Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all present and advised the Committee that the meeting was to be livestreamed, however, neither the public gallery or the registered speakers would be seen visually.

He also reminded Members that as the meeting was being held at Mildenhall Hub the microphones would not operate the ‘queue to speak’ function and Members needed to raise their hand if they wished to speak. 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mike Chester, Lora-Jane Miller-Jones, Marilyn Sayer and Phil Wittam.

Any member who is substituting for another member should so indicate, together with the name of the relevant absent member.

The following substitution was declared:

Councillor Peter Armitage substituting for Councillor Marilyn Sayer

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2024 (copy attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2024 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, other registerable or non-registrable interest which they have in any item of business on the agenda, no later than when that item is reached and, when appropriate, to leave the meeting prior to discussion and voting on the item.

There were no declarations of interest made.

Report No: DEV/WS/24/018

Planning application - operation of a concrete batching plant for temporary period of 3 years

Planning application - operation of a concrete batching plant for temporary period of 3 years

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee following consideration by the Delegation Panel. One of the Lakenheath Ward Members and a neighbouring Ward Member for Brandon East had raised concerns regarding increased traffic, impact upon the landscape and the consultation responses from Ecological consultees. No comments had been received from the Parish Council.

A Member site visit was held on 22 April 2024, in relation to which the Lawyer advising the meeting explained, for the purposes of transparency, that the applicant had provided a minibus for Members to navigate the application site during their visit due to Health & Safety requirements. Accordingly, the applicant was present during the site visit on the minibus and responded to some questions posed by the Committee. However, his responses only referred to matters covered within the application documentation and the Committee report, no additional information was provided.

Officers were recommending that the application be approved subject to conditions as set out in Paragraph 73 of Report No DEV/WS/23/018.

As part of her presentation to the meeting the Senior Planning Officer explained that the proposed batching plant would represent a small element within the larger, existing site. The storage of aggregates and machinery necessary for the recycling centre already had permission (granted by Suffolk County Council as it was a waste recycling site) and could not be changed by the application seeking determination.

Speaker:      Ryan Holbrook (applicant) spoke in support of the application

Considerable debate took place, with Members of the Committee asking a number of detailed questions which the Case Officer responded to as follows:

Temporary Permission – if granted, on conclusion of the three-year temporary permission period a further planning application would be required if the applicant wished to continue the same operation on site. Members were reminded that planning policy considerations were the same regardless of whether an application was made for a permanent or temporary scheme;

Bunding – the bunding beyond the northern and eastern boundaries of the recycling centre did not form part of the application;

Hours of Operation – would be the same as the recycling plant which was 0700-1700 Monday to Friday, 0700-1200 Saturday, closed on Sundays.

During further discussion, the consideration of an application by Norfolk County Council earlier that same week was referenced, in that it concerned a nearby site at Brandon Rail Sidings which operated as an aggregate storage and distribution centre, with the importation of aggregates by rail and export by road.

Concerns had been raised in respect of that application in relation to the impact it had on Brandon with increased traffic movements, noise, dust and mud. Councillors Andy Neal and Rachel Hood raised similar issues with the application before the Development Control Committee.

Councillor Jon London suggested that additional conditions could be appended to the permission in respect of wheel washing, the production of a traffic management plan that linked to that required by Norfolk County  ...  view the full minutes text for item 442.