To receive any apologies from Members.

Apologies had been received from Councillor P Browne.

To confirm the minutes of the Planning and Licensing Committee held on 23 November 2021.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2021.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2021 be APPROVED.

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any disclosable interests under the Code of Conduct and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

Councillor M Oxley declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 1 – Planning Applications, application 2019/1249/MAF having previously spoken in favour of renewable energy. Councillor Oxley confirmed he came to the meeting with an open mind and would remain in the meeting.

Requests to speak on planning applications will be subject to the RCC Public Speaking Scheme.

To request to speak at a Planning Committee, please send an email to

Governance@rutland.gov.uk

In accordance with the Planning and Licensing Committee Public Speaking Scheme, the following deputations were received:

In relation to item 1 – Planning Applications, application 2019/1249/MAF, Paul Wilson would be speaking as a member of the public opposed to the application, Pat Ovington would be speaking on behalf of Langham Parish Council, Jeremy Smith would be speaking on behalf of Knossington and Cold Overton Parish Council, Guy Longley as the agent and Councillor O Hemsley as the Ward Member.

In relation to item 2 – Planning Application, application 2020/0706/FUL, Alasdair Ryder would be speaking on behalf of Great Casterton Parish Council and Tom Helliwell would be speaking as the agent.

In relation to item 3 – Planning Application, application 2020/1254/MAF, Mary Cade would be speaking on behalf of Ketton Parish Council and Kate Wood would be speaking as the agent.

In relation to item 4 – Planning Application, application 2021/0083/FUL, John Morris would be speaking as a member of the public opposed, David Johnson would be speaking on behalf of Ridlington Parish Council and Tom Helliwell would be speaking as the agent.

To receive Report No. 10/2022 from the Strategic Director of Places.

Report No. 163/2021 was received from the Strategic Director of Places.

Item 1 – 2019/1249/MAF – Land at Ranksborough Farm, Melton Road, Langham. Construction of a solar park, to include the installation of solar photovoltaic panels to generate approximately 28MW of electricity, with DNO and Client substations, inverters, perimeter stock fencing, access tracks and CCTV. Landscaping and other associated works, together with retention and extension of existing hedgerow.

(Parish: Langham; Ward: Langham)

Nick Hodgett, Principal Planning Officer, addressed the Committee and gave an executive summary of the application, recommending approval subject to the conditions set out in the report and the Addendum.

Prior to the debate the Committee received deputations from Paul Wilson as a member of the public opposed, Pat Ovington on behalf of Langham Parish Council, Jeremy Smith on behalf of Knossington and Cold Overton Parish Council, Guy Longley as the agent and Councillor O Hemsley as the Ward Member. The Committee also had the opportunity to ask questions.

In response to a question from Members to Paul Wilson regarding his assertion that the Planning team were biased and incompetent, he stated that his understanding was, no renewable energy plan had been created by the Council on which a decision on a solar farm could be made. Paul Wilson also asserted that the interests of the local community had not been taken into account and he confirmed that he had not been consulted on regarding the application and neither had any fellow neighbours in Cold Overton.

In response to a question regarding the reasoning behind the assertion that Melton Borough Council were not in favour of the application, Paul Wilson stated that he was not aware of the reasons, but that Cold Overton was in Melton’s jurisdiction and Cold Overton was to be effected by the application. Members highlighted that it was stated in the report that Melton Borough had no formal objection to the application and had only forwarded a letter of concern from a resident to the Council.

A Member questioned the assertion that the development would not benefit Rutland, as the power generated would still be received in Rutland via the National Grid, Pat Ovington stated that Rutland and the village of Langham would benefit indirectly but not directly.

In response to questions from Members asking if it was in Langham Parish Council’s opinion that the developer for the application had disregarded Government recommendations for full consultation with local communities, Pat Ovington advised that a 6 page document had been sent through to Members and on page 5 all attempts made by Langham Parish to engage with the developer had been highlighted. The developer had been invited to a community meeting and did not attend.

Following a question asking for confirmation on whether an exhibition by the developer had taken place on 29 January 2019 in Langham as part of their consultation, Jeremy Smith advised that the event had taken place was not advertised to Cold Overton residents.

In response to Members questions, Councillor Hemsley  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive Report No. 11/2022 from the Strategic Director of Places.

Report No 11/2022 was received from the Strategic Director for Places. Justin Johnson, Development Manager, presented the report which listed the appeals received since the 23 November meeting of the Planning and Licensing Committee and summarised the decisions made.

RESOLVED

That the contents of the report be NOTED.

To consider any other urgent business approved in writing by the Chief Executive and Chairman of the Committee.

There were no items of urgent business for consideration.