To approve the adoption of the Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (MWLP).

Council considered a report by the Cabinet Member Environment to approve the adoption of the Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (MWLP).

The Cabinet Member Environment proposed the recommendations and introduced the report.

The Leader of the Council seconded the recommendations in the report.

Council debated the report and welcomed the adoption of the Herefordshire MWLP, a development plan document.

The adoption of the Herefordshire MWLP was put to the vote and was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED – that:

a)    The Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan Inspectors’ Report (at appendix 1) be noted;

b)    The Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan, incorporating the main modifications (at appendix 2), is adopted; and

c)    The Head of Planning and Building Control be delegated the authority to make any minor technical changes (e.g. typographical) to ensure that this development plan document is up to date at the time of adoption.

To recommend to Council that the Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (MWLP) - a development plan document - is adopted.

The Cabinet member for environment introduced the report. It was confirmed that the Minerals & Waste Local Plan has proceeded through four rounds of consultation and the modifications that were put forward by the Examiner did not materially change the document.  Outlined that the Plan considered the circular economy, reflected the waste hierarchy, there was consideration of anaerobic digesters and the impact they can have with consideration of nutrient neutrality and environmental impacts.  

No comments were made from Cabinet members. 

Group leaders gave the views of their groups.  There was support for the Plan and it was commented that up until now the Minerals and Waste Local Plan had been in a poor state. The Plan was welcomed and noted that it recognised agriculture, how it effects land use, development and the communities. It was queried what the term ‘agricultural unit’ meant as previous concerns were regarding the impact on transporting agricultural waste on the local community.  

In response to the queries it was noted that an ‘agricultural unit’ adopts a common sense interpretation and it is the farm where the AD unit is located as the aim was to avoid lorries transporting waste on local country lanes. It was further discussed that farms in practice may not consider an ‘agricultural unit’ as just the farm and field’s adjacent but may be across a range of places. If the interpretation of an ‘agricultural unit’ is defined to the farm then this would impact on how anaerobic digesters operate.  It was clarified that existing anaerobic digesters wouldn’t be effected as they had already passed planning, this was regarding future planning policy.  

It was unanimously resolved that:

That Cabinet recommend to Council for approval:

a)    The Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan Inspectors’ Report 1 (at appendix 1) be noted;

b)    The Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan(2) , incorporating the main modifications (at appendix 2), be recommended to Council for adoption; and

c)    It be recommended to Council that delegated authority be given to the Head of Planning and Building Control to make any minor technical changes (e.g. typographical) to ensure that this development plan document is up to date at the time of adoption.