Agenda and minutes

          The following amendment was Proposed to be made to the Minutes:

          “Following three warnings to the public attendees regarding their disruption of the meeting, the meeting was suspended at 19:12. Due to the continued disturbance by the public and refusal of some members of the public to leave, the Chair called for clearance of the public gallery. Again, due to the refusal of some members of the public to leave and the position seemingly escalating, the meeting was moved to the Council Chamber without attendance of the public. The press remained in attendance and the meeting reconvened at 19:20.”

          The Amendment was Moved and Seconded and the Committee voted to approve the addition of the amendment to the Minutes.

          RESOLVED: That the minutes held on the meeting of the 1 September 2025 be signed as a correct record, subject to the following amendment:

“Following three warnings to the public attendees regarding their disruption of the meeting, the meeting was suspended at 19:12. Due to the continued disturbance by the public and refusal of some members of the public to leave, the Chair called for clearance of the public gallery. Again, due to the refusal of some members of the public to leave and the position seemingly escalating, the meeting was moved to the council chamber without attendance of the public. The press remained in attendance and the meeting reconvened at 19:20.” replaces “Following three warnings to the public attendees regarding their disruption of the meeting, the Meeting was suspended at 19:12 and reconvened at 19:20.” for Minute DEV8.

          The Committee considered the following applications for planning permission and, in accordance with its powers and duties, made the decisions described below.

          The application was withdrawn due to the exceptionally late objection received from Preston Brook Parish Council. The Parish Council were made aware of the application on the 13^th March 2025 but they only commented on the application to object on the 28^th November 2025. All comments should be received within 21 working days, as stated in legislation. The Council could risk a judicial review if the objection was not considered as it could be considered ‘material evidence’. As late objections were a frequent occurrence with parish council’s, officers will contact them regarding delays responding to planning applications in a timely fashion.

          The Committee suggested that the Secretary of State be contacted regarding receiving objections after the 21 working days deadline.

          The consultation procedure undertaken was outlined in the report together with background information in respect of the site.

          Since the publication of the agenda, the local flood authority stated that they had no objections to the application if an updated drainage system was implemented; the applicant agreed to do this. Regarding the odour maintenance system condition, the applicant has stated that improvements had been made with this, and an air extraction system could be implemented with the new build, and this could be included in the condition to mitigate delays. The applicant said that a new road noise assessment should not be needed as the operation of the site will remain the same and there will be no changes in the surrounding land. If a further road noise assessment was required, the applicant has requested that this consider the extraction system for the building; discussions with this were ongoing. 

          In response to points raised by the Committee, it was noted that that:

·       There were an excess amount of seagulls at the site and some form of pest control would be needed to resolve this. Officers will raise this issue with the Environmental Agency and look at this being a condition;

·       Odour control needed to be strictly monitored by the IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) as food waste was managed onsite; 

·       The Environmental Agency had the best techniques to manage odour control. If the application was approved then they would be able to enforce this more; and

·       The site had recently come under new ownership.

After consideration of the application and updates provided by officers, the proposal was Moved and Seconded and the Committee voted to approve the Application.

          RESOLVED: That the application be approved subject to the following schedule of conditions:

• Standard 3-year timescale for commencement of development specifying approved plans
• Condition requiring submission and agreement of a Construction Environmental Management Plan
• Materials condition(s), requiring submission and agreement of building external finishing materials
• Condition requiring submission and agreement of detailed landscaping scheme
• Condition relating to boundary treatments
• Condition requiring vehicle access, parking, servicing etc to be constructed prior to occupation / commencement of use
• Condition securing relocation of cycle parking details
• Condition restricting waste throughput to 450,000 tonnes per annum
• Condition requiring surface water drainage to be carried out as approved condition(s) requiring a site investigation, remediation and verification plan
• Condition(s) restricting external storage locations, height, processing
• Submission and agreement of a lighting
• Condition requiring site and finished floor levels be carried out as approved
• No materials, waste or otherwise shall be burnt on site
• Requiring submission and agreement of provision for bird boxes

Landscape and habitat management plan

          The following applications had been received / were in progress:

          22/00569/OUT

          The Secretary of State has called in the planning application for the Heath Business and Technical Park, Runcorn. This will be considered at a Public Inquiry.

          25/00254/COU

          Proposed change of use to flexible letting at Rotherham House, Lunts heath Road, Widnes, WA8 5BB

          25/00254/COUGEN

          Appeal against enforcement notice at Rotherham House, Lunts heath Road, Widnes, WA8 5BB