Agenda item

(To receive a report by Adrian Winkley, Minerals & Waste Policy and Compliance Manager, which enables the Committee to review the Issues and Options document of the Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Development Scheme prior to decision by the Executive at its meeting on 4 May 2022)

Consideration was given to the report by Adrian Winkley, Minerals & Waste Policy and Compliance Manager – Planning. The following matters were highlighted:

·   The adopted Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (LMWLP) was in two parts:

a)      The Core Strategy and Development Management Policies, which set out the key principles to guide the future winning and working of minerals and the form of waste management in the county up to the end of the year 2031.

b)      The Site Locations document which included  specific proposals and policies for the provision of land for minerals  and waste development.

·   The LMWLP formed part of the statutory development plan for the county, alongside the district local plans and neighbourhood plans.

·   It was a statutory requirement that planning applications were determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicated otherwise.

·   Performance of the policies in the LMWLP were monitored to assess whether applications were being determined in full accordance with the plan. A recent review found that 11 policies were not fully effective, and so needed to be updated. However, to improve the clarity and consistency of policies in the LMWLP, the full County Council had authorised the updating of the whole plan.

·   The process for updating the plan was outlined to Members with an anticipated timeline as follows:

a)      Seek approval from the Executive to go out to consultation with the Issues and Options Document commencing in June.

b)      Consult on a Preferred Approach in Spring 2023.

c)      Consult on the proposed submission version of the new LMWLP in Spring 2024.

d)      Submit the final draft to the Secretary of State together with the consultation responses in Summer 2024.

e)      Hold Examination Hearings in Autumn 2024.

f)       Seek adoption of the new LMWLP by the full County Council in Winter 2024/2025.

·   The Issues and Options stage was the first formative stage of plan making and identified issues for consideration together with options for improving the plan. It proposed to roll the plan forward to cover the period to the end of 2040.

·   It was proposed to base the future level of aggregate provision on the latest Local Aggregate Assessment. It was proposed that this would be partially met by carrying forward existing allocations in the adopted plan where appropriate. Any remaining shortfalls would then be met from new allocations.

·   To facilitate this approach, it was proposed to undertake a “call for sites exercise” to run alongside the consultation on the Issues and Options document. This invited interested parties to nominate sites for future mineral working. Nominated sites would then be assessed in accordance with the Proposed Site Selection Methodology.

·      A new Waste Needs Assessment had been prepared which indicated that there will be no waste management capacity gaps up to 2045 and that the county will remain net self-sufficient.  Despite this, it was anticipated that new sites will be required for a number of reasons including: the closure of existing sites; the emergence of new technologies, changes in cross boundary movements, and the need to promote the proximity principle.

·   Emerging issues from the Review included:

o   Whether the current requirement for Associated Industrial Development at or adjacent to mineral sites to have “close links” with the associated mineral working should be less stringent.

o   Whether the current requirements for the Safeguarding of Mineral Resources against sterilisation from non-minerals development should be more proportionate.

o   Whether the Council’s strict approach against the infilling of mineral workings with inert waste should be relaxed in certain circumstances.

·   Approval was being sought from the Executive to undertake consultation on the Issues and Options document, the Proposed Site Selection Methodology, and associated documents. This was to commence in June, run for a period of at least six weeks, and be carried out in accordance with the County Council’s adopted Statement of Community Involvement.

Members considered the report and the following matters were discussed:

·   Members noted that whilst the documents would be subject to public consultation, it was important that local views be given proper consideration. In this respect, it was pointed out that for a recent application for mineral extraction near Ancaster, the public and parish councils had raised concerns about dust, vibration and lorry movements but they felt these had not been taken into account.  Officers advised that the Issues and Options document emphasised key aspects of national policy. This helped manage expectations as the updated plan needed to be in conformity with national policy to be sound and legally compliant.

·   Members advised that the adopted plan had been effective and commended its usefulness as a tool to the planning system. The updating of the plan was welcomed with a complete, open and transparent analysis of new site allocations.

·   Members questioned whether inert waste was needed for the infilling of former mineral workings given that such workings should be restored swiftly. Officers advised that this matter would be given careful consideration.

·   Members enquired about how a new quarry affecting the water table around a neighbouring wildlife area would be assessed; and questioned whether industrial development such as cement factories should always be allowed near quarries as they could have significant impacts. Officers explained that impacts on the environment and amenity were covered primarily by the Development Management Policies of the plan rather than the Core Policies, but that these were linked to the Core Policies. Therefore, neither new mineral workings nor industrial development where the impacts could not be mitigated to acceptable levels would accord with the existing Core Policies.

·   Members noted that the spatial strategy seeks to locate waste management facilities in and around the main urban areas in line with the proximity principle but pointed out that smaller settlements also produced waste so needed recycling facilities. Officers advised that the adopted plan include a policy for small scale waste development outside the main urban areas.

RESOLVED:

1. That the Committee support the recommendations to the Executive as set out in the report.

2. That the Committee’s comments be passed on to the Executive in relation to this item.