Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

There were no items identified where it was considered necessary to exclude the press or public from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the business to be considered.

There were no late items of business.

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 Interest made at the meeting.

To receive apologies for absence (If any)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: C Campbell, R Finnigan and P Wadsworth

Councillors: B Anderson was in attendance as a substitute Member.

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of an application which seeks the installation and operation of a solar park with associated infrastructure and upgraded access at land off Barnsdale Road, Allerton Bywater.

(Report attached)

Members considered a report by the Chief Planning Officer which set out details of an application which sought the installation and operation of a solar park

with associated infrastructure and upgraded access at land off Barnsdale Road, Allerton Bywater.

Site photographs and plans were displayed and referred to throughout the discussion of the application.

The Planning case officer addressed the Panel, speaking in detail about the proposal and highlighted the following:

·  Site / location / context

·  The location of the proposed development is on agricultural land to the west of the A656 Barnsdale Road, East of Great Preston, North of Allerton Bywater and South of Kippax and the B6137. The total area of the site is approximately 87.7ha, located within the Green Belt and countryside, towards the south eastern outskirts of the Leeds district. The site comprises of mainly semi-improved grassland, mainly in arable and grazing use, with well-maintained hedgerows along field boundaries. There are a small number of woodland plantations within and surrounding the site and the land falls gently from north to south (from Kippax to Allerton Bywater). The site covers part of the area of the former Kippax Park and is surrounded by several village settlements. The nearest settlements to the site include:

  Kippax, located approximately 0.2km from the northern boundary of the

  site; Woodend, located approximately 0.8km to the East; Allerton   Bywater, located approximately 0.4km to the South; Ledston, located   approximately 0.7km to the East; Residential properties at Kippax,   located approximately 0.02km to the North next to Longdike Lane;   Home Farm, located approximately 0.07km to the East on Barnsdale   Road; Low Lodge, located close to the eastern boundary of the site on   Barnsdale Road and adjacent the access/egress point into the site; and, Residential properties, located approximately 0.2km to the south of the site at Park Lane.

·  The site also lies close to a sewage works, located to the west and south-west of the site and Kippax Meadows Nature Reserve and Kippax Park Fisheries to the west. There are a range of listed assets within a 2km radius of the site, ranging from a grade I listed building (Ledston Hall) to a number of grade II listed buildings and, also a grade II* registered park and garden (Ledston).

·  The proposal is for the installation of a 40MW capacity solar photovoltaic park over 87.7 hectares of land. The temporary permission is sought for a 40 year period, starting on the confirmed date of final commissioning.

·  Installation of solar panels arranged into rows, mounted on steel racks and pile driven into the ground.

·  Installation of associated solar panel infrastructure including, foundations, external inverters and concrete inverter pads and hardstanding/set down areas;

·  Construction of approximately 2.1 km of new 4m wide access tracks (in

  addition to the upgrade of approximately 1.2 km of existing tracks

·  Upgrade of the existing access junction off Barnsdale Road (A656), which includes some widening at the junction to provide visibility splays, together with re-surfacing, protections works and signage;

·  Control building  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

To note that a further meeting of the Panel will be held later today (10^th June 2021), the next meeting taking place on Thursday, 8^th July 2021 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

To note that a further meeting would be held later today, the next meeting of the Panel being arranged for Thursday 8^th July 2021 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

Panel Members were informed that former Councillor and City Alderman Robert Wood had recently died.

Members and officers joined the Chair and stood in silent tribute in honour of Alderman Wood.