Agenda item - East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Local Plan

Report of the Strategic Director: Place (copy attached together with an extract from the Cabinet meeting held on the 19^th January 2012, to be circulated separately).

63.1         Councillor Randall introduced the report which outlined the progress of the East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and Minerals Plan (WMP), which would eventually replace much of the council’s adopted Waste Local Plan and Minerals Plan.  He noted that the WMP would provide planning policy for the management of all wastes and the production of all minerals in East Sussex and Brighton & Hove.  The proposed plan would be put out to consultation and it was hoped to identify possible sites with a view to not relying on landfill or landraise options and stated that he was happy to accept the proposed amendment that had been circulated as part of the addendum papers.

63.2         Councillor Hamilton moved an amendment to include an additional recommendation (2), “To note that the issue of site allocation, including that of Hangleton Bottom, will be considered as part of the Waste Sites Development Plan Document which will be coming to Council for approval.”  He noted that Hangleton Bottom had been left in the Waste Plan as a possible site for a waste facility, but with the development of the Hollingdean depot and site, he believed there was no need for Hangleton Bottom to be included in a future plan.

63.3         Councillor Fitch formally seconded the amendment and stated that whilst Hangleton Bottom had previously been considered as a possible site for a waste facility, he did not believe that there was such a need and therefore hoped it would not be included in any future plans.

63.4         Councillor Mitchell stated that she supported the aims of the report but expressed concern over the loss of recycling rounds and questioned what was planned for Hangleton Bottom given that Hollingdean Depot had capacity and the waste incinerator facility was at Newhaven.  She also welcomed the intention not to take waste from London.

63.5         Councillor Janio welcomed the report in general but questioned the need to identify more sites when capacity existed at Hollingdean and stated that he was happy to support the amendment.

63.6         Councillor MacCafferty stated that there was a need to work with East Sussex County Council and plan for future waste collections and treatment so that waste could be dealt with effectively and disposal kept to a minimum.

63.7         Councillor Gilbey stated that residents living next to Hangleton Bottom had been living under a cloud for over six years wondering what was going to happen, knowing that there was no infrastructure to support a waste facility.  She hoped that they would soon have some clarity on what was planned so that they could get on with their lives and not have to worry about what might or might not happen.

63.8         Councillor Jarrett stated that there was a need to develop a strategic plan and to identify sufficient sites within that plan that would be accepted by the Planning Inspector so that the possibility of the plan not being accepted and opportunities opened up to private developers to use sites avoided.

63.9         Councillor Randall noted the comments and noted that East Sussex County Council’s Cabinet had accepted the proposed plan and it was being considered by the County Council next week.  He therefore recommended it to the council with the propose amendment.

63.10    RESOLVED:

(1)        That the analysis of the response to the consultation on the draft Waste and Minerals Plan be noted;

(2)        That it be noted that the issue of site allocation, including that of Hangleton Bottom, will be considered as part of the Waste Sites Development Plan Document which would come to Council for approval;

(3)        That the Proposed Submission Waste and Minerals Plan (PSWMP) and its publication for statutory public consultation for a six week period commencing on 24 February 2012 be agreed;

(4)        That it be agreed that the document be subsequently submitted to the Secretary of State subject to no material changes, other than alterations for the purposes of clarification, improved accuracy of meaning or typographical corrections, being necessary; and

(5)        That the Strategic Director, Place be authorised to agree any alterations for the purposes of clarification, improved accuracy of meaning or typographical corrections to the text of the PSWMP with East Sussex County Council and the South Downs National Park Authority prior to consultation.