Agenda and minutes

  The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting  and asked Members and Officers to introduce themselves.  The Chair extended a warm welcome to Councillor Procter’s daughter, who was sitting in on this meeting

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct. 

  There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests

  Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Campbell

To approve the minutes of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 13^th August 2015

(minutes attached)

  RESOLVED -  That the minutes of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 13^th August 2015 be approved subject to the amendment of minute 26, which related to an amendment to minute 18 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 23^rd July 2015, as follows:

·  ‘how the 5 year land supply had been arrived at with reference to the Housing Market Characteristic Areas’ to be amended to read ‘ how the 5 year land supply had been arrived at with/without reference to the Housing Market Characteristic Areas’

Further to minute 11 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 26^th June 2014, where Panel considered a position statement on site remediation works (including prior extraction of coal, demolition of existing buildings, removal of hard standing, mine shafts and other below ground structures and re-instatement of ground), to consider a further report of the Chief Planning Officer setting out the formal application for determination

(report attached)

  Further to minute 11 of the City Plans Panel meeting held on 26^th June 2014, where Panel considered a position statement on site remediation works, including the extraction of coal, demolition of existing buildings, removal of hard standing, mine shafts and other below ground structures and reinstatement of ground at the Former Vickers Factory, Members considered a further report of the Chief Planning Officer setting out the formal application

  Plans, photographs and graphics were displayed at the meeting.  A Members site visit had taken place earlier in the day

  The East Deputy Area Planning Manager provided an overview of the site and its relationship to several other strategic developments including Thorpe Park, Green Park, the Northern Quadrant of the East Leeds Extension and The Limes and former Optare site, housing sites close to the site which were under construction but where some parts of the approved development could not take place until the Manston Lane Link Road (MLLR) had been constructed.  In terms of the proposals for a residential development on the former Vickers Factory, two current applications remained to be determined (the older of which was likely to be withdrawn).  A further position statement on the later application was expected to be presented to Panel shortly

  Details of the works required to deal with the Great Crested Newts on the site were outlined to Members and the latest timescale for when the MLLR would be open was provided, this being that work would start in the second quarter of 2016 with a 12 month contract for construction, meaning that the road should be complete in the second quarter of 2017

  The Minerals, Waste and Contaminated Land Manager presented the application and for context and information for Members showed a series of photographs which illustrated examples of various stages of coal extraction works which had occurred on development sites in the City and the wider region

  Members were informed of the extent of site remediation works which would be necessary and which would include the demolition of the former Vickers Factory, breaking up the concrete from the factory floor and  substantial areas around the building and site, reuse and removal of concrete together with the removal of numerous buried structures and mineshafts on the site

  The methodology for the site remediation works - which would commence at the west of the site and move towards the east - and the coal extraction process were outlined to Panel

  The level of representations - 2700 - which had been received when the application was advertised in May 2014 was noted with the main concern being the proposed access route.  Panel in considering the position statement on the proposals had been clear that the proposed route was unacceptable and that the MLLR once open, should be used.  The applicant had taken on board these comments and had now decided to delay the necessary site remediation works until the MLLR had been provided

  In terms of representations, further objections had been received, including  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

  The Chair announced that this had been Max Rathmell’s - the Minerals, Waste and Contaminated Land Manager - last meeting as he was to retire from the Council after 40 years of service

  He paid tribute to Max for all his hard work and referred to Max’s deep understanding of his specialist area and his keenness for enforcement matters.  The work he undertook at St Aidan’s was just one example of his detailed approach with a dragline being purchased which was now a visitor attraction.  Max’s helpfulness to Members was also referred to

  The Head of Planning Services also put on record his thanks for all the work Max had undertaken in Leeds and beyond, especially the restoration works at a variety of locations around the City and for his work which had led to the adoption of the Natural Resources and Waste Local Plan

  In responding, Max Rathmell stated that he had enjoyed his time in Leeds and had been able to require people to improve the natural environment through minerals work

  All Members wished him a long and happy retirement

Thursday 24^th September 2015 at 1.30pm

  Thursday 24^th September 2015 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds