Agenda item

Deferred.

The application before Members was for progressive mineral extraction and the subsequent importation of inert materials to restore the land back to existing levels and agricultural use.

The application had been submitted to the London Borough of Havering for determination in November 2013. Following consultation, the applicant had been required to undertake some additional studies which had resulted in a number of amendments to the proposal as originally submitted. The Council had re-consulted on these changes and it was now considered that staff were in a position to bring forward a recommendation to Members.

With its agreement Councillor David Durant addressed the Committee.

Councillor Durant commented that the report suggested that the processing plant was not appropriate and that without the processing plant the application failed. Councillor Durant also commented that there were a number of other mineral sites in the area and that the cumulative impact on the area was too great with all the sites using the A1306 for access to and from the sites.

Councillor Durant concluded by commenting that the processing plant if built would remain on the site and be used to process materials from the applicant’s other sites and therefore would be a blight on the landscape that would remain for many years to the detriment of resident’s amenity.

During the debate Members received clarification of the number of residential properties and the distance of the buffer zone in the area.

Members discussed the current dirty condition of the A1306 which was being used for hundreds of lorry movements every day leaving the road in an untidy and dirty condition and queried as to whether stronger enforcement action should be taken on developers not cleaning the road to a more satisfactory level.

Members also discussed the requirement of the London Plan to maintain a sand and gravel landbank of 1.75 million tonnes and what the penalties would be if the authority fell short of the target.

Members discussed the access and egress arrangements of the site with particular mention made regarding the difficult egress from the site onto the surrounding roads which could prove dangerous.

The report recommended that planning permission be granted. However, following a motion to defer consideration of the item which was carried by 10 votes to 1 it was RESOLVED that consideration of the item be deferred to allow discussions to take place between officers and the applicant to determine the following:

·         Where the landbank apportionment figure was derived from?

·         How the completion of existing sand and gravel extraction within Havering would affect the landbank throughput the plan period?

·         What sanctions would affect the Council if the landbank wasn’t met (legal or otherwise)?

·         If the landbank figure was exceeded, what happened?

·         Whether other relevant London Boroughs were meeting their landbank apportionment?

·         What sanctions could apply to the developer if they were known to be responsible for mud on the road but failed to resolve?

·         Why processing of primary won mineral is necessary and what the alternatives are to on-site processing?

·         Clarification on how the lorry movement breakdown related to empty arriving and exiting lorries?

·         If the developer was willing to restrict their extraction to meet rather than exceed the landbank and/or if the development could be phased differently to reduce impact?  If so, what were the implications?

·         What measures over and above those listed in the report could be employed to reduce mud on the roads?

The vote for the resolution to defer the consideration of the report was carried by 10 votes to 1.

Councillor Martin voted against the resolution to defer consideration of the report.