To approve and sign a Statement of Common Ground with Worcestershire County Council and Gloucestershire County Council on strategic, cross-boundary minerals and waste planning matters.
The Statement of Common Ground (SOCG), at appendix A, endorses the principle that Herefordshire Council (HC) has collaborated with Worcestershire County Council (WCC) and Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) during the preparation of the emerging Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan in identifying strategic planning matters. It demonstrates effective and ongoing joint working across administrative boundaries.

Reason for SOCG
The SOCG has been drawn up in pursuance of the statutory requirements to maintain effective cross-boundary co-operation, as detailed in the National Planning Policy Framework 2021 (paragraphs 24 to 27).

The SOCG updates and replaces the 2019 memorandum of understanding between HC, WCC and GCC.

Purpose of the SOCG
• Sets out roles and responsibilities to aid collaborative working on strategic matters;
• Demonstrates how statutory obligations under the Duty to Cooperate are being met in respect of:
o facilitating the steady and adequate supply of land-won sand and gravel, crushed rock aggregates and industrial minerals; and
o the delivery of sustainable waste management throughout the three administrative areas;
• Promotes the adoption of good practice partnership working;
• Establishes clear, consistent, effective and mutually beneficial and consistent approaches to evidence gathering, data analysis and dissemination; and
• Supports local plan-making functions and local decision-making on planning applications, as well as potentially informing sub-national or national policy development.

Next Steps
After the SOCG has been signed by HC, it will be sent to WCC and GCC. Once signed by all three authorities, the SOCG will be made publically available on the Minerals and Waste Local Plan examination pages of the Herefordshire Council website.

Appendix A: Statement of Common Ground between Herefordshire Council, Worcestershire County Council and Gloucestershire County Council on strategic, cross-boundary minerals and waste planning matters.