Issue - items at meetings - Consideration of Draft Waste and Minerals Core Strategy for consultation

Report of the Director of Environment (copy attached).

(1)         That Cabinet notes the progress made on the East Sussex and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Development Framework.

(2)         That Cabinet agrees the publication of the Preferred Strategy and associated Sustainability Appraisal for a six-week period of consultation commencing on 21 October 2009, subject to any minor factual changes to the text as agreed by the Director for Environment.

97.1         The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment updating Members on the progress of the East Sussex and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Development Framework, and seeking approval for the forthcoming consultation on the Preferred Strategy stage of the Waste and Minerals Core Strategy (for copy see minute book).

97.2         Councillor Mitchell welcomed the Preferred Strategy and thanked officers for producing an accessible document. She raised a concern regarding the need to use landfill and landraise for the disposal of residual waste, but spoke in support of the commitments and targets contained in the document.

97.3         Councillor Kitcat raised a number of concerns; he contended that the Preferred Strategy was not clear or ambitious enough and therefore not of sufficient quality upon which to consult.

97.4         Councillor Watkins queried whether representations made as part of the consultation would influence the final strategy and added that food waste should be a priority for the Council.

97.5         The Chairman confirmed that the report was seeking approval to consult on the Preferred Strategy; Members could ask questions during the consultation process and all comments would be considered in determining the final strategy.

97.6         The Head of Planning Strategy explained that the Council was required to produce a documents that would be found ‘sound’; the Council would have to demonstrate that targets could be delivered.

97.7         In response to Councillor Kitcat’s concerns, the Director of Environment explained that the Waste Strategy was linked to the Waste and Minerals Core Strategy, therefore it followed that neither document had been completed yet. She added that the background papers would be available in Members’ rooms for the beginning of the consultation period.

97.8         RESOLVED - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet accepted the following recommendations:

(1)         That progress made on the East Sussex and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Development Framework be noted.

(2)         That publication of the Preferred Strategy and associated Sustainability Appraisal for a six-week period of consultation commencing on 21 October 2009 be agreed, subject to any minor factual changes to the text as agreed by the Director for Environment.