Agenda and minutes

The Chairman provided a speech to commemorate the 80^th anniversary of VE Day.

(The Council Chamber had a 2-minute silence in memory of the fallen during World War 2)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Paul Fellows, Pam Byrd, David Bellamy, Helen Crawford and Tim Harrison.

Councillor Max Sawyer substituted for Councillor Pam Byrd, for this meeting.

The Cabinet Member for Planning sent his apologies to this meeting.

Councillor Max Sawyer declared he would not take part in the debate or vote for application S24/2191.

The Assistant Director of Planning declared a personal interest in knowing an objector to Application S25/0203, however, this would not prevent the Assistant Director of Planning giving advice to the Committee as decision makers.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2025 were proposed, seconded and AGREED as a correct record.

Proposal: Change of use from Use Class C3 Residential Dwelling House to Use Class C2 Children’s Care Home

Location: 9A School Lane, Colsterworth, Lincolnshire NG33 5NW

Recommendation: To authorise the Assistant Director – Planning & Growth to GRANT planning permission, subject to conditions

 Proposal: Change of use from Use Class C3 Residential Dwelling House to Use Class C2 Children’s Care Home

Location: 9A School Lane, Colsterworth, Lincolnshire NG33 5NW

Recommendation: To authorise the Assistant Director – Planning & Growth to GRANT planning permission, subject to conditions.

Noting comments in the public speaking session by:

District Ward Councillor:                           Cllr David Bellamy

Against:                                                     Ian Thorpe

Sirah Parkes

Darron Haylock

Applicants                                                 Rachael Allen and Melanie Fletcher

Together with:

·       Provisions within South Kesteven Local Plan 2011-2036 (Adopted January 2020), Design Guidelines for Rutland and South Kesteven Supplementary Planning Document, National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Colsterworth and District Neighbourhood Plan 2016-2026.

·       No comments received from Historic England.

·       No comments received from SKDC Environmental Protection.

·       Comments received from Lincolnshire County Council Highways.

·       Comments received from Environment Agency.

·       Comments received from Colsterworth Parish Council.

·       No comments received from Lincolnshire Police Crime Prevention Design Adviser.

·       Comments received from Conservation Officer.

·       No comments received from Lincolnshire County Council Senior Commissioning Officer.

During questions to Public Speakers, Members commented on:

·       It was queried whether there was a river close by to the proposed site.

The Public Speaker clarified that there was a river approximately 6 metres away from the boundary.

·       It was stated that the river was prone to flooding. A query was raised on whether it caused disruption to traffic.

A Public Speaker stated that in 2024, the fire service was called due to the river flooding, where residents were rescued from the end of School Lane. The fire engine struggled to access certain properties on the lane.

·       It was queried how frequently the area flooded.

The Public Speaker, who was a long-standing resident of the area noted that the river flooded atleast annually.

·       Whether any mitigation had been recommended to be put into place for flooding.

The Environment Agency had attended School Lane to clear drains and provide a flood defence mechanism. They had also attended to escort elderly people out of their homes prior to a flood taking place.

·       It was queried whether any properties on School Lane had experienced internal flooding.

It was stated that recently residents that lived within 10 metres of the river had to be rescued from their properties and a number had experienced internal flooding.

·       There was a boundary fence between 9 and 9a School Lane, it was queried who had responsibility of the boundary fence.

It was unknown who had responsibility of the boundary fence. The fence was 1.1m away from 9a School Lane and 1.5-2m away from 9 School Lane.

·       The Public Speaker was requested to expand on their concerns of the river in relation to safety.

The Public Speaker clarified that recent flooding was excessive and floodwater came up to the doorstep of the proposed site and footpaths were not passable by foot or vehicles. 

·       Members requested further information on the location of flood photographs provided.

(Councillor Gloria Johnson left the Chamber at 13:53 and returned. She did not further participate in the vote).

·       It was queried who would provide education  ...  view the full minutes text for item 138.

Proposal: Installation of solar farm with associated battery storage, comprising ground mounted solar photovoltaic panels, including mounting systems, inverters and transformers, electrical substation, underground cabling, stock proof fencing, CCTV, internal access tracks and associated infrastructure for a temporary period of 40 years

Location: Land adjacent to Spalding Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire

Recommendation: To authorise the Assistant Director – Planning & Growth to GRANT planning permission, subject to conditions

Proposal: Installation of solar farm with associated battery storage, comprising ground mounted solar photovoltaic panels, including mounting systems, inverters and transformers, electrical substation, underground cabling, stock proof fencing, CCTV, internal access tracks and associated infrastructure for a temporary period of 40 years

Location: Land adjacent to Spalding Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire

Recommendation: To authorise the Assistant Director – Planning & Growth to GRANT planning permission, subject to conditions.

Noting comments in the public speaking session by:

District Ward Councillor:                        Cllr Zoe Lane

Behalf of Applicant                                Tony Gannon

Together with:

·       Provisions within South Kesteven Local Plan 2011-2036, Design Guidelines for Rutland and South Kesteven Supplementary Planning Document, National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), National Policy Statement for Energy (EN1) and National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy (EN3).

·       No comments received from Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board.

·       Comments received from Bourne Civic Society.

·       Comments received from Bourne Town Council.

·       No comments received from Civil Aviation Authority.

·       No comments received from Defence Infrastructure Organisation.

·       Comments received from Environment Agency.

·       Comments received from Heritage Lincolnshire.

·       Comments received from Lincolnshire County Council (Highways and SuDS)

·       Comments received from Lincolnshire County Council (Planning Policy)

·       No comments received from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue.

·       No comments received from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.

·       No comments received from National Grid.

·       Comments received from Natural England.

·       Comments received from Peterborough City Council.

·       Comments received from SKDC Conservation Officer.

·       No comments received from SKDC Environmental Protection.

·       Comments received from South Holland District Council.

During questions to Public Speakers, Members commented on:

·       Clarification was sought around concern raised on contaminated water run-off to the land.

The District Councillor clarified that lithium-ion batteries were used for energy storage and if they were to catch fire, the waste and surface water would run-off from the site would go into the drains.

·       It was discussed whether the batteries were lithium-ion or lithium-ion phosphate.

·       It was highlighted that the Black Sluice Drainage Board had not raised any objections.

The Applicant confirmed that the final composition of the batteries had not yet been determined via a procurement exercise.

Included within the submitted plan was a water tank which would include enough water to extinguish any fires in addition to other fire measures. Any contaminated water would be captured and would not be directly released into the drains. A condition outlined the submission of a surface water management plan for approval which would address containment of water as a result of the use of a fire extinguisher.

·       It was queried where the solar panels would be procured from.

The Applicant encouraged the use of local procurement, at present solar panels manufactured in the UK were limited and therefore be sourced overseas. The Applicant’s were Members of the Solar Stewardship Initiative meaning the manufacturing of the panels would not incur any raw materials or exploitation of workers.

It was clarified that the application was of a temporary nature meaning there was not a permanent loss, and no land would be lost for agriculture as sheep grazing would be permitted on site.

·       Whether the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 139.

There were none.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 16:45.