Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Rebecca Owen  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

186.

Apologies and substitutions

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Ladkin and Roberts, with the following substitutions authorised in accordance with council procedure rule 10:

 

Councillor Morrell for Councillor Ladkin

Councillor Nickerson for Councillor Roberts.

187.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 40 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 28 August 2018.

Minutes:

On the motion of Councillor Sutton, seconded by Councillor Bill, it was

 

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 28 August be confirmed and signed by the chairman.

188.

Declarations of interest

To receive verbally from Members any disclosures which they are required to make in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct or in pursuance of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. This is in addition to the need for such disclosure to be also given when the relevant matter is reached on the agenda.

Minutes:

Councillors Crooks, Hollick and Lynch declared a personal interest in application 18/00425/FUL as members of English Heritage.

 

Councillors Cook, Morrell, Sutton and Ward declared a personal interest in application 18/00425/FUL as representatives on the MIRA Community Liaison Group.

189.

Decisions delegated at previous meeting

To report progress on any decisions delegated at the previous meeting.

Minutes:

It was reported that the decision relating to application 18/00353/FUL had been issued.

190.

18/00425/FUL - Horiba Mira Ltd, Watling Street, Caldecote, Nuneaton pdf icon PDF 402 KB

Application for construction of a Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) testing track, a control tower and storage building, ground works, landscaping and associated infrastructure.

 

Late items:

 

Additional information submitted by applicant:-

 

The applicant has confirmed that the temporary construction access from Fenn Lanes will be removed and all construction vehicles will use the existing A5 access to the MIRA site.

 

The applicant has also submitted a document which is a response to the Battlefield Trust and Richard III Society comments. This can be found in Appendix 3 of this supplementary agenda.

 

Consultations:-

 

Highways England: Has been re-consulted due to the removal of the temporary access from Fenn Lanes. Highways England have no objection to the proposal, however request that condition 18 require the Construction Traffic Management Plan to be submitted for formal approval by the Local Planning Authority in conjunction with Highways England.

 

Leicestershire County Council (Highways): Has been re-consulted as the local highway authority due to the removal of the temporary access from Fenn Lanes. The local highway authority state: ‘The LHA would welcome the scheme amendment and removal of the temporary access proposals onto the Fenn Lanes which gave rise to significant concerns over highway safety. The LHA would formally remove the previously advised objection and reason for refusal to application 18/00425/FUL.’

 

Battlefields Trust and Richard III Society: Additional comments have been received. These comments can be found in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 of this supplementary agenda.

 

Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP): Have written in support of the application. THE LLEP state:

 

‘The LLEP is a key stakeholder in MIRA Technology Park, which is seen as one of the UK’s leading Enterprise Zones, and a recent recipient of the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

 

Being closely involved in the development of the Enterprise Zone, we see the Technology Park as having a continued important role in attracting considerable inward investment to the region and as a major economic driver in the creation of high-value jobs locally. This is reflected through the recognition of the site as an important growth opportunity within our Local Industrial Strategy Prospectus.

 

The proposed Connected Autonomous Vehicle test facility is a significant opportunity to support this growth, and the associated job creation, by the establishment of a national centre within the region for this important growing industry sector. We therefore fully support the proposals for this facility and hope that its full economic impact is appropriately recognised in consideration of the application.’

 

The American Battlefield Trust: Have written a letter in opposition to application 18/00425/FUL. The American Battlefield Trust raise the following issues:

 

  • Any development of this area as currently envisioned would cause irreparable harm to this historic landscape
  • The hallowed grounds, when properly protected, are living memorials – not just to the soldiers who fought there, but to all those across time who have answered their country’s call to service in the armed forces
  • Preserved battlefield are outdoor classrooms, teaching students of all  ...  view the full agenda text for item 190.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Application for construction of a connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) testing track, a control tower and storage building, ground works, landscaping and associated infrastructure.

 

It was moved by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor Morrell that permission be granted subject to the conditions contained in the officer’s report and late items. Upon being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED and it was

 

RESOLVED – permission be granted subject to the conditions contained in the officer’s report and as amended in the late items.

 

Councillors Bill, Crooks, Lynch, Richards and Wright wished it to be recorded that they voted against the motion.