July 2021, 9 August 2021, 6 September 2021,

22 November 2021, 15 December 2021, 24 January 2022

The minutes of the meetings held on:

9 December 2019, 27 May 2021, 12 July 2021, 9 August 2021,

6 September 2021, 22 November 2021, 15 December 2021 and

24 January 2022 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registerable or personal interest as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

Cllr Penfold declared that her son had in the past had a unit near the site and Cllr Tooke declared that he had sat on the AONB Board but not discussed this item.

To consider an application for the development of a waste management centre for the bulking and transfer of waste and recyclables, comprising a covered waste transfer station, with waste storage, sprinkler tank and pump house, and a split-level household recycling centre with vehicle unloading bays and partially covered central yard, a dedicated ‘re-use centre’, WEEE storage building, office building, staff parking area, weighbridge and associated landscaping. Formation of new access from A350.

The Senior Planning Officer, Minerals and Waste presented the application for the development of a waste management centre for the bulking and transfer of waste and recyclables. This comprised a covered waste transfer station, with waste storage, sprinkler tank and pump house, and a split-level household recycling centre with vehicle unloading bays and partially covered central yard, a dedicated ‘re-use centre’, WEEE storage building, office building, staff parking area, weighbridge and associated landscaping. Formation of new access from A350.

Members were advised that a need had been identified for a replacement modern waste management centre in the area and the proposed site had been allocated in the recently adopted Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset Waste Plan (2019) covering approx. 3.5 hectares of land.

With the aid of a visual presentation the Senior Planning Officer, Minerals and Waste highlighted the relevant areas of the application and explained the proposals for the buildings, access, plan layout, landscape enhancement and lighting.  The hydrogeological and heritage assets were also addressed.  There were no objections on highways safety grounds nor the Environmental Agency.

Taking everything into account it was considered that there were significant and substantial public benefits and exceptional circumstances to the scheme which outweighed the adverse impacts on the AONB.  The Officer recommendation was to grant the application with some suggested revised conditions relating to the lighting, handling of waste within the proposed transfer building and the transfer building doors.

Oral representation in objection to the application was received from:

Councillor Jennifer Morisetti -The Waste Team lead for Dorset Climate Action Network and a Trustee of Sustainable Dorset and Richard Burden – on behalf of Cranborne Chase AONB.  Their comments related to the size of the proposed building, the effect on the AONB and disturbance of the archaeological site, the effect on the landscape plus the location of the attenuation pond.

The Head of Commercial Waste and Strategy (Dorset Council), one of the project sponsors addressed the committee in support of the application.

The Head of Planning reminded the committee that the site had been allocated through the Local Plan process and therefore the planning inspector had already confirmed its suitability.  The principle had been established through the plan.

In response to member questions Officers advised that there was no public pedestrian or cycle access to the site proposed in the scheme.  However, the existing footbridge link across the A350 to the east of the site might provide such access in the future if residential development to the east was approved and a suitable connection could be provided.

Officers were unable to give assurances that the current advisory one-way system for HGV’s on the adjacent strategic highway network would apply to this site but the presumption was that it would continue to be observed.

In relation to detailed conditions and landscape management plan, these matters had been agreed as acceptable by the Council’s landscape colleagues and more conditions were not considered necessary.  Proposals did not include the photovoltaic panels to be included at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph x of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

There are no exempt items scheduled for this meeting.

There was no exempt business.