Issue - items at meetings - Adoption of the East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Plan

Report of the Strategic Director; Place (copy attached).

1.                  That the adoption of the Waste & Minerals Plan (WMP), incorporating the Main Modification and minor modifications, as waste and minerals planning policy subject to the Head of Planning and Public Protection agreeing any further minor changes to the text of the Waste and Minerals Plan with East Sussex County Council and the South Downs National Park Authority be agreed;

2.                  That the analysis of the responses to the consultation on the Main Modification to the WMP be noted;

3.                  That the contents of the Inspector’s Report and her conclusion that the WMP is legally compliant and ‘sound’ be noted;

4.                  That the minor non-material modifications made to the WMP be noted; and

5.                   That the Main Modification made to the WMP be agreed.

120.1    The strategic Director; Place introduced the report which sought approval of the waste and minerals plan and detailed the outcome of the public examination of the plan.  He noted that should the plan be adopted by the council it would provide planning policy for waste management and minerals production in East Sussex and Brighton & Hove and that part of the South Downs National Park which came into East Sussex and Brighton & Hove (the Plan area), to 2026.

120.2    The Head of Planning & Public Protection informed the Committee that the plan had been prepared in partnership with East Sussex County Council which was also due to approve the plan.  He also noted that the Planning Inspector had been very impressed with the Plan.

120.3    Councillor G. Theobald welcomed the report but queried the position in relation to the activity known as ‘Fracking’ which it appeared could take place within the city, as he was aware of another item on the agenda which had sought the committee’s agreement to declaring Brighton & Hove a ‘No-Fracking Zone.’

120.4    The Head of Planning & Public Protection referred to the policies WMP15 and 16 which should be read together and would need to be addressed should there be any interest in the exploration of oil and gas in the city.

120.5    The Chair noted the comments and suggested that the issue of ‘Fracking’ was likely to be determined by the Government rather than local authorities, however he felt that it was important for the council to indicate its position on the matter.  He then put the recommendations to the vote.

120.6    RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND

(1)         That the WMP, incorporating the Main Modification and minor modifications, as waste and minerals planning policy subject to the Head of Planning and Public Protection agreeing any further minor changes to the text of the Waste and Minerals Plan with East Sussex County Council and the South Downs National Park Authority be adopted;

(2)         That the analysis of the responses to the consultation on the Main Modification to the WMP be noted;

(3)         That the contents of the Inspector’s Report and her conclusion that the WMP is legally compliant and ‘sound’ be noted;

(4)         That the minor non-material modifications made to the WMP be noted; and

(5)         That the Main Modification made to the WMP be agreed.