Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman, Councillor Mrs Spikings welcomed everyone to the meeting.  She advised that the meeting was being recorded and streamed live on You Tube.

The Democratic Services Manager carried out a roll call to determine attendees.

To receive any apologies for absence and to note any substitutions.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bone, Bower, Manning and Squire.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

Councillor appointed representatives on the Internal Drainage Boards are noted.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider any business, which by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposes to accept, under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There was no urgent business.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.

The following Councillors attended and addressed the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 34:

Councillor Dark

Councillor De Whalley

Councillor Gidney

Councillor Kemp

To receive any Chairman’s correspondence.

The Chairman, Councillor Mrs Spikings asked Councillor Ryves for an update on his apology to the Committee regarding his behaviour at a previous Committee meeting.

Councillor Ryves explained that this was in hand.

The Chairman expressed her disappointment at this, given the amount of time that had passed from the incident.

To consider the attached consultation report submitted by the Executive Director:

Consideration of a request on the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) for plans to develop a new Energy from Waste (EfW) Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility generating electricity and steam (and associated grid connections) on land at Algores Way Wisbech; and

Re-iteration of the Borough Council’s position of opposition on the substantive issue of such a facility adjacent to the Borough.

The You Tube link to the meeting is below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hokhM0W3K7M

Parish: (Within West Norfolk) Walsoken, Walpole, Walpole Highway, West Walton, Walton Highway. Proposal: Plans to develop a new Energy from Waste (EfW) Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility generating electricity and steam, (and associated grid connections) on land at Algores Way, Wisbech. Location: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire Applicant: Medworth CHP Ltd. 

The Committee was invited to consider a request on the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) for plans to develop a new Energy from Waste (EfW) Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility generating electricity and steam (and associated grid connections) on land at Algores Way, Wisbech.  The report also set out the re-iteration of the Borough Council’s position of opposition on the substantive issue of such a facility adjacent to the Borough

The report explained that before applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Secretary of State (as was the intention in this case), an applicant must consult interested parties on its preliminary assessment of likely environmental impacts (the PEIR). The Applicant was now seeking consultees’ comments on the information provided in the PEIR to inform the ongoing design and assessment of the Proposed Development. The Applicant must have regard to any relevant responses received during the statutory consultation in relation to the PEIR when preparing the Environmental Statement (ES) for the Development Consent Order application.

The report came in two parts and addressed two matters:

A. A technical response to the particular request for comments on the information provided in the PEIR to inform the ongoing design and assessment of the Proposed Development when preparing the Environmental Statement for the DCO application. The PEIR covered a wide range of subjects (detailed in the report). Comments were made on the coverage of the subjects in the PEIR by the relevant technical officers in the specific terms of the request received and 

B. It was felt important to take the consultation opportunity to provide the Applicant with a clear position statement on the Borough Council’s wider community view on the proposed development, reflecting the Council Motion on 25 February 2021 objecting almost unanimously to the principle of the energy from waste proposal at Wisbech. This was discussed in the Report and led to a specific re-iteration of the substance and content of the Motion.

The Chairman reminded the Committee that the Borough Council was not the determining authority and was a consultee only.

In accordance with Standing Order 34, Councillor Dark addressed the Committee in relation to the application – a copy of his statement will be attached to the Borough Council’s response.

In accordance with Standing Order 34, Councillor de Whalley addressed the Committee in relation to the application – a copy of his statement will be attached to the Borough Council’s response.

In accordance with Standing Order 34, Councillor Kemp addressed the Committee in relation to the application – a copy of her statement will be attached to the Borough Council’s response.

In accordance with Standing Order 34, Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC33: