Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor J Williams.

 

2.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 339 KB

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on 2 July, 2020 as a correct record.

Minutes:

The Chair was authorised to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 2 July 2020.

 

Planning

3.

Declarations of interest

a)       To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

b)       To receive Members' requests that a record be made of their membership of town or community councils where discussion has taken place of matters for the consideration of this Committee.

c)       To receive declarations from Members of the Committee that they will be acting as 'Local Representative' in respect of an individual application being considered by the Committee.

d)       To note the details of Members of the County Council (who are not Members of the Committee) who will be acting as 'Local Representative' in respect of an individual application being considered by the Committee.

Minutes:

(a)       County Councillor M J Jones declared a personal interest in application 20/0738/FUL as he was appointed by the Council to the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority [BBNPA], which was considering the application the next day.

 

County Councillor H Williams asked that it be noted that he was previously a member of the Nant Helen Liaison Committee and that his membership ceased 2½ years ago.

 

(b)       The Committee noted that no Member requested that a record be made of their membership of a Community Council where discussion had taken place of matters for the consideration of this Committee.

 

(c)        The Committee noted that no Member (who is a member of the Committee) would be acting as ‘local representative’ in respect of any application on the agenda.

 

(d)       The Committee noted that County Councillor D Thomas (who is not a member of the Committee) would be speaking as the ‘local representative’ in respect of any application on the agenda.

 

 

 

4.

Planning applications for consideration by the Committee pdf icon PDF 8 KB

To consider the reports of the Head of Property, Planning and Public Protection and to make any necessary decisions thereon.

 

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Property, Planning and Public Protection (copies filed with the signed minutes).

 

4.1

Updates pdf icon PDF 158 KB

Any Updates will be added to the Agenda, as a Supplementary Pack, wherever possible, prior to the meeting.

Minutes:

The Members confirmed that they had received and had time to read the update circulated on 24 July, 2020.

 

 

4.2

20/0738/FUL Land at and Surrounding Nant Helen Open Cast Coal Site, Powys and Onllwyn Distribution Centre, Neath Port Talbot pdf icon PDF 747 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Grid Ref:                               283213 211223

 

Valid Date:                           15/05/20

 

Community Council:         Tawe-Uchaf Community Council

 

Applicant:                             Mr Rob Thompson, Celtic Energy Ltd, 9 Beddau Way, Castlegate Business Park, Caerphilly, CF83 2AX

 

Location:                              Land at and surrounding Nant Helen Open Cast Coal Site, Powys and Onllwyn Distribution Centre, Neath Port Talbot

 

Proposal:                             Construction of complementary restoration earthworks to create 2 looped landform platforms (part in cutting and part on embankment) with associated drainage infrastructure and areas of landscaping and habitat creation to create a flexible and adaptable area of land that could be used for a variety of uses including agriculture, nature conservation, leisure, tourism and industrial, research and development/business uses (potentially including a proposed rail testing, research and development and storage facility). (Cross-boundary application, see Neath Port Talbot CC Application ref. P2020/0362)

 

Application Type:              Full

 

The Planning Officer reminded the Committee that the application under consideration was to create a flexible and adaptable area of land that could be used for a variety of uses.  Any potential future uses of the site will be subject to separate planning applications and this application proposes restoration to agriculture, nature conservation and amenity uses.  The current application is considering whether the landform is appropriate in its own right, but Members can attach some weight to its ability to facilitate potential future uses without prejudicing any decisions on any future applications.

 

County Councillor D Thomas spoke as a local representative and also spoke on behalf of County Councillor S Williams.

Councillor S Davies, Chair, Tawe Uchaf Community Council spoke on behalf of the Community Council.

Mrs S Pyart spoke against the application.

Mr D Barry, Arup, spoke as the Agent on behalf of the applicant.

 

The Planning Officer advised that if the Committee was minded to approve the application the conditions were those detailed in the report and additional conditions in the update report.  The application was subject to an EIA.

 

Comment was made that it was disappointing that the Committee had not made a site visit.  Although the drone footage was useful it did not provide the same impact as being on site to assess the feel and visual impact of the proposal.

 

In response to questions regarding the embankments the Planning Officer advised that it is likely that intrusive ground investigations would be required to establish the current ground conditions.  Any soft ground would need to be removed and replaced with new material that can support the embankment.  The slopes would also likely to be benched with new material placed on these and compacted so that new material would sit on flat areas to reduce the impact of gravity.  The Planning Officer referred to the Update report in which it was noted that the Land Drainage Officer highlighted the risks of such proposals.  However, officers were content with the proposed design, but conditions were recommended to ensure that the exact details were provided to the Planning Authority for consideration.  The Officer confirmed that the concerns of the local community and Community Council were recognised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.2

5.

Decisions of the Head of Property, Planning and Public Protection on Delegated Applications pdf icon PDF 626 KB

To receive for information a list of decisions made by the Head of Property, Planning and Public Protection under delegated powers.

 

Minutes:

The Committee received for information a list of decisions made by the Head of Property, Planning and Public Protection during the period between 24 June 2020 and 17 July 2020.

 

6.

Appeal decision pdf icon PDF 78 KB

To receive the Planning Inspector's decision regarding an appeal.

 

Minutes:

The Committee received a copy of the Planning Inspectorate’s letter regarding the appeal in respect of application P/2018/0528 - Oakcroft, Pentre, Churchstoke, Montgomery SY15 6ST.  The Committee noted that the Inspector had dismissed the appeal.