Agenda item

To note the recommendations made during the independent examination of the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire and to make a recommendation to Council that the plan be adopted. 

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, proposed making a recommendation to Council that the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire, (as amended), be adopted for publication. 

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and,

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommend to Council to:-

A.   Note the Inspector’s Report (see Appendix 1) and its recommendations including the incorporation of proposed main modifications to the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire as a prerequisite to the adoption of the Plan;

B.   Delegate authority to the Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning to finalise additional modifications to the Plan including those published by the Council in July 2019 (see Appendix 2) and any further additional modifications now required;

C.   Adopt the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire, incorporating the main and additional modifications (see Appendix 3) as required by Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning in accordance with Section 23(3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended); and

D.   Delegate authority to Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning to complete the requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended) to make the Plan and other documents and information publically available and notify specified persons as soon as reasonably practicable after the Plan is adopted.

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, proposed Cabinet make a recommendation to Council that the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire, (as amended), be adopted for publication. 

In compliance with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, (as amended), and requirement for all planning authorities to produce local plans, Gloucestershire County Council, (in its capacity as the local Mineral Planning Authority), is required to produce a Minerals Local Plan.

Subject to adoption by Council at the County Council meeting on 12 February 2020, the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire (2018-2032) will replace the existing Gloucestershire Minerals Local Plan (1997-2006). The updated plan would form part of the statutory development plan for Gloucestershire and provide a comprehensive and up to date policy framework against which all mineral planning decisions, including the quarrying and processing of minerals, must be made for the period to 2032.

Cllr Moor reported that the new plan had been in preparation over a number of years. To meet the requirements of Local Planning Regulations, this had involved undertaking rounds of extensive public consultation, preparation of a Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulation Assessment and an independent examination by an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State. The examination had been conducted over the Summer and Autumn of 2019.

In December 2019, the Inspector’s Report had concluded that, provided the main modifications to the Minerals Local Plan, (as consulted on between July and September 2019), were incorporated into the document, the plan formed an appropriate basis for mineral planning in Gloucestershire and was considered capable of being adopted.

Thanking officers for their hard work and for accomplishing the plan in a timely and professional manner, Cllr Moor outlined each of the recommendations before commending the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire (2018-2032) as appropriate for adoption by Council on 12 February 2020.

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and,

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommend to Council to:-

A.   Note the Inspector’s Report (see Appendix 1) and its recommendations including the incorporation of proposed main modifications to the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire as a prerequisite to the adoption of the Plan;

B.   Delegate authority to the Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning to finalise additional modifications to the Plan including those published by the Council in July 2019 (see Appendix 2) and any further additional modifications now required;

C.   Adopt the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire, incorporating the main and additional modifications (see Appendix 3) as required by Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning in accordance with Section 23(3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended); and

D.   Delegate authority to Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning to complete the requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended) to make the Plan and other documents and information publically available and notify specified persons as soon as reasonably practicable after the Plan is adopted.