Agenda and minutes

Members and Officers are reminded to make any declarations of pecuniary, personal and/or prejudicial interests that they may have in relation to items on this agenda and are reminded that they should re-declare their interest before consideration of the item or as soon as the interest becomes apparent.

Members and officer should make their declaration by stating :

a) the application they have the interest in

b) whether it is a pecuniary, personal and/or prejudicial

c) the nature of the interest

d) if it is a prejudicial or pecuniary interest, whether they will be exercising their right to speak to the application

Councillor Charles declared a Personal Interest in item 8 [F/6/21/WS – Ford Circular Technology Park, Ford Road, Ford, BN18 0XL] as a Member of West Sussex County Council, he advised that he had, had no involvement in the application and would keep an open mind.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Development Control Committee held on 18 May 2021.  (To be circulated separately).

          The Minutes of the Special Meeting held on 18 May 2021 were approved by the Committee.

The Committee are required to agree its meeting start times for the remainder of the municipal year 2021/22.

It was proposed and seconded that a new start time for the remaining meetings of the Planning Committee for 2021/22 be 14:00pm.

The Committee

                     RESOLVED that

the start time of all remaining meetings of the Committee for 2021/22 would be 14:00pm.

.

To correct an inaccuracy caused by software in minute no 456 approved on 3 March 2021 in relation to the consideration of the Ford Strategic Site Allocation Masterplan. 

The Strategic Development Team Leader gave a brief overview of her report to the Committee.

One member queried the wording of the recommendation in the report. It was confirmed that the wording for the recommendation had been read out by the Principal Planning Officer at the meeting on 3 February 2021 from the update report and it was that wording that had been subsequently approved by the Committee.

The Committee

                     RESOLVED

that the minutes of the DCC meeting on the 3 February 2021 approved by the committee on 3 March 2021 but still unsigned by Chairman due to physical meeting restrictions imposed by Corona virus regulations be amended in the following respect to correct an inaccuracy subsequently discovered and be signed by Chairman when conditions allow:

“That authority be delegated to the Director of Place to endorse “The Landings” Masterplan Document following:

A. The receipt of an amended document that satisfactorily demonstrates:

1. Improved provision for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians, and

2. The historic alignment of the canal; and

B. Confirmation that there is agreement between a recognised education provider and the landowners regarding the transfer of land for the delivery of a new secondary school at Yapton/Ford.”

Demolition of existing buildings and structures and construction and operation of an energy recovery facility and a waste sorting and transfer facility for treatment of municipal, commercial and industrial waste, including ancillary buildings, structures, parking, hardstanding and landscape works. This application is a County Waste Matter and will be determined by West Sussex County Council.

Report to follow.

(Councillor Charles declared a Personal Interest as a Member of West Sussex County Council, he advised that he had, had no involvement in the application and would keep an open mind.)

          The Principal Planning Officer presented his report to the Committee.

          Members then took part in a full debate on the report where a number of concerns with the revised proposal were raised. These concerns primarily revolved around the impact on the roads, the environment and the landscape.

          Members who spoke noted that the technology for the build was not the most up to date and that this directly impacted on the design of the building. It was also stated that a building of that scale and height would have a significant adverse impact on the landscape. Further concerns were raised in relation to the 1,500 homes that had been planned at Ford, the member who spoke stated that they were keen to not see further disruption or delay to this development. A number of members who spoke raised that this application did not comply with the Waste Local Plan and the Arun local Plan policies. All Members were in agreement that should West Sussex County Council approve this application, that a letter to the Secretary of State would be sent to request that the decision be called in.

The Principal Planning officer provided answers to all points raised by Members in the debate.

          Members asked the Principal Planning Officer if he would consider adding a condition to the response that stated should WSCC approve the application the latest technology should be incorporated into the build, to ensure that emissions were at the most minimum level they could be.

          The Committee

                     RESOLVED

that the Council raise an objection to the proposal for the reasons detailed in the report.