Agenda item

To consider the report of the Assistant Director: Planning and Implementation, (copy enclosed, Members’ Update to be circulated)*.

Following the Officer’s presentation and with the permission of the Chairperson the Team Manager - Development Control read out a statement provided by the Council’s Senior Project Manager acting as the Applicant for the application.

Before opening the debate, the Chairperson expressed her disappointment in the like for like replacement that was in front of the Committee for determination rather than what had been promised initially and the time that Members of the Committee and residents of Burnham-on-Crouch had waited for this development.

The Chairperson moved the Officer’s recommendation of approval as set out in the report and this was duly seconded.

In response to a question regarding amending condition 1 so that work can be completed as soon as possible, Officers confirmed that the starting timeframe could amended, however, there would need to be a sound planning reason for this.

Councillor W Stamp advised that if the development was not started by 2025 then the Council would lose the funding for the project.

Members felt that the proposed application needed to be completed as soon as possible due to the pontoon being of great importance to the local community and businesses as a tourist facility. It was agreed that if Members’ were minded to approve the application condition 1 would be amended to ensure that work had begun before the expiration of one year from the date of the approval of the application.

The Chairperson put the Officer’s recommendation of approval to the Committee, subject to the above amendment to condition 1 and this was agreed by assent.

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

1.         The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of one year from the date of this permission.

2.         The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with following approved plans and documents:

•           117-Nex-00-XX-DR A – 102 REV P1 Pontoon Site Location Plan – existing

•           117-Nex-00-XX-DR A – 103 REV P1 Pontoon Block Plan – existing

•           117-Nex-00-XX-DR A – 251 REV P1 Pontoon Site Elevation – proposed

•           117-Nex-00-XX-DR A – 252 REV P1 Pontoon Elevations – proposed

•           117-Nex-00-XX-DR A – 120 REV P1 Pontoon Plan – existing

•           117-Nex-00-XX-DR A – 121 REV P1 Detail Plan – existing

•           117-Nex-00-XX-DR A – 230 REV P1 Pontoon Plan – proposed

•           117-Nex-00-XX-DR A – 231 REV P1 Pontoon Detail Plan – proposed

3.         The materials used in the construction of the development hereby approved shall be as stated within plans no. 117-Nex-00-XX-DR A – 251 REV P1,117-Nex-00-XX-DR A – 252 REV P1, 117-Nex-00-XX-DR A – 230 REV P1, 117-Nex-00-XX-DR A – 231 REV P1 and shall be retained as such in perpetuity.

4.         The public’s rights and ease of passage over public footpath 11 (Burnham-on-Crouch) shall be maintained free and unobstructed at all times

5.         Prior to commencement a construction environmental management plan (CEMP) shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority, in line with the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (James Blake Associates, January 2024). The CEMP shall include the following:

a)         Risk assessment of potentially damaging construction activities.

b)         Identification of “biodiversity protection zones”.

c)         Practical measures (both physical measures and sensitive working practices) to avoid or reduce impacts during construction (may be provided as a set of method statements).

d)         The location and timing of sensitive works to avoid harm to biodiversity features.

e)         The times during construction when specialist ecologists need to be present on site to oversee works.

f)          Responsible persons and lines of communication.

g)         The role and responsibilities on site of an ecological clerk of works (ECoW) or similarly competent person.

h)         Use of protective fences, exclusion barriers and warning signs.

The approved CEMP shall be adhered to and implemented throughout the construction period strictly in accordance with the approved details, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

6.         Prior to construction a Biodiversity Enhancement Strategy for protected and Priority species shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority, in line with the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (James Blake Associates, January 2024). 

The content of the Biodiversity Enhancement Strategy shall include the following:

a)         Purpose and conservation objectives for the proposed enhancement measures;

b)         detailed designs or product descriptions to achieve stated objectives;

c)         locations of proposed enhancement measures by appropriate maps and plans;

d)         persons responsible for implementing the enhancement measures;

e)         details of initial aftercare and long-term maintenance (where relevant).

The works shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details prior to occupation and shall be retained in that manner thereafter.

7.         The surface of the access way shall be finished in a non-slip material.