Meeting documents

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 5 April 2018

The Minutes of the last meeting were agreed as correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

None.

None.

Item 8 (Verbal Update from the Planning Enforcement Manager) was taken first.

Planning Enforcement Manager, Mitchell Kitts, gave a verbal update to Members on enforcement matters. It was noted that officers were exploring changes to the scheme of delegations to further support the serving of notices in a timely manner.

Members raised concerns over airport parking and the Planning Enforcement Manager assured Members that work was being undertaken to address this issue. In response to a question as to whether neighbouring local authorities (LAs) had taken action to address the issue, Members were advised that neighbouring LAs had more immediate powers to support the serving of notices. Further, that as part of the Local Enforcement Plan, officers were currently reviewing the scheme of delegations to support the Council in serving notices in a timely manner.

Principle Planning Officer, Sukhpreet Khull, provided Members with a report on the Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLtH) consultation which set out key concerns identified, and an initial draft response. The consultation was being held between 11 May and 22 June 2018, and it was noted that due to the tight timeframe in which to respond, the Council had been given an extension to early July 2018. It was noted that the PAG report would be appended to the report due to be considered by Cabinet on 27 June 2018.

The key concerns raised by residents, and by Members at the Full Council meeting 16 May 2018 included but were not limited to, the cumulative impacts of the expansion of Heathrow Airport Ltd, the impact on the Green Belt, potential for increased HGV traffic, air quality impacts on Iver, and the need for the Iver relief road.

Members were advised that, in the case that the closure of Hollow Hill Lane occurs, the delivery of the Iver relief road is essential. It is expected that Network Rail fund all necessary mitigation measures essential to reducing the impacts of the scheme on local communities. It was reported that Network Rail were using Slough Borough Council’s (SBC) transport modelling against the scheme, and officers had proposed that South Bucks’ also be tested. Members noted that the Council would work with SBC in supporting the best possible outcome for the local communities.

A verbal amendment was made at 3.5 of the report to read:

3.5 This consultation is statutory, however it is the final round of consultation that NR is undertaking before submitting a Development Consent Order application to the Planning Inspectorate in 2019.

Members expressed thanks to the Senior Planning Officer and to the team for preparing the report. The potential for more HGV traffic impacting the Ivers was reiterated, and it was felt that Network Rail’s traffic data collected in December was flawed and out of date. Further concerns were raised relating to the potential for flooding, as well as the expectation that different operations would be using the cement plant which could create further HGV traffic in the area. It was noted that, on the plans, a building had appeared to be added at the entrance of the tunnel incorporating a car park and access road, which would create noise and light pollution in the area.

It was suggested that Members feedback to the Portfolio Holder any further concerns that may arise throughout the consultation period.

Members agreed that a draft watermark be added to the draft consultation response that will be submitted by the 22 June deadline. The final response is due to be submitted early July.

Two further verbal amendments were made to the report. It was noted that the recommendation in the report should read that the draft response be agreed by the ‘Director of Services’ in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, and not the ‘Director of Resources’. At 5.6 of the proposed position  ...  view the full minutes text for item 106.