Meeting documents

Apologies were received from Mr Clare

Mrs J Blake stated that she had a prejudicial interest as local member for item 7, Red Brick Farm.

Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 May 2018, to be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

RESOLVED:  The minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2018 were AGREED as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

The erection of a single storey Waste Transfer Station (WTS) containing three designated waste halls to accept green, food and bulky waste, a segregated area for fly tipped waste and space for internal waste shredding and the reorientation of four external storage bays, the placement of hardstanding, the creation of a quarantine area, the retention and refurbishment of the existing BCC office, and construction of a new contractors office and ancillary development including internal access roads, parking, a gatehouse, two weighbridges, cycle and smoking shelter, fire water tanks, waste water tank, wheel wash, drainage and attenuation systems, HGV laybys and the continued use of an existing workshop

Ms C Kelham, Planning Graduate, presented the application which sought agreement for the erection of a waste transfer station and ancillary development at High Heavens Waste Management Complex (HHWMC).

Ms Kelham highlighted the following points:

• Since the publication of the report she had received one comment from a member of the public which objected to the planning application on the basis of air quality, effect on health, noise, residential amenity, traffic and highways.  Ms Kelham stated that she considered all the points had been addressed in the report.
• Since the publication of the report, she had received further comments from WDC noting that the County Council would need to be satisfied with regard to the acceptability of the development in the Green Belt and commenting on the importance of the landscaping strategy and lighting with regard to the Chilterns AONB.

Ms Kelham gave an overview of the application and the Committee received a presentation showing the proposed site plans and photographs highlighting the following:

• A main element of the proposed development was the waste transfer building, which would manage up to 107,306 tonnes per annum of municipal waste.
• A table in the presentation set out the increase in waste which was anticipated to be gradual and it was not anticipated that the capacity of the building would be met until after 2038/39.
• Ms Kelham referred to the waste streams proposed to be managed inside the waste transfer building; these were already managed at the High Heavens Waste Management Complex under the certificate of lawful development.
• The increase in HGV movements was included in the presentation and Ms Kelham confirmed that after comments from BCC Highways and WDC EHO, HGV movements would be limited to those proposed by the applicant. No condition to limit non HGV movements to and from the site was recommended.
• There was a proposed change to hours of operation on Saturdays and Sundays, though these changes would bring the site more in-line with those already permitted at the Residual Waste transfer station.

Public Speaking

Mr C Lecointe, on behalf of the applicant, attended the meeting and spoke in support of the application.  Mr Lecointe advised that the proposal was a resilient one, tested out by officers and would meet the identified need.

The Committee raised and discussed the following points:

• The need for green planting was discussed and perhaps climbing plants could be used.  It was confirmed that Condition 11 set out the landscaping conditions
• The change to Saturday hours was discussed and it was confirmed that this only brought it in line with the waste transfer site already operating longer Saturday hours on the site.
• A Member of the Committee asked if there was the means for a plastic waste in the future.  Mr Lecointe suggested that there could be in the short to medium term and that the applicant would want to respond to the needs of the County Council.
• A Member of the Committee highlighted that the draft Wycombe District Local Plan (2013-2033)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Proposed continued use of land for a waste transfer and recycling operation comprising the sorting, screening and crushing of inert construction, demolition and excavation waste together with a formation of three metre high acoustic bund, alterations to vehicle access and additional landscaping.

Ms Glover registered a personal interest in the item as she was acquainted with Ms Webb, one of the public speakers objecting to the application. Ms Glover confirmed that her interest was not prejudicial and did not consider her interest to be pre determinative.

Ms A Herriman, Senior Planning Officer presented the application which was a retrospective planning application or continued use of land for a waste transfer and recycling operation comprising the sorting, screening and crushing of inert construction, demolition and excavation waste together with a formation of three metre high acoustic bund, alterations to vehicle access and additional landscaping.

Ms Herriman highlighted the following points:

• Opening times were 7am-5pm Monday to Friday, 8am – 1pm Saturday and no operations on Sundays and Bank Holidays
• A further email had been received from a local resident regarding Great Crested Newts and this would be addressed by Ms Herriman in her presentation.

Ms Herriman gave an overview of the application and the Committee received a presentation showing the proposed site plans and photographs.  Ms Herriman highlighted the following key points:

• The County Council’s Highways Development Management team had no objection to the development.  This was based on safety and suitability of the HGV route to and from the site and the appropriateness and safety of the site access and immediate highway.
• A noise survey had been conducted with no objection from the EHO subject to the inclusion of a condition.
• Great Crested Newts – the ecologist had confirmed that the ecology report from the withdrawn application was still valid and found no issues.  However it was requested that informatives were added to protect great crested newts and badgers should any exist.  Ms Herriman confirmed that this had been added and could be found in paragraph 7.31 of the report.

• The applicant had performed a search looking at areas of focus in the emerging local plan; however no sites were deemed suitable for the type of development that existed at Red Brick Farm.
• The nearest building to the site was situated approximately 669m south east of the site and 621m from Dunton Road
• The County Council considered the site to be located on a Greenfield site in the open countryside; however this did not mean that it couldn’t be considered for development.

Public Speaking

Ms R Webb, a resident, attended the meeting and spoke in objection to the application. Ms Webb’s main points had been circulated to Committee Members prior to the meeting and are appended to the minutes.

Mr K Higgins, Vice Chairman of Stewkley Parish Council, attended the meeting and spoke in objection to the application.  Mr Higgin’s main points had been circulated to Committee Members prior to the meeting and are appended to the minutes.

Members of the Committee raised and discussed the following points:

• The location of the second pond that Ms Webb referred to.
• A member of the Committee asked how the HGV survey had been carried out by residents.  Ms Webb stated that they had recorded  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded for the following item which is exempt by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 because it contains information relating to an individual

Confidential minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 May 2018, to be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

Monday 23 July 2018, Mezzanine 1 & 2 County Hall, 10am

23 July 2018