Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Higgins and Councillor Sharp attended the meeting as his substitute.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2024 were confirmed as a true record.

Members to declare any interest as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

Minue PL49 – Application 23/00870/FUL

Land OS 471599 310649, Leicester Road, Twyford and Thorpe

Councillor Glancy declared that there could be a public perception of bias due to her family connections in the area therefore she would take no part in the determination of the application, leave the committee and move into the public gallery.

Councillor Glancy here moved into the public gallery.

Land at OS471599 310649, Leicester Road, Twyford

Location : Land OS 471599 310649, Leicester Road, Twyford and Thorpe

Proposal : Installation of a ground mounted solar farm and associated ancillary works 

The Planning Officer (AS) addressed the committee and provided a summary of the application. She reported that an objection had been received from Gaddesby Parish Council that was not included in the report. The objection related to the potential increased risk of flooding in Gaddesby parish and the impact of construction traffic in the villages. These matters were considered in the report. An update to the noise impact assessment had also been received which clarified an error of the number of inverters and substations proposed within the survey and the site layout plan. The noise assessment was now in accordance with the proposed 4 inverters and 1 substation as shown on the site layout. The proposed noise levels of the updated assessment were still under the background noise levels recorded at the sensitive receptors in close proximity to the site and therefore the assessment at paragraph 8.5.6 of the report was still relevant.

Members asked questions for clarification.

Pursuant to Chapter 2, Part 9, Paragraphs 2.8-2.28 of the Council’s Constitution in relation to public speaking at Planning Committee, the Chair allowed the following to give a three minute presentation:

Chris Atkinson, Applicant, made the following points:

·         In 2019, Melton Borough Council declared a climate emergency and set an aim to being a carbon neutral Borough by 2030

·         This solar farm application would go some way to achieving those goals in providing enough solar energy to power 4,000 homes with green energy

·         They had been working to resolve all issues raised by consultees on the application since September 2023 which had now culminated in no objections and a recommendation for approval

·         For reference he requested that the Twyford and Thorpe Satchville Parish Council’s assertion that the scheme had significantly increased in scale during the course of the application was incorrect and should be disregarded

·         Solar farms created minimal impermeable areas and the drainage scheme put forward was designed to manage surface water on site and discharge off-site at existing rates and in this instance the proposal offered significant betterment in future-proofing and over-sizing that had been designed into the scheme

·         No objections had been raised by the technical consultees

Councillor Higgins, Ward Councillor, made the following points:

·         The Government and the Council needed to develop a solar farms policy as he considered such applications would become prolific and flood planning authorities all over the country

·         The Parish Council Chair had previously attended Planning Committees to talk about the impact of applications on flooding in Twyford and thanked him for his commitment in raising these concerns

·         The Lead Flood Authority had refused to meet with him and the Environment Agency had raised no objection but he understood they did not look at the application if it was in flood zone one. He felt the statutory bodies did not understand the issues faced in Twyford and the parishioners  ...  view the full minutes text for item PL49

To consider any other business that the Chair considers urgent

There was no urgent business.