To comment on the report to be considered by Cabinet on the 25 May 2017.

The Head of Planning, Jenifer Jackson, explained that the report sought approval for the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan, Issues and Options Consultation.  Members were informed that the consultation would be undertaken between 9 June and 21 July 2017 with responses feeding into the preparation of a draft joint minerals and waste local plan.

The Head of Planning went onto explain that the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead were working with Reading Borough Council, Bracknell Forest Borough Council and Wokingham Borough Council on a Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste.  It was noted that the Plan was being prepared by Hampshire Services of Hampshire County Council.  The Head of Planning referred Members to page 14 of the agenda and explained that the first stage in the preparation of any local plan involved evidence gathering with analysis, culminating in a consultation on Issues and Options.  It was noted that Hampshire Services had collected evidence to enable forecasting to be able to plan for future needs for minerals extraction and waste facilities in the plan area.  Members were informed that this evidence gathering included a call for sites for future mineral extraction of waste facilities which commenced on the 13 March 2017 and finished 5 May 2017.  The Head of Planning explained that the results of this were currently being analysed by Hampshire Services.

Members were informed that as part of the governance for the preparation of the plan, the four authorities had set up a Joint Board.  The Planning Manager explained that the Board met on 7 March 2017 and received a presentation on the issues and options and provided comments on the proposed arrangements for the issues and options consultation.  It was noted that this Council’s representatives on the Board were Councillors Derek Wilson and Christine Bateson.

In the ensuing discussion the following points were noted:

·         That waste and minerals had historically been grouped together because the expertise involved was very similar.

·         That it was believed there would be additional sites put forward in addition to the list of sites compiled in 2007.

·         That the transportation of minerals was considered costly.

·         That the Council had safeguarded areas in the existing plan and that this would be where Members and officers would look first.

·         That once a site had been exhausted it would be restored to Green Belt.

·         The next stage would be issues and options.

·         The Regulation 18 Preferred Options Consultation was scheduled for early 2018.

·         That it would be advertised on four separate Borough websites and responses would all go to Hampshire.

The Planning & Housing Overview & Scrutiny Panel unanimously agreed to recommend to Cabinet the report be noted and:

i)          Approved the Issues and Options for the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan (Appendix 1).

ii)         Approved that community involvement on the Issues and Options for the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan and associated supporting documents be authorised.

iii)       Delegated authority to the Head of Planning to make any minor amendments necessary to the Issues and Options for the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning prior to community involvement.

The Planning & Housing Overview & Scrutiny Panel commented that too many gravel extraction sites were being allowed to fill up with water which was a waste of the land.  The Panel stated that the land should be returned to its proper use.