Report (PN7) by Assistant Director for Strategic Infrastructure and Planning.

SUMMARY

Section 73 application to continue the development permitted by planning permission P16/V2331/CM (MW.0117/16) (Amend the working of phase 1a; Amend the restoration of the site; Amend lighting details; Change the site name and signage details to “Faringdon Quarry”) without complying with condition 2 to extend the dates for completion of mineral extraction to 31/12/2034 and completion of restoration to 31/12/2035.

RECOMMENDATION

It is RECOMMENDED that planning permission for MW.0142/21 be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Assistant Director of Strategic Infrastructure and Planning, to include those set out in Annex 1.

The Committee considered a report by the Assistant Director for Strategic Infrastructure and Planning recommending that planning permission for MW.0142/21 be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Assistant Director of Strategic Infrastructure and Planning as set out in Annex 1 of the report.

The application comprised a Section 73 application to continue the development permitted by planning permission P16/V2331/CM (MW.0117/16) (Amend the working of phase 1a; Amend the restoration of the site; Amend lighting details; Change the site name and signage details to “Faringdon Quarry”) without complying with condition 2 to extend the dates for completion of mineral extraction to 31/12/2034 and completion of restoration to 31/12/2035.

The application was presented by Emma Bolster, Planning Officer.

In response to questions by Members of the Committee, officers provided the following information.

(a)  Regarding landbank statistics and the time it would take to extract the mineral reserves, it was reported that there was 16 years supply of soft stand and 11 years supply of sharp sand and gravel. Therefore, it was proposed that planning permission be maintained for the extraction of minerals already included in the landbank figures, where there was a minimum requirement of at least seven years.

(b)  Regarding objections in relation to non-compliance with the two routeing agreements, officers clarified the requirements of the current agreements, noting that there had been alleged breaches of concrete batching plant’s agreements.

It was noted that consideration had been given to installing cameras to monitor vehicles. However, given there were Planning Obligations in place, it was proposed that the existing routeing agreements could not easily be amended to include monitoring cameras.

The Legal officer confirmed that there may be some legal impediments to amending the agreement, as well as possible financial costs to the Council. In addition, there were practical difficulties in carrying out monitoring at locations that were some distance from the site of the quarry.

(c)   Regarding the use of a portable monitoring camera to ensure compliance with the routeing agreements, the Legal officer advised that there were restrictions on the use of surveillance cameras. Accordingly, it would be necessary to ensure that any use of a monitoring camera to enforce the routeing agreements would have to comply with any statutory provisions.

Mr Periam advised that officers look at the possibility of using a monitoring camera or cameras to enforce the existing routeing agreements but that he had no money in the Development Management Team’s budget to pay for such equipment.

At this stage in the proceedings, Councillor Constance moved that the recommendations, as set out in the report of the Assistant Director for Strategic Infrastructure and Planning, be approved. The motion was seconded by Councillor Edosomwan.

In the subsequent debate on the motion, it was proposed that a condition be added to the Planning Permission that each year the applicant provide information on the amounts of materials that had been extracted.

Councillor Constance amended her motion to include the proposed condition that the applicant be required to provide information each year on the amounts of materials extracted. Councillor Edosomwan seconded the motion, as amended.

The votes cast were, as follows:

For:                  12

Against:              0

Abstentions:       0

RESOLVED: That -

1.     Planning permission for MW.0142/21 be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Assistant Director of Strategic Infrastructure and Planning as set out in Annex 1 of the report; and

2.     That the conditions include a condition requiring the operator to provide information each year on the amount and type of materials extracted in the previous 12 months.