Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence and notification of substitutes (if any).

Apologies for absence were tabled by Councillor Alison Austin, Peter Bedford and Stephen Woodliffe.  No substitute members.

To sign and confirm the minutes of the last meeting.

With the agreement of the committee the Chairman signed the minutes of the last meeting held on the 12 September 2023.

To receive declarations of interests in respect of any item on the agenda.

Standing declarations of interest are tabled for Members of the Planning Committee who are also a:

Member of Lincolnshire County Council:

None recorded.

Members of the South East Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee:

Councillor: David Middleton.

Representatives of the Drainage Boards:

Councillors David Middleton, Claire Rylott, David Scoot, and Suzanne Welberry

Councillor Sarah Sharpe and Councillor David Scoot each made the following declaration:

I would declare that I was not in attendance at the planning committee meeting held on the 6^th June 2023 at which planning application B 22 0491 was deferred by the committee for additional information.

As such, I have not received the original presentation of the application, nor the representation received by public speakers at that meeting, and I am unaware of the committee deliberation which took place. 

Therefore, I would declare I will not take part in any final decision making on that item today.

To answer any written questions received from members of the public no later than 5 p.m. two clear working days prior to the meeting – for this meeting the deadline is 5 p.m. on Thursday 30^th November 2023.

No questions were tabled.

Full Planning Permission:

Proposed two storey dwelling for an essential worker      

Lincolnshire Firewood & Coal, The Plantation, Rowdyke Road,                                  Wyberton, Boston PE21 7AQ

Mr Evan Jenkins, Lincs Firewood Company Ltd

Proposed two storey dwelling for an essential worker

Lincolnshire Firewood & Coal, The Plantation, Rowdyke Road,

Wyberton, Boston PE21 7AQ

Mr Evan Jenkins, Lincs Firewood Company Ltd

The Planning Officer presented the report and confirmed that the application had been deferred at the Planning Committee on the 6^th June 2023.  Members at that meeting had noted that they were not comfortable in determining the application when key information was not available, including sight of a business plan, sight of a Flood Risk Assessment and reference to the accident noted.  Furthermore members felt more justification for the dwelling was needed in respect of the operation of the business, along with identification of alternatives that had been explored and/or discounted, including the identification of other sites within the business grounds.  Members had also sought clarification on the siting of the shed on the adjacent site within the ownership of the applicant in relation to a separate farming enterprise under application B/22/0196.

Committee were asked to consider the supplementary report tabled which provided additional information as requested by the members in conjunction with the report tabled on the 6^th June 2023.

Members were advised that no additional representations had been received and that the Environment Agency – subject to a condition requiring the development to accord with the submitted Flood Risk Assessment, had withdrawn their previous objection.

Financial accounting details had been provided by the applicant which included the turnover of the company in the 2022 tax year, which outlined that the company has a sound financial footing.

Additional information relating to the siting for the proposed build and the reasons for the need for the accommodation were included in greater detail within the report, and public representation received included a plan of the site map which had been circulated to all members with a hard copy on their placements for reference. A further single representation received had also been circulated.

In conclusion committee were advised that in accordance with the previous committee report, it should be reiterated that it was considered that although the business was in a rural location, it was considered that the business did not constitute a farm or agricultural business.  The development did not accord with the requirements of Paragraph 80 of the NPPF 2023 and the NPPG as the dwelling was not for a farm business with there being no livestock or birds on the site and the need was only for mechanical servicing and longer working hours. 

Whilst additional information had been provided as requested at the planning committee meeting in June 2023, it was still considered that the proposal did not meet the requirements of Policy 1 of the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan 2019.  The evidence presented did not demonstrate that the proposal was ‘necessary to its location’, or that the development would not have a detrimental effect on the open countryside character and appearance of the area, by virtue of encroachment in accordance with Policies 2 and 3 of the South East  ...  view the full minutes text for item 176.

A report by the Deputy Development Manager - Planning

The Deputy Development Manager presented the report confirming that it detailed the number of appeals since the last update in February 2023. 

The report contained the Inspectors decisions on 4 applications, 3 for single dwellings in the countryside and 1 for up to 8 dwellings in the Countryside.  All had been dismissed by the Inspector and upheld in favour of Boston Borough Council resulting in the Council having a 100% appeals performance since the last update.

Committee noted the report.

A report by the Deputy Development Manager – Planning

The Deputy Development Manager presented the report advising members it provided information on upcoming changes to legislation with an increase in planning fees from the 6^th December 2023, resulting in an increase by 35% for major developments and 25% for all other developments.  In addition the regulations introduced an annual increase of fees, capped at 10%, from 1 April 2025 and removed the fee exemption for repeat applications (known as the ‘free-go’).

The report further referenced changes to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 along with changes to the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) within the Environment Act 2021.  Members were asked to be aware of the changes when making their decisions moving forward.

Committee noted the report.