Agenda and minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting, any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Firth declared a personal non prejudicial interest in agenda item 4b as he had been present at a meeting of Wigginton Parish Council at which a presentation had been given regarding the scheme. No decisions had been made at that meeting.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 12 March and 9 April 2009.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meetings of the Sub-Committee held on 12 March 2009 and 9 April 2009 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chair.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Sub-Committee’s remit can do so. Anyone who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer on the contact details listed at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is Wednesday 6 May 2009 at 5pm.

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak under public participation.

Mr. Tom Hughes spoke in relation to the Land to the West of Metcalfe Lane, Osbaldwick, York. He spoke in relation to an application that had been considered at the previous meeting of the Sub-Committee for a Community Facility on the land. He queried why, in his opinion, Planning Officers appeared to be ignoring Government Legislation concerning development on Green Belt land.

He also queried why the applicant could submit full applications for new proposals when the original outline application, approved by the Secretary of State, had clearly set out matters that were reserved for future approval. Officers explained, notwithstanding the approval of outline planning permission, there was no legal reason to prevent the submission of full applications for alternative proposals or variations from the original outline consent. The Council cannot refuse to determine such applications, which have to be determined on their own merits.

To determine the following planning applications related to the East Area.

This application seeks planning permission for the erection of a single storey pitched roof side extension on a detached property. [Haxby & Wigginton Ward].

Members considered an application for a single storey pitched roof side extension on a detached property at 2 Milford Mews, Haxby.

Officers updated that due to the nature of the area and the property being situated in an enclave, the property had Permitted Development Rights removed under Planning Application Reference 3/57/7793/OA and that this extension would otherwise have been permitted development. Officers confirmed that the Oak Tree situated next to the property is covered by a Tree Preservation Order.

Members queried whether a condition regarding noise could be added if the proposal was approved, due to the property being situated at the bottom of a cul-de-sac. Officers confirmed this would be possible.

RESOLVED:             That the application be approved subject to the

conditions listed in the Officers report and the following additional condition:¹

Condition 5 – The hours of construction, loading or unloading on the site shall be confined to 8:00 to 18:00 Monday-Friday, 9:00 to 13:00 Saturday and no working on Sundays or public holidays.

Reason – To protect the amenities of adjacent residents.

REASON:                  In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposal, subject to the conditions listed above, would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance with particular reference to the impact on the residential amenity of adjacent occupiers and the impact on the streetscene. As such the proposal complies with Policies GP1 and H7 of the City of York Development and Control Local Plan and the Councils Supplementary Planning Guidance “Guide to extensions and alterations to private dwelling houses”.

This application seeks full planning permission for the drilling of boreholes for the testing, appraisal and operation of a coal bed methane plant and associated works. [Haxby & Wigginton Ward]

Members considered a full application for the drilling of bore holes for the testing, appraisal and operation of a coal bed methane production plant and associated works.

Officers advised that there was an error in the Agenda on page 39. Condition 2 should read “..23 years from the date of commencement in accordance with a scheme approved under condition 26”, and not  condition 28 as stated.

Representations in objection to the application were heard from a local resident who felt that the height of the rig would be too imposing and that there was no evidence that the applicant had searched for an alternative or better site.

Representations in support of the application were heard from the applicant who advised Members that this is the eighth proposal of its kind, the nearest to York being at Shipton by Beninbrough. He advised that the lighting for the drilling rig would be downward facing and that residents would suffer no noise nuisance. Other sites had been discounted due to the proximity to residential properties.

Members queried how the gas would be removed from the ground, if found. The applicant advised that it would be removed by suction and would be happy to submit a lighting scheme and a noise monitoring scheme if Members had concerns regarding any of the processes involved.

Members commented that the application is unique for York and that they were keen to find out more. A lengthy discussion was had in which Members queried the following issues with Officers and the Applicant:

Ø      Whether the scheme would produce greenhouse gases. The applicant confirmed any gases produced would be less harmful to the environment than using methods such as transportation and pipelines.

Ø      Whether gas is a mineral. Officers confirmed, in their view, it is a mineral.

Ø      Employment opportunities on the site, to which the applicant replied 8 persons through local contractors.

Ø      The number of car parking spaces. The applicant confirmed that 22 is an overestimate but necessary to avoid parking on the public highway.

Ø      Highway Safety as Wigginton Road is a busy road.

Members queried whether a condition restricting the times Heavy Goods Vehicles could enter or leave the site could be added, Officers confirmed that it could.

Officers advised that Condition 12 could be amended to allow noise monitoring to take place, and Condition 14 to monitor lighting levels.

Overall, members were happy to approve the application with conditions. Councillor Moore abstained from the vote due to his concerns regarding the effect the scheme could have on nearby communities.

RESOLVED:             That the application be approved subject to the conditions

                                    detailed in the Officers report and the following additional

                                    conditions.¹

Condition 12 – The acoustic barriers and bunds, as detailed on the proposed site layout plan, Figure 4.2 dated 9.1.09, shall be fully installed in accordance with these details, prior to drilling operations commencing, and retained as such throughout the drilling phase, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Within  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84b