Minutes:
Councillor A Shield noted he had been advised by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to declare an interest in Item 5b - DM/19/03567/MIN and DM/19/03569/VOCMW - Land to the west of Bradley Surface Mine, Leadgate, Consett, DH8 6RS. He explained it was as Co-Chair of the Banks Bradley Surface Mine Liaison Committee and member of the Banks Funding Committee and added he had been advised the conflict was either “other relevant interest” or “perception of bias”.
Councillor A Shield advised the Chair he would speak as a Local Member on those applications, not as a Member of the County Planning Committee, and would then leave the meeting during the consideration of that application.
Councillor I Jewell declared an interest in Item 5b - DM/19/03567/MIN and DM/19/03569/VOCMW - Land to the west of Bradley Surface Mine, Leadgate, Consett, DH8 6RS as a member of the Banks Bradley Surface Mine Liaison Committee and Chair of the Banks Funding Committee and would therefore leave the meeting during the consideration of those applications.
Councillor J Clare explained he had taken advice from the Solicitor and Head of Legal and Democratic Services and noted that while he was Cabinet Support Member for the Economic Regeneration, and also Climate Change Champion, it was judged he did not have an interest that precluded him from taking part in the meeting in an objective manner.
Councillor M Wilkes noted there was an error within the report for Item 5a - DM/19/03209/FPA - Elddis Business Park, Finchale Road, Framwellgate Moor, DH1 5HE. He explained the report incorrectly stated he was in objection to the application. He added an e-mail from a colleague had contained an error and this was in reference to the original application, prior to amendments since October 2019. Councillor M Wilkes noted for clarity that he has not stated his support or objection for the current application and, while he had spoken to the Solicitor to the Committee and the matter had been cleared, he wished for it to be clear for Members. The Chair thanked Councillor M Wilkes for the clarification for both Committee Members and members of the public watching the meeting.