Agenda and minutes

Planning Committee - Tuesday, 22nd September, 2020 10.00 am

Venue: Virtual Meeting. View directions

Contact: Kevin Thomas  01267 224027

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Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Additional documents:

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Councillor P. Edwards

2.

DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTERESTS

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor

Minute Number

Nature of Interest

G.B. Thomas

4.1 – Application DNS/00422 – DNS (Development of National Significance) – Proposed Solar Park (DNS 3213164) at land at Penderi, Blaenhiraeth Farm, Llangennech, Llanelli, SA14 8PX

Have family who live in the neighbourhood who can see the application site from their property

D. Jones

4.1 – Application DNS/00422 – DNS (Development of National Significance) – Proposed Solar Park (DNS 3213164) at land at Penderi, Blaenhiraeth Farm, Llangennech, Llanelli, SA14 8PX

Chaired a meeting of the LLannon Community Council when this was discussed but took no part in the discussion.

 

3.

AREA EAST - DETERMINATION OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS pdf icon PDF 1 MB

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Minutes:

RESOLVED that the following planning application be granted subject to the conditions detailed within the Report of the Head of Planning and / or reported at the meeting:-

 

 

E/39554

 

 

Proposed One Planet Development family dwelling at land south east of Caegroes, Penybanc, Llandeilo, SA19 7TB

 

Representations were received objecting to the application re-iterating the points detailed within the Head of Planning’s report, with the main areas of concern including:

 

·       The Management Plan lacked completeness and credibility in that it did not demonstrate economic viability to sustain a family of six, the environment footprint analysis was 10 times lower than welsh government assessment and the omission  of sewage disposal arrangements

·       TAN 6 required One Planet Developments to have a light touch and enhance diversity. The current proposal would adversely impact on bio diversity via the loss of 100m of hedgerow to create a new access

·       Adverse visual impact especially during the autumn and winter months from the loss of tree foliage

·       Water supply via rain water recovery being insufficient for the enterprise

·       Traffic movements to and from the site along a narrow access road would increase

·       TAN 6 required that such developments should not affect the local community. However, the applicant had not consulted with neighbours and objections to the development had been submitted from both the community and the Manordeilo and Salem Community Council.

·       The Council’s valuation manager had expressed views on various areas of the proposal

·       The proposal would result in development in the open countryside

The applicant, Development Management Officer and the Valuations Officer responded to the issues raised.

 

(Note: at the conclusion of this item the Committee took a 10 minute comfort break from 12.00 – 12.10 p.m.)

4.

AREA SOUTH - DETERMINATION OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS pdf icon PDF 937 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Planning application DNS/00422 – DNS (Development of National Significance) – Proposed Solar Park (DNS/3213164) at land at Penderi, Blaenhiraeth Farm, Llangennech, Llanelli, SA14 8PX

 

(NOTE:

1.     The Chair advised that Councillor G.B. Thomas having earlier declared an interest in this application had left the meeting during the comfort break and would not be participating in its consideration;

  1. At 1:00 pm the Committee’s attention was drawn to Council Procedure Rule (CPR) 9 – Duration of Meeting and, as the meeting had been underway for three hours, it was resolved to suspend standing orders, in accordance with CPR 23.1, to enable the Committee to complete the remaining business on the agenda.]

 

The Committee was advised that following the submission to the Welsh Government of two Developments of National Significance (DNS) for solar renewable energy schemes within Carmarthenshire at LLangennech and near Tycroes, the Council, as a consultee, was required to produce a Local Impact Report (LIR) highlighting potential local impacts that would need to be assessed by the Welsh Government in its consideration of the applications. Whilst the LIR would be completed by the Head of Planning, for which delegated authority was required, the Committee was informed it could make its own observations to the Welsh Government. Those could be noted in the minutes of the meeting and ratified at its meeting to be held on the 8th October 2020 prior to submission to the Government on the 9th October.

 

It was noted that the current application related to the Llangennech site only and that a report on the Tycroes application would be submitted to a future meeting.

 

The Committee thereupon received a report and slide presentation, including drone footage of the three locations detailed in application reference DNS/00422 whereby the following observations were made.

·       The Committee referred to the issue of potential community benefits which could accrue to the three local community councils from the development and to the without prejudice agreement in place to discuss those benefits. Whilst accepting the issue of community benefits was not a material planning consideration for which it could have regard to views were expressed that every effort should be made to maximise any benefit for those communities.

·       Reference was made to the materials and building practices to be used in the construction of the solar park and to what measures would be put in place to ensure it’s safe de-commissioning at the end of its 35year life span. For example, would that include a requirement for a bond payment to ensure sufficient funds were available to undertake the work in the event of the developer ceasing to operate during that life span.

 

The Development Control officer advised that the provision for a de-commissioning plan, together with any bond requirement, would be considered by the planning inspector and could be conditioned as part of any planning consent

·       Reference was made to the materials used in the manufacture of the solar panels, which included the use of acids, and views expressed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

 

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