Agenda and draft minutes

To receive and note apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received and noted for Cllrs Cullwick and Melly.

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

[Please see attached sheet for further guidance for Members].

Members were asked to declare at this point in the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest or other registerable interest they might have in respect of business on the agenda, if they had not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. Cllr Ayre declared an interest as a member of the Shareholder Committee and could not take part in the consideration of the application for Yorwaste, Harewood Whin, Tinker Lane, Rufforth, York [23/01732/FULM]. There were no further declarations of interest.

[Cllr Ayre left the meeting at 4.34pm]

To approve and sign the minutes of the Planning Committee A meetings held on 16 January 2025 and 5 February 2025.

Resolved: 

                             i.     That the minutes of meeting held on 16 January 2025 be approved as a correct record subject to a change to a minor typographical error and the  addition of an informative about short term lets and C3 use and the additional conditions and items for the S106 heads of terms (as detailed in the committee update) being included in the proposal and resolution.

                           ii.     That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2025 be updated subject to the correction of minor typographical errors.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines are set as 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at our meetings. The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Tuesday 18 March 2025.

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form. If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting, please contact Democratic Services. Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

During coronavirus, we made some changes to how we ran council meetings, including facilitating remote participation by public speakers. See our updates (www.york.gov.uk/COVIDDemocracy) for more information on meetings and decisions.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme on general matters within the remit of the Planning Committee A.

This item invites Members to determine the following planning application:

Members considered a report of the Head of Planning and Development, relating to the following planning applications, outlining the proposals and relevant policy considerations and setting out the views of consultees and officers.

Installation of a solar farm with associated infrastructure, access and security fencing [Rural West Ward]

Members considered a major full application from Mr K Smith for the installation of a solar farm with associated infrastructure, access and security fencing at Yorwaste, Harewood Whin, Tinker Lane, Rufforth York.

The Development Manager gave a presentation on the application. Members were provided with an update to the report detailing corrections to the officer’s report at paragraph 4.1, 5.5 and 5.13. The revised consultee responses from Design and Conservation (Trees and Landscape) and the Carbon Reduction team were noted. Members were advised of a revised Condition 10 (landscape scheme and an additional condition regarding the submission and approval of drawings for the solar PV arrays.

Public Speakers

Hannah Wafer, Agent for the Applicant, spoke in support of the application. She explained that it was an application for a solar farm in the Green Belt. She noted that City of York Council had declared a climate emergency and that the development met energy needs. She noted that the development was unique and included planting along the boundaries. She explained how the applicant had worked proactively with the council on the application. She was asked and explained the applicant had spoken to both airfields who had initially been concerned about glare from the solar farm and she noted that areas A and B were not impacted.

Using the screen in the room, the Development Manager showed where area C of the site was on the indicative site plan and also where the planting was on the site.

Following debate, Cllr Fisher proposed the officer recommendation to approve the application following a referral to the Secretary of State, revised condition 10 and additional condition regarding the submission and approval of drawings for the solar PV arrays. This was seconded by Cllr J Burton. Following a unanimous vote in favour, it was;

Resolved: That the application be approved subject the to a referral to the Secretary of State and revised Condition 10 and additional condition:

Revised Condition 10

No development shall take place until there has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority a detailed landscape scheme in accordance with the approved Landscape Strategy. This shall include the species, stock size, density (spacing), percentages and position of trees, shrubs and other plants, seeding mixes, sowing rates and notes on establishment and maintenance with reference to the Landscape and Ecological Management Plan. This scheme shall be implemented within a period of 12 months from the start of development of development operations on site or within 6 months of the completion of development, whichever is sooner. Any trees or plants which within the lifetime of the development die, are removed or become seriously diseased, shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of a similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority agrees alternatives in writing.

Additional Condition

Prior to the construction of the solar PV arrays a drawing showing the finalised layout of the arrays and associated infrastructure shall be submitted to and approved  ...  view the full minutes text for item 158.