Agenda and minutes

During an exempt session in relating to item 10, Councillors Watson and Byrne left the meeting at 20:04pm. This was before the Chair put forward a motion to defer item 10 to a later date., Planning Committee - Thursday, 8th February, 2024 6.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices 3, New Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6SL.

Contact: Luke Tucker, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Email: Direct.Democracy@thurrock.gov.uk

Note: During an exempt session in relating to item 10, Councillors Watson and Byrne left the meeting at 20:04pm. This was before the Chair put forward a motion to defer item 10 to a later date. 

Media

Items
No. Item

57.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 126 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 26th October 2023 and 30th November 2023.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 26th October 2023 and 30th November 2023 were approved as a true and correct record.

58.

Item of Urgent Business

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Vice-Chair allowed the agent to address the Planning Committee in relation to item 10 (23/00442/FUL).

59.

Declaration of Interests

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillors Byrne, Arnold and Piccolo are residents of the Homestead Ward.

60.

Declarations of receipt of correspondence and/or any meetings/discussions held relevant to determination of any planning application or enforcement action to be resolved at this meeting

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members of the Planning Committee were invited to attend a briefing on LDO1.5 on the 6th February 2024.

61.

Planning Appeals pdf icon PDF 139 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

No Planning Appeals were discussed.

 

Item 9 was heard by the Planning Committee before item 8.

62.

London Gateway Logistics Park: Consideration of Habitat Regulation Assessment (HRA) for Local Development Order 1.5 pdf icon PDF 178 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Planning Officers presented the application and highlighted the

following points:

 

·       LDO1 expired in November 2023.

·       LDO1.5 is an interim measure, valid for 1 year or until LDO2 is adopted.

·       HRA concluded the development proposed under LDO1.5 would have a negligible impact on protected sites.

 

Members asked the following questions:

 

·       Councillor Redsell asked will there be any dredging around the site.

o   Yes

·       Councillor Watson asked how the Local Authority will monitor and enforce habitats regulations.

o   Monitoring information is presented in a compliance document, Local Authority to monitor.

·       Councillor Watson asked how it is enforced.

o   Breach of planning control equates to enforced action.

·       Councillor Watson noted that the Local Authority doesn’t have enforcement powers presently.

o   The agreement has to be adhered too.

·       The Vice-Chair sort the views of the Legal Representative and Chief Planning Officer.

o   Legal Representative - LDO operates similar to planning rights, if there was a breach enforcement proceeding could be issued. If a breach were to happen enforcement action could be taken down the line.

·       Councillor Redsell worries are satisfied but notes conditions need to be followed and the Local Authority needs to be careful.

o   The Chief Planning Officer reassures the Planning Committee that the Local Authority will monitor. DP world ecologists report to the Local Authority and reports can be sent to Natural England. Compliance has been good so far. DP world takes this seriously.

·       Councillor Watson was reassured but does not want any slip ups and wants strong monitoring in place.

·       Councillor Liddiard noted DP World is careful and maintains standards.

·       Councillor Maney noted habitats are important and need to be monitored carefully.

·       Councillor Byrne noted DP World attend every meeting with residents, and they are very open and has trust in its officers.

·       Councillor Polley asked if there have been any reports of issues in the last 10 years.

o   No

·       Steve Taylor noted that it was in greenbelt but accepted that it has been there for 10 years.

 

RESOLVED:

That the Planning Committee

 

1.1  Note the content of the “Report to Inform a Habitats Regulations Assessment London Gateway Logistics Park Local Development Order 1.5” dated November 2023 and the consultation responses received.

 

1.2  Formally determine, on the basis of the information available, that the development proposed by the LDO will not adversely affect the integrity of a European site or a European offshore marine site either alone or in combination with other plans or projects.

 

For: (9) Georgette Polley (Vice-Chair), Paul Arnold, Gary Byrne, Steve Liddiard, Jacqui Maney Terry Piccolo, Joycelyn Redsell, Sue Shinnick, and Lee Watson.

 

Against: (0)

 

Abstained: (0)

63.

London Gateway Logistics Park: Making of Local Development Order 1.5 pdf icon PDF 220 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Planning Officers presented the application and highlighted the

following points:

 

·       LDO1.5 is intended as an interim measure, valid for 1 year or until LDO2 is adopted, whichever is earlier.

·       This is to enable the delivery of up to a further 85,000sqm of B8 floorspace pending consideration of LDO2.

 

Members asked the following questions:

 

·       Councillor Arnold asked how the Local Authority will monitor the development area.

o   Submission of prior notification forms and assisted by Local Authority officers with conditions on operators to monitor.

o   DP monitor any breaches very well.

·       Councillor Redsell asked how the 106 agreement will it alter what is in place and expressed concerns with traffic on the Stanford bypass. Councillor Redsell also asked how traffic will be monitored and predicted.

o   LDO1 was planned for a full site of traffic, not an issue for LDO1.5 all statutory consultees accepted.

·       Councillor Redsell would of like the water authority to have been present and was concerned about possible flooding.

·       Councillor Watson asked what the legislation changes between LDO1 & LDO1.5 are and if there was any impact.

o   2015 changes to infrastructure, but legislation hasn’t changed.

o   2017 new environmental regulations

o   Nothing of note that changes LDO

·       Councillor Watson asked if 106 agreement will carry on running.

o   LDO1.5 will carry on.

o   LDO2 there will be a fresh look.

·       Councillor Watson asked if highways were comfortable with the amount of HGV traffic.

o   LDO1.5 is an extension of LDO1.

o   Will be reassessed for LDO 2.

·       Councillor Byrne asked if money from the 106 agreement is shared throughout the borough or just the effected wards.

·       Councillor Polley informed the Planning Committee that this is not a new LDO but an extension, nor a new 106 agreement.

·       Councillor Maney noted the sound barrier is ineffective/outdated and asked if it will be replaced.

o   No proposals to replace.

o   LDO 2 will look into more detail.

o   Chief Planning Officer – barrier was not wanted by residents and those received payments in areas where the barrier was taken down.

·       Councillor Arnold asked what happens if those properties change hands.

o   It’s a land charge, so property will be at a lower value.

·       Councillor Byrne asked that the trees planted are checked on because they look dead.

·       Councillor Watson asked when will LDO2 come before the Planning Committee and if it will be adopted in 2024.

o   Consultation in April, LDO2 will be before the Planning Committee in the Summer of 2024.

·       Councillor Piccolo asked if Lower Thames Crossing has been put into consideration.

o   LDO1.5 is based on LDO1, Lower Thames Crossing is not consented, LDO1.5 come before Lower Thames Crossing. Lower Thames Crossing has to consider LDO’s.

·       Councillor Polley sort clarity regarding flood risks

o   Site located in flood zone 3 but does not take into account flood defences which lowers the risks.

·       Councillor Polley noted DP World is a good neighbour and asked over the past 10 years has the Local Authority received feedback on how  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

64.

23/00442/FUL: Car Parks Crown Road and Darnley Road, Grays, Essex pdf icon PDF 409 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Planning Officers presented the application and highlighted the

following points:

 

·       The proposed development contains 53 apartments.

·       The loss of all of Crown Road car park and part of Darnley Road car park.

 

The Vice-Chair read out a statement in opposition from a resident.

 

The agent read out their statement of support.

 

Members asked the following questions to the Planning Officer:

 

·       Councillor Watson sort clarity who the applicant was.

o   Applicant is the Local Authority

o   Site is on asset disposal list.

 

The Planning Committee adjourned for an exempt session at 19:55pm

 

Councillors Watson and Byrne left the meeting at 20:04pm.

 

The Planning Committee resumed at 20:13pm

The Vice-Chair suspended standing orders at 20:13pm

 

The Vice-Chair put forward a motion to defer the item 10 to the next meeting.

 

For: (7) Councillors Georgette Polley (Vice-Chair), Paul Arnold, Steve Liddiard, Jacqui Maney, Terry Piccolo, Joycelyn Redsell and Sue Shinnick.

 

Against: (0)

 

Abstained: (0)