Agenda item

(To receive a report by the Executive Director – Place which invites the Executive to consider and approve the Issues and Options document of the Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Plan)

1.    That subject to any amendments made pursuant to paragraph 2 below, the Issues and Options document attached at Appendix A and the Proposed Site Selection Methodology attached at Appendix B to the report for public consultation for a period of at least six weeks commencing in June 2022, be approved.

2.    That the Head of Planning be authorised to make any non-material amendments to the said Issues and Options document and said Proposed Site Selection Methodology that are necessary to meet the County Council’s accessibility requirements for publication on its website; and

3.    That the carrying out of a “Call for Sites” process alongside the consultation be approved.

(NOTE: 11.49 am - Councillor D McNally left the meeting for consideration of this item of business)

The Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning introduced a report which outlined the issues and options for updating the adopted Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan to ensure that its policies remained relevant and effective.  The document attached to the report at Appendix A, the Issues and Options Document, represented the first stage of this process, and subject to the approval of the Executive would subsequently be published for public consultation.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board presented the comments made by the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee following its consideration of this item at its meeting on 12 April 2022.  Some of the points highlighted by the scrutiny committee included the importance of proper consideration of local views as part of the consultation, the updating of the Plan was welcomed and the Committee commended its usefulness as a tool to the planning system.  Concerns were also raised regarding mineral workings, and the need for them to be assessed within the existing Core Policies.  The Committee also suggested that consideration should be given to the location of recycling facilities near to smaller settlements as well as the more urban areas.

During discussion by the Executive, the following points were raised:

·       Clarification was sought on how far public views could be taken into account.  Members were advised that whilst the plan would need to conform with national policies, there was still scope for the public to influence the development of the plan, for example in the selection of sites for future mineral working and in the restoration/afteruse of such sites.  It would, however, be a challenge to balance public expectations.

·       Queries were raised over the current approach of restoring quarries without the importation of inert waste to raise the land levels. Members were advised that only limited amounts of inert waste were generated in Lincolnshire and that the county already had sufficient inert landfill capacity for the proposed plan period. The current policy approach was therefore to encourage low level restoration to allow sites to be restored promptly.

·       It was reported that there were a number of requirements to balance when considering restoration, including the need to protect high-grade agricultural land, the need to create priority habitats, and the potential to provide benefits to the local communities, such as public access.  These would be matters which would be discussed with local communities.

·       Queries were raised regarding options for the restoration of former quarry sites into environmental attractions or for recreational use.  Members were advised that whilst there was a view that an economic use of restored sites could have benefits, these types of schemes were not always welcomed by local communities.  Any future development activity would normally need to be considered by the appropriate district council as it fell outside of the remit of the minerals and waste local plan.

RESOLVED

1.    That subject to any amendments made pursuant to paragraph 2 below, the Issues and Options document attached at Appendix A and the Proposed Site Selection Methodology attached at Appendix B to the report for public consultation for a period of at least six weeks commencing in June 2022, be approved.

2.    That the Head of Planning be authorised to make any non-material amendments to the said Issues and Options document and said Proposed Site Selection Methodology that are necessary to meet the County Council’s accessibility requirements for publication on its website; and

3.    That the carrying out of a “Call for Sites” process alongside the consultation be approved.