Decision details
Decision to approve and sign a Statement of Common Ground with members of the West Midlands Resource Technical Advisory Group (WMRTAB) relating to the statutory Duty to Cooperate.
Decision Maker: Service Director - Economy and Regulatory
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
Planning Context
The Government’s policy on waste planning (National Planning
Policy for Waste, 2014), which sits alongside the National Planning
Policy Framework, states:
“Waste is a strategic issue which can be addressed
effectively through close co-operation between waste planning
authorities and other local planning authorities and public bodies
to ensure a suitable and sustainable network of waste management
facilities is in place.”
It goes on to set out actions that constitute effective cooperation
under the Duty to Cooperate.
Purpose of the WMRTAB Statement of Common Ground (SoCG)
The WMRTAB SoCG, at Appendix A, endorses the principal that members
of the WMRTAB group will work together on strategic matters that
are of larger than local significance. This includes:
• setting the context for plan making and monitoring at the
local level;
• sharing of expertise in waste related matters;
• informing, involving and consulting each other on waste
plans and developments relating to waste management in the West
Midlands; and
• monitoring and waste management and planning trends.
To add full value, in terms of the Duty to Cooperate, the
RTAB’s role should be formally recognised by the member waste
planning authorities (and preferably by others to whom the duty to
cooperate applies) through the SoCG, which also includes the
WMRTAB’s terms of reference.
The SoCG sets the protocol (as originally produced by the Chairs of
regional Waste Technical Advisory Bodies), which RTAB member
authorities will follow when establishing the need for
cooperation.
Next Steps
The WMRTAB SoCG has been sent to members for signatures. Once all
are received, the SoCG will solidify the role of the WMRTAB in
assisting member waste planning authorities in ensuring compliance
with the statutory Duty to Cooperate on waste planning
matters.
Appendix A: West Midlands Resource Technical Advisory Body
Statement of Common Ground (September 2022).
Contact: Tracey Coleman, Interim Service Director Planning and Regulatory Services Email: Tracey.Coleman@herefordshire.gov.uk Tel: 01432 260965.
Publication date: 04/10/2022
Date of decision: 29/09/2022
Accompanying Documents: