Agenda and minutes

Proposed by Cllr Cook, seconded by Cllr Penfold.

Decision: that Cllr Jespersen be appointed Vice Chair for the duration of the meeting.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their decision 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.

To receive questions or statements on the business of the committee from town and parish councils and members of the public.

Public speaking has been suspended for virtual committee meetings during the Covid-19 crisis and public participation will be dealt with through written submissions only.

Members of the public who live, work or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area, may submit up to two questions or a statement of up to a maximum of 450 words.  All submissions must be sent electronically to elaine.tibble@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk  by the deadline set out below.  When submitting a question please indicate who the question is for and include your name, address and contact details.  Questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda.

Questions will be read out by an officer of the council and a response given by the appropriate officer at the meeting.  All questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.  The deadline for submission of the full text of a question or statement is 8.30am on Wednesday 1 September 2021.

Representations by the public to the Committee on individual planning applications are attached as an appendix to these minutes.

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.

To consider planning application WD/D/19/000451 for the winning and working of sand and gravel from a new extraction area at Chard Junction Quarry. The proposal also includes the provision of a haul road and the retention of the existing mineral processing facilities. The report recommends approval to the application subject to conditions and the completion of a S106 agreement.

The Senior Planning Officer, Minerals and Waste presented the report for consideration of planning application WD/D/19/000451 for the winning and working of sand and gravel from a new extraction area at Chard Junction Quarry. The proposal also included the provision of a haul road and the retention of the existing mineral processing facilities. The report recommended approval of the application subject to conditions and the completion of a S106 agreement.

With the aid of a visual presentation the location plan detailing the proximity of the site to the surrounding areas, together with the site plan for the proposed development showing the county boundary was presented to the committee.  A small part of the site being in the Somerset area but the majority within the Dorset boundary. The site was within an Area of Natural Beauty (ANOB) area of Dorset but not Somerset.  The Senior Planning Officer, Minerals and Waste detailed a number of constraints in the area and took the committee members through the various planned phases and indicative restoration scheme.

Members were shown a number of photographs of the site area from varying angles and points including the location of the proposed haul road, it’s relationship to boundaries and proximity to residential properties, including the existing processing area and the existing silt lagoons.

The Senior Planning Officer, Minerals and Waste picked up on a number of points highlighting the mitigation and compensation elements of the scheme in order to reduce the impacts to an acceptable level. In relation to archaeological conditions proposed within the report he suggested that conditions 27 and 28 be replaced by one single condition to read:

‘No works shall take place until the applicant has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written scheme of investigation which has been submitted by the applicant to, and approved by the Planning Authority. This scheme shall cover archaeological fieldwork together with post-excavation work and publication of the results.'

Although the report had not been updated to reflect the latest NPPF guidance, apart from paragraph numbering, the advice within the framework and it’s main thrust was considered to be the same,  dust emissions had been taken into consideration, appropriately mitigated and could be assured by planning considerations.

The committee were advised that the revised recommendation following the further update sheet issued on 3/9/21 was to be amended to include the revised archaeological recommendation.

The Monitoring and Enforcement Officer (M&W) read the written representations and Cllr Simon Christopher, Ward Councillor for Marshwood Vale also made representation. 

The written representations are attached as an appendix to these minutes and Cllr Christopher’s address can be found at 50:40 on the recording.

The Senior Planning Officer, Minerals and Waste responded to the points raised in the representations relating to the issue of consultation.

The Committee members were invited to ask questions of the Senior Planning Officer, Minerals and Waste.

Member questions focused around:

Conditions and proposals for restoring the site and potential landscaping,

The Health and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

To consider two applications in relation to Beacon Hill Landfill Site. The first application seeks to vary conditions to amend the date when landfill operations and site restoration are to complete, together with a revised scheme for site restoration. The second applications seek to retain 3 portacabins for the provision of office and welfare facilities for use in connection with the landfill operation and site restoration.

The Minerals and Waste Planning Manager introduced the two applications for Beacon Hill Landfill Site.  Using a visual presentation, the committee members were shown pictures of the site location, positioning of the 2 portacabins and advised that there would be no additional structures added to the site. 

The application sought to vary 4 conditions, 12 cells had already been filled and capped with restoration soils placed.  Having been mothballed in 2017, due to the shortage of waste for landfill, cell 13 was the last remaining.  The application sought to extend the previous permission until 2029, in the hope that at full capacity the cell would be full in two years but with less waste coming into the site that would take longer for the remaining cell to be complete.   The application also carried a 5 year after care plan. 

The Minerals and Waste Planning Manager advised there was no option but to fill the final cell as it was central to the completed restoration project.

The key planning issues were highlighted together with the impact on amenity and key issues, the impacts on amenity were likely to be short lived as the cell would be filled and be restored within 2 – 4 years.  Other considerations were the biodiversity and restoration plans, the visual amenity and landscape character and water resources.  Conditions from the original planning permission would be carried forward along with new/amended conditions.

In concluding the presentation, members were advised that with the remaining land fill site having capacity and presenting no undue impact on the landscape or green belt, there was no material considerations which would warrant refusal of this application.

Representations received were read to the committee members, these are attached as an appendix to the minutes and Cllr Mike Barron made a statement, this can be found at 4:00:48 on the recording.

It was emphasised that this was an existing site and safeguarded in the Bournemouth, Christchurch Poole and Dorset Waste Plan, it still had a purpose and the waste would be treated to a certain extent before going to landfill.

Member Questions focused on the timescales for the completion and restoration of the site, options for alternative landfill waste to be accepted, what engineering capping involved and if there had been issues in the past with the site.

The Minerals and Waste Planning Manager advised that cell 13 stood mothballed and adjoined the restored cells.  There was a requirement to pump water out of cell 13 to avoid potential problems with damage to adjoining cells. There was permanent staff on site all the time to keep an eye on and pump out as necessary.  The Environmental Agency was also monitoring the site.

There had not been many complaints regarding the site since 2010 and if members did not grant planning permission then the Council would have to consider enforcing the current restoration scheme from 1995, however there were benefits from the new scheme and water management schemes.

Members considered that with this being an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

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 3 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 was no exempt business.