Agenda and minutes

The role of Chair / Vice Chair rotates between the three authorities on an annual basis, it is necessary to appoint a Chair and Vice Chair for the Joint Advisory Committee for Strategic Planning.  The previous two Chairs were appointed from Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council respectively, therefore the Chair should be appointed from Lancashire Council Council on this occasion, with Vice Chairs appointed from Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council for the 2011 / 12 municipal year.

The Committee agreed to appoint County Councillor Michael Green (Lancashire County Council) as Chair, with Councillor Dave Harling (Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Councillor Gary Coleman (Blackpool Council) appointed as Vice Chairs for the 2011/12 municipal year.

County Councillor Michael Green assumed the role of Chair from this point forward.

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor Howard Henshaw, County Councillor Jennifer Mein (both Lancashire County Council) and from Councillor Alan Cottam (Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council)

None disclosed.

The Joint Advisory Committee for Strategic Planning is asked to note the Consitution and Terms of Reference of the Joint Advisory Committee.

The Committee agreed to note the current constitution and terms of reference of the Joint Advisory Committee for Strategic Planning.

The Committee are asked to agree the minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 March 2011.

The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2011 were an accurate record.

The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 7 before agenda item 6.

Louise Nurser provided an update and PowerPoint presentation on the proposed major modifications to site allocation and development management policies arising from the examination in public hearing sessions.

Louise reported that following these sessions several changes are required to made, which are considered to be major.  The major changes related to Policies WM2 and WM4 as follows:

Heysham Port (BWF4)

The Inspector directed that as the operators of the port would be unwilling to allow non-port related activities on the site that this aspect of the Development Plan Document is potentially undeliverable.

Consequently, reference to Heysham Port is required to be deleted from Policies WM2 and WM4. It is proposed that it be replaced with the Lancaster West Business Park (BWF17) allocation to ensure that there is adequate provision for waste capacity of a strategic nature in the Lancaster catchment area.

Lancaster West Business Park (BWF17)

As a consequence of the deletion of Heysham Port from Policies WM2 and WM4 a replacement Large Scale Built Waste Management Facilities site is required to serve the Lancaster Catchment area.

Following discussion with Lancaster City Council, Lancaster West Business Park is considered to be an appropriate replacement for Heysham Port. Previously, Lancaster West Business Park was included in the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies DPD as being suitable for Local Built Waste Management Facilities. The proposed major change would extend the range and scale of built waste facilities that would be considered appropriate.

It is well served by access from the A683, has 21ha vacant land, and already accommodates one of the County's waste transfer stations. A revised sustainability assessment does not suggest any barriers to its development and it is well screened from housing to the south.

In response to representations relating to the proximity of Middleton village to the southern boundary of the site made by residents and Middleton Parish Council, supported by Lancaster City Council, the Inspector directed that the southern boundary of the site be altered to reflect the land allocation in the Lancaster City Council Local Plan. This resultant change means the boundary of the site is now further away from the village than at the Preferred Options and Publication consultations.

Huncoat/Whinney Hill (BWF8)

The Inspector directed that as the owners of the northern part of the site (land at the former Huncoat power station) would be unwilling to allow waste related uses on their land that their land be removed from the Huncoat part of the allocation. Subsequent to this the owners of adjoining land to the former power station made similar representations. Consequently, this aspect of the DPD is considered to be undeliverable and is required to be removed together with the Whinney Hill industrial estate from Policies WM2 and WM4.

This then has meant additional replacement capacity is required to be identified to serve the East Lancashire catchment for Large Scale Built Waste Management Facilities.

In order to provide flexibility the following  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Louise Nurser presented the report and reminded members of the Joint Advisory Committee that they were previously briefed on the consultation that has taken place relating to the Submission version of the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies for the Minerals and Waste Development Framework. This took place between 10January 2011 and  21 February 2011.

Engagement so far:

The document was submitted to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in May 2011. A Planning Inspector was appointed and hearing sessions took place from September to October 2011. The hearing sessions have been adjourned to allow for further consultation on some major changes to the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies for the Minerals and Waste Development Framework.

The Next Steps:

Subject to the approval for consultation by the Joint Committee for Strategic Planning the approved changes to the document will be publicised in January 2012 for the statutory six week period. To meet the aims of the authorities Statement of Community Involvement documents the following approaches are suggested:

·  Brief press, and send out press releases.

·  Offer special public meetings if requested.

·  Advertise the consultation in all district papers providing them with dates and where the documents will be displayed.

·  Send letters and/or emails to stakeholders (residents, community leaders, Government agencies, businesses, and County, Town, District and Parish Councillors) informing them of the consultation.

·  Publicise the consultation and have documents available on the website www.lancashire.gov.uk/mwdf  

·  Utilise Limehouse software with a dedicated LDF portal where the document will be available for online consultation http://lancashire-consult.objective.co.uk/portal

·  Make hard copies available of the document at deposit points (libraries, county information centres, district town halls, district planning departments, county hall and county council environment directorate).

·  Make hard copies of the document available to the public on request.

Following this six week consultation any representations made will be considered and the Joint Advisory Committee and Joint Committee will meet to consider those representations before making recommendations to the Councils of the three authorities. The Development Plan Document will then be submitted to the Planning Inspector who will reopen the Examination in Public and then consider if further hearing sessions are needed. The Planning Inspector will then produce a binding report to the three Councils.

Resolved

The Joint Advisory Committee for Strategic Planning agreed to note the contents of the report.

None.

To be confirmed.

A meeting of the Joint Advisory Committee for Strategic Planning will be arranged on a date to be determined in March 2012.