Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors R Canny and M Specht.

Under the Code of Conduct members are reminded that in declaring disclosable interests you should make clear the nature of that interest and whether it is pecuniary or non-pecuniary.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, Members declared the following interests:

Councillor R Adams declared that he had been lobbied without influence in respect of item A1, application number 18/01764/FULM.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2019.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2019.

It was moved by Councillor J Legrys, seconded by Councillor G Jones and

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2019 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Report of the Planning and Development Team Manager.

Consideration was given to the report of the Planning and Development Team Manager, as amended by the update sheet circulated at the meeting.

Land At Bardon Road Coalville Leicestershire

The Principal Planning Officer presented the report to Members.

Councillor M Wyatt, County Division Member, addressed the meeting. He expressed concerns that the application would have a detrimental effect on the area due to the increased traffic pollution along Bardon Road and that the site lay outside the limits to development, which was contrary to the Local Plan. He highlighted that there were several vacant industrial units in the area that could be used. He urged Members to refuse the application.

Mr J Hicks, agent, addressed the meeting. He highlighted that two of the proposed occupiers were current Coalville town based companies and that none of the employment sites within the Local Plan were considered suitable. He advised that no objections had been received from the statutory consultees and that the proposal would contribute to the Coalville contribution strategy for highways.

Councillor M Specht, Ward Member, addressed the meeting. He highlighted that there were a number of identified employment land sites within the Local Plan that were available and suitable for the requirement. He expressed concerns over the increased number of vehicle movements and traffic pollution that the site would generate along Bardon Road, which was already heavily congested. He felt that the application should be refused on the grounds that it was contrary to policy S3, the detrimental effect the increased traffic would have on the environment and highways concerns.

In determining the application, some Members expressed concerns that the development would increase the volume of traffic on an already busy highway, that there were several vacant industrial units nearby that could be used and that the application went against the Local Plan. Following information from officers, Members considered that the application was in accordance with Policy S3 of the Local Plan as it complied with paragraph 2 of Policy Ec2 of the plan and that the current review of the plan had identified a shortfall of employment land. Members also noted that there were no comments from any statutory consultees.

The officer’s recommendation was moved by Councillor R Ashman seconded by Councillor D Harrison.

The Chairman then put the motion to the vote. A recorded vote being required, the voting was as follows:

RESOLVED THAT:

The application be permitted in accordance with the recommendation of the Planning and Development Team Manager.

Councillor M Specht left the meeting at 6.52pm.