Issue - items at meetings - Proposed Submission East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Sites Plan

Report of the Acting Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

That Policy and Resources Committee is asked to recommend to Council to:

1)     Note the responses to the consultation on the Consultation Draft Waste & Minerals Sites Plan (an extract of comments is included in Appendix 1, with a full schedule on the City Council’s website, placed in the Members’ Rooms, and in main libraries and Customer Service Centres);

2)     Agree and publish the Proposed Submission Waste & Minerals Sites Plan for statutory public consultation for an eight week period commencing on 28 October 2015 (along with supporting documents);

3)     Subsequently submit the document to the Secretary of State subject to no material changes being necessary, other than alterations for the purposes of clarification, improved accuracy of meaning or typographical corrections;

4)     Authorise the Head of City Planning & Development to agree any draft ‘main modifications’ to the Sites Plan necessary to make it sound and to authorise the publication of such draft modifications for public consultation, save that should any draft modification involve a major shift in the policy approach of the Sites Plan, the draft modification shall be referred by the Head of City Planning & Development to the Policy and Resources Committee for approval;

5)     Note that all modifications to the Sites Plan will be presented to the Policy and Resources Committee and Full Council in due course as part of the adoption process of the Plan;

6)     Approve the following background studies as supporting evidence for the Sites Plan (see Appendix 2 for a summary):

o      Sustainability Appraisal;

o      Habitats Regulations Assessment;

o      Strategic Flood Risk Assessment;

o      Site Selection and Methodology Document;

o      Schedule of Suitable Industrial Estates;

o      Detailed Site Assessment Document.

51.1       The Committee considered a report of the Acting Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing in relation to the Proposed Submission East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Plan. The report sought approval for the publication of the Sites Plan along with supporting documents for an eight week period of consultation from 28 October 2015, subject to approval by East Sussex County Council and the South Downs National Park Authority, prior to submission to the Secretary of State for public examination. The report was recommended to Council for the final decision.

51.2       In response to Councillor Mac Cafferty it was explained by Officers that they were confident there was sufficient allocation in the plan across the wider area, and flexibility had been built in to allow for sites that had had contamination in the past. It was also clarified that whilst there had been a reduction in sites the amount of waste in the area was stable and actually reducing slightly.

51.3       In response to Councillor Janio it was clarified that Hangleton Bottom did not fall within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the range of development potentials would be measured against the sensitivity of the site.

51.4       The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote.

51.5       RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND – That the Committee recommend that Council:

1)        Note the responses to the consultation on the Consultation Draft Waste & Minerals Sites Plan (an extract of comments is included in Appendix 1, with a full schedule on the City Council’s website, placed in the Members’ Rooms, and in main libraries and Customer Service Centres);

2)        Agree and publish the Proposed Submission Waste & Minerals Sites Plan for statutory public consultation for an eight week period commencing on 28 October 2015 (along with supporting documents);

3)        Subsequently submit the document to the Secretary of State subject to no material changes being necessary, other than alterations for the purposes of clarification, improved accuracy of meaning or typographical corrections;

4)        Authorise the Head of City Planning & Development to agree any draft ‘main modifications’ to the Sites Plan necessary to make it sound and to authorise the publication of such draft modifications for public consultation, save that should any draft modification involve a major shift in the policy approach of the Sites Plan, the draft modification shall be referred by the Head of City Planning & Development to the Policy and Resources Committee for approval;

5)        Note that all modifications to the Sites Plan will be presented to the Policy and Resources Committee and Full Council in due course as part of the adoption process of the Plan;

6)        Approve the following background studies as supporting evidence for the Sites Plan (see Appendix 2 for a summary):

·               Sustainability Appraisal;

·               Habitats Regulations Assessment;

·               Strategic Flood Risk Assessment;

·               Site Selection and Methodology Document;

·               Schedule of Suitable Industrial Estates;

·               Detailed Site Assessment Document.