The Planning Committee of Staffordshire Council met on Thursday 4 June 2026 to discuss the annual report on the safety of sports grounds, the appointment of members to the Countryside and Rights of Way Panel, and a planning application for Saredon Quarry. The committee refused the application to vary conditions at Sarden Quarry regarding HGV movements, citing unacceptable impacts on residential amenity. They also noted the Planning Policy and Development Management Full Year Performance Report for 2025-2026.

Annual Report to the Planning Committee of the Safety of Sports Grounds

Mark Wilson, Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety at Staffordshire County Council, presented the Annual Report for the Safety of Sports Grounds for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. The report detailed the council's statutory obligations under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 and the Fire Safety and Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1987. Staffordshire County Council is responsible for designated grounds, which in Staffordshire, is solely Burton Albion Football Club. The report outlined the inspection activities undertaken, including work with Burton Albion FC and other regulated stands such as Staffordshire County Showground and Uttoxeter Racecourse. A significant focus for the coming year will be assisting venue safety management teams with planning and preparedness for the implementation of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2005, also known as Martyn's Law¹. The report concluded that 2025-26 had been a successful year, with all planned work completed. The committee noted the report.

Appointment of Members to the Countryside and Rights of Way Panel

Jo Piech presented a report recommending the appointment of seven members to the Countryside and Rights of Way Panel. The recommended members were Councillors Mike Broom, Bob Egginton, Neil Parton, Nicholas Thompson, Val Chapman, Su Beardmore, and Rhys Machin. Councillor Rose proposed, and Councillor Beardmore seconded, the acceptance of this recommendation. The committee approved the appointments.

Application for Permission: NRS Saredon Quarry Ltd at Saredon Hill Quarry

Catherine Wooldridge presented a planning application from NRS Saredon Quarry Limited to vary condition 14(e)(ii) of planning permission SCC/21/0070/FULL-ES, relating to HGV movements. The application sought to increase the number of HGVs permitted to enter or leave the site between 6:00 and 7:00 AM and between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, from two concrete mixer vehicles to ten HGVs in total.

Objections were received from Saredon Parish Council and local residents, citing concerns about vibration, noise, dust, breaches of existing conditions, and highway condition. Nathan Bird, speaking on behalf of local residents, highlighted repeated breaches of existing conditions and the lack of meaningful monitoring of impacts on properties. Councillor Bob Cope, representing Saredon Parish Council, expressed disappointment at the lack of recent liaison committee meetings and argued that the proposed increase in HGV movements would negatively affect residents' amenity. Alex Job, the planning agent for NRS, stated that the application sought to provide greater flexibility for early morning and late evening deliveries to support local businesses and workers, emphasizing that there would be no overall increase in HGV movements or quarry output. Councillor Baker echoed the concerns of residents and the parish council, stating that the proposal would negatively affect residential amenity and disrupt sleep.

The committee discussed the application, with particular attention paid to the existing breaches of planning conditions and the potential impact on residential amenity. Councillor Parton questioned why the company had not engaged more with the parish council or the liaison committee. Councillor Thompson raised concerns about the lack of forward planning by the company. Councillor Beardmore stated she could not support the application due to the extended disturbance to residents. Councillor Pendleton expressed concern that the extended hours were proposed despite clear breaches of existing conditions.

Ultimately, the committee voted to refuse the application, supporting the officer's recommendation. The reasons for refusal were that the proposed increase in HGV movements was considered significant and likely to have an unacceptable adverse impact on residential amenity, contrary to Policy 4.1 and 4.3 of the Minerals Local Plan for Staffordshire 2015-2030 and Policy EQ9 of the South Staffordshire Core Strategy. It was concluded that the material planning objections outweighed the material planning benefits, and therefore the proposals did not represent sustainable development.

Planning Policy and Development Management - Full Year Report 2025-2026

Julie Castree-Denton presented the full year performance report for the Planning Policy and Development Management team for 2025-2026. The report detailed the team's activities in planning policy-making and development management. It highlighted that the team had met government performance measures for speed and quality of decisions on major and non-major development applications. The report also covered the monitoring of the Minerals Local Plan and the Waste Local Plan, noting that a review of these plans would be necessary in the coming year due to changes in legislation and government proposals for local government reorganisation. The committee noted the report.