Social Value Ideas for South Staffordshire Council

Battery storage schemes approved

The committee approved two battery-based electricity storage schemes at Lower Penn / Penstone Lane, subject to extensive planning conditions covering landscaping, traffic management, working hours, no…

“the applications relate to an area of agricultural land adjacent to the existing and well-established lower pen substation it is proposed to erect a 5…”

Green Belt housing refused

The committee refused the Pattingham housing application after members were unconvinced that the benefits outweighed highway safety, landscape and other concerns. The decision means the proposed housi…

“"So therefore the proposal is for refusal. All those in favor of refusal, please show. Sorry. All those against refusal, please show. Okay. So therefo…”

Green Belt refusal for salvage site containers

The committee considered a retrospective application for storage containers at Saunders Brothers Salvage in the Green Belt next to the Stourbridge Canal Conservation Area. Officers said the containers…

“this application relates to Saunders Brothers salvage which is a 1.4 hectare property on the southern side of Crestwood Drive just to the west of the …”

Major battery storage approved

The committee approved a major battery energy storage facility on agricultural land in Dimmingsdale after a failed refusal motion. The scheme includes a battery energy storage facility, substation com…

“The proposed development is for a period of approximately 50 years. The application site comprises 4.8 hectares of agricultural land in Dingsdale. ...…”

Gypsy pitches kept permanently

Members approved permanent retention of four gypsy and traveller pitches that had originally received temporary consent in 2016. The approval was linked to a unilateral undertaking for Cannock Chase S…

“this application proposes permanent retention of four Gypsy and traveler pitches these pitches were granted 10 for consent in 2016. the site is locate…”

Costs awarded against council

The monthly update reported that the council has been ordered to pay £21,390 in costs after an appeal succeeded against a planning refusal at Landywood Enterprise Park. The refusal had been based on h…

“The next item I do have to bring your attention to is that we have um had costs awarded against us for a planning application 2200544 FUL which was at…”

Takeaway use approved in Bilbrook

The committee approved changing a vacant retail unit at 2 Penderford Mill Lane, Bilbrook, to a hot food takeaway with associated external alterations. Officers and the applicant argued the site is in …

“The Proposal relates to number two penderford Mill Lane located on the south side of the hallway just past lying Green Road there's a short lay by for…”

Best and most versatile land

A core pressure in the solar farm debate was the extent of best and most versatile agricultural land on the site. Officers said around 54% of the land was BMV but that this was not an undue concern, w…

“the agricultural land classification report has been submitted which confirms that around 40 to 44 of the site is good quality agricultural land this …”

Solar farm refused

The committee voted to refuse the solar farm application after debate, overriding the officer recommendation. The refusal motion was based on concerns about open countryside, BMV land, and policy conf…

“members I'm minding now to move this to the vote uh but before I do I will as Annette has asked me to um to inquire that you are all satisfied that yo…”

Bilbrook housing approved

The committee approved the outline housing application for up to 115 dwellings at Bilbrook, with reserved matters aside from access. Officers said the site is sustainable, part of the emerging local p…

“So here we have the application site. So it's obviously marked by the the red line area there. Um which as you can see comprises several agricultural …”

Solar farm policy balance

Members considered whether a 40MW solar farm on open countryside and agricultural land could be supported under local and national policy. The officer recommendation was to approve for 40 years, citin…

“the application seeks permission for a solar installation with a generation capacity of approximately 40 megawatts generating enough power for approxi…”

Planning Bill could reshape delegation

Officers briefed members on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, warning that it could significantly reduce the number of applications heard by committee and introduce a national scheme of delegation…

“I've had a few queries about the planning and infrastructure bill that came out um last week seems to be flying by in terms of times um we're not goin…”

Use of reserves and council tax rise

Cabinet was asked to support use of £1.762 million of general fund reserves in 2023/24 and to use the flexibility to increase council tax by £5. These measures were part of the balanced budget package…

“it's these preparers that members make use of the flexibility to increase council tax by five pounds and utilize 1.762 million of general fund reserve…”

MTFS budget and reserve use

Cabinet considered and endorsed the medium-term financial strategy and budget for 2023-24 through 2027-28. The budget is balanced for the first three years, partly through the use of £1.762 million of…

“the report before you sets out the medium term Financial strategy the mtfs for the period of 2023-24 through to 2027-28 the projected Revenue expendit…”

Long-term borrowing and reserves

The year-end performance report confirms the authority took out its first long-term borrowing at historically low interest rates and set aside an additional £625,000 in reserves to help manage inflati…

“the report provides a combined update as of the 31st of march 22 on performance finance and risk this includes results against performance targets set…”

External audit procurement via national scheme

The council agreed to opt into the Public Sector Audit Appointments national scheme so that an external auditor can be appointed for the next five-year audit period. Officers said this is the most cos…

“thank you madam chair i'm happy to second that thank you are there any questions to members no does anyone else wish to speak no okay is it your wish …”