Agenda item

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) and subject to the applicant entering into a Section 106 obligation/unilateral undertaking to provide the following:-

1.         The payment of a contribution of £50,000 to the Council for use in facilitating the implementation of public realm enhancements upon Precinct Way.  Such sum to be paid to the Council upon commencement of the development. 

2.         The payment of £4000 towards the review of existing Traffic Regulation Orders and the implementation of amended orders. 

            If the obligation pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is not completed within six months of the date of the committee resolution, the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) be given delegated authority to REFUSE the application. 

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) in respect of this application.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.  Additional comments received since the preparation of the report were circulated at the meeting. 

            The officer detailed the background to the report and explained that the proposal complied with policy and was acceptable in highways terms.  He detailed the Section 106 obligation which included a contribution of £50,000 for use in facilitating the implementation of public realm enhancements upon Precinct Way.  He referred Members to paragraph 7.22 where the figure for this had been incorrectly reported as £500,000.  He was aware of the information that had been submitted by the applicant to Members which implied that there was a link between this site and the application later on the agenda for a site in Broughton.  He reminded Members that the proposals were not linked and should be considered separately. 

            Mr. G. Brown spoke in support of the application.  He said that the proposal would improve and regenerate the area and would complement other retail facilities.  He commented on the overwhelming support for the proposal at the public consultation event held earlier in the year which highlighted that the community felt that a new supermarket was needed to allow residents to shop locally.  The proposal would create 40 new jobs, which would be full and part time, and if approved would bring £5m of investment into Buckley.  Mr. Brown spoke of the apprenticeship and graduate schemes which were undertaken by Aldi.  The proposal would include an enclosed delivery area to reduce any noise impact on the area.  He referred to the application later on the agenda for the site in Broughton and said that it was also proposed that Aldi would provide a third store in Connah’s Quay.   

            Councillor Richard Jones indicated that as he had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the application, he would speak for up to three minutes and then leave the chamber.  He welcomed the proposal for a new supermarket in Buckley as he felt that appropriate infrastructure was not currently in place for the more than 15,000 residents of Buckley.  He felt that the proposal would allow the residents to have a choice to shop locally rather than having to travel to other towns.  Councillor Jones, having earlier declared an interest in the application, left the meeting prior to its discussion. 

                        Councillor Carol Ellis proposed the recommendation for approval which was duly seconded.  She welcomed the application and said that the Section 106 obligation would enhance the precinct area.  There were no highway issues and the application complied with national and local policy.  She urged the Committee to approve the proposal. 

                        Councillor Chris Bithell was pleased to second the application which was in the core retail area and within the settlement boundary and added that the development was urgently needed in Buckley.  Councillor Mike Peers also welcomed the proposal and spoke of a Town and Community Council meeting where concerns about issues of shopping in Buckley had been raised.  The proposal complied with policy and would provide competition to other retailers in the area and was fully supported by local residents.  He urged the applicant to deliver on the promise to open a store in Buckley.  Councillor Owen Thomas sought clarification on whether there would be a time restriction on parking in the Aldi car park as there was at the Mold store.  Councillor Derek Butler said that the officer had indicated that this application and the application in Broughton were not linked but the applicant had indicated otherwise.  He queried whether Aldi had purchased the site in Buckley.

                        In response to the comments made and questions raised, the officer said that the parking would be restricted to 1.5 hours at the proposed site.  He confirmed that the proposal was not linked to any others on the agenda and that each application should be considered on its own merits.  He advised that it had been indicated that Aldi did not own the site.  The Democracy & Governance Manager reiterated the comment that the applications were not linked.                 

            RESOLVED:

            That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) and subject to the applicant entering into a Section 106 obligation/unilateral undertaking to provide the following:-

1.         The payment of a contribution of £50,000 to the Council for use in facilitating the implementation of public realm enhancements upon Precinct Way.  Such sum to be paid to the Council upon commencement of the development. 

2.         The payment of £4000 towards the review of existing Traffic Regulation Orders and the implementation of amended orders. 

            If the obligation pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is not completed within six months of the date of the committee resolution, the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) be given delegated authority to REFUSE the application. 

After the vote had been taken, Councillor Richard Jones returned to the meeting and the Chairman informed him of the decision.