Agenda item

To consider the reports of the Cabinet and to receive answers to any questions asked on those reports as follows:

a)    Reports of Cabinet – Matters which require a decision; and

b)    Report of Cabinet – Summary of decisions taken.

Council considered the Worcestershire Minerals Local Plan.

The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills introduced the report and commented that the Council had been working off saved policies from the 1997 Minerals Local Plan. This new Plan had been subject to extensive rounds of consultation with the public as well as an Examination in Public conducted by a Government inspector and had been found to be sound. Approval of the main modifications to the Plan was required . These modifications did not significantly alter the Plan. However, the Council had no option other than to accept these modifications or would be required to draw up and consult on a fresh plan. There was a statutory requirement for the Council to adopt a Minerals Local Plan to ensure a steady supply of minerals to meet local and national demand, the bulk of which being sand and gravel. The Plan had been subject to scrutiny at OSPB and Cabinet and no substantive matters had been identified. The details of the sites for extraction would be subject to consultation and adoption by Council at a later date.

In the ensuing debate, the following points were raised:

·         Along with sand and gravel, the mineral working in the county also provided a supply of brick clay, silica sand, brine, building stone, crushed rock and coal 

·         There was a perception among some local residents that the wording of the Plan was skewed in favour of developers

·         Silica dust was known to cause uncurable cancer and the report stated that minerals development could result in negative impacts on health and well-being of local residents as a result of changes to the environment and amenity impact. Mental and physical health could be impacted with vulnerable groups being particularly at risk. The report also referred to the harm of air pollutants to human health. The report set out a number of safeguards but the 200 metres buffer zone to the nearest residential properties which had been in the existing plan had been omitted and ought to be reinstated. It was therefore requested that consideration of the Plan be deferred to enable Cabinet to revisit this particular issue

·         Dust emissions from mineral working could travel as far as 500 metres in certain weather conditions. The re-introduction of the 200 metre buffer zone would be an important modification to the Plan and would give some protection to local residents

·         The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills considered that a balanced approach had been adopted in the Plan that met the needs of developers, residents and business. Policy 28 of the Plan concerned amenity and required any proposed minerals development to demonstrate that throughout its lifetime, taking into account the cumulative effects of multiple impacts of the site or number of sites, the proposed development would not cause unacceptable harm to sensitive receptors from a number of factors including dust. He considered that this gave the necessary level of protection to neighbouring residential properties.

On a named vote RESOLVED that the Worcestershire Minerals Local Plan and Policies Map be adopted, with the main modifications recommended by the Inspectors and the additional modifications which are necessary to clarify the plan, but which do not materially affect its policies.

Those in favour of the motion were: Cllr Chris Rogers, Cllr Alastair Adams, Cllr Allan Amos, Cllr Marc Bayliss, Cllr Bob Brookes, Cllr David Chambers, Cllr Kyle Daisley, Cllr Nathan Desmond, Cllr Allah Ditta, Cllr Elizabeth Eyre, Cllr Simon Geraghty, Cllr Laura Gretton, Cllr Karen Hanks, Cllr Ian Hardiman, Cllr Adrian Hardman, Cllr Marcus Hart, Cllr Bill Hopkins, Cllr Adam Kent, Cllr Adrian Kriss, Cllr Steve Mackay, Cllr Emma Marshall, Cllr Karen May, Cllr Tony Miller, Cllr Dan Morehead, Cllr Richard Morris, Cllr Tony Muir,  Cllr Tracey Onslow, Cllr Scott Richardson Brown, Cllr Andy Roberts, Cllr Linda Robinson, Cllr David Ross, Cllr Mike Rouse, Cllr James Stanley, Cllr Emma Stokes, Cllr Kit Taylor, and Cllr Shirley Webb. (36)

Those against the motion were: Cllr Mel Allcott, Cllr Martin Allen, Cllr Dan Boatright, Cllr Lynn Denham, Cllr Matt Jenkins, Cllr Luke Mallett, Cllr Natalie McVey, Cllr Beverley Nielsen, Cllr Josh Robinson, Cllr Richard Udall, and Cllr Tom Wells. (11).