Agenda and minutes

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjIYoMOVeG4&list=PLrlN4_PKzPXjar7IOtLtNZvIwZ4xT_8yU.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2022 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 34.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

The Chief Executive reported that no petitions had been received under Standing Order 35.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive which set out the conclusions of the Review of the Leicestershire Minerals and Waste Local Plan. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 7’, is filed with these minutes.

It was noted that paragraph 4.1.33 of the Review document made reference to the Growth Plan which had been announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 23 September 2022 but this had now been superseded by the Autumn Statement announced on 17 November 2022 and therefore the document required updating to reflect this. It was also noted that paragraph 4.1.58 of the Review document referred to the Government’s lifting of the moratorium on fracking however the moratorium had now been re-imposed.

In response to a question from a member reassurance was given that the evidence indicated that sand and gravel development proposals continued to come forward and the policy landscape was not preventing this. Current pending planning applications amounted to some 5.2 million tonnes of sand and gravel in Leicestershire. The Local Aggregate Assessments formed part of the evidence base for the Review and indicated that supply of sand and gravel would continue regardless of whether the proposed quarry near the village of Misterton was granted planning permission.

In response to further questions about whether early action could be taken to prevent the restoration of quarries being delayed it was explained that whilst the National Planning Policy Framework encouraged early engagement with communities, the County Council could not take action until the quarrying work had been completed.

Members thanked officers for their comprehensive work on the Review.

RESOLVED:

(a)        That the conclusions of the report on the Review of the Leicestershire Minerals and Waste Local Plan be supported;

(b)        That the comments now made be forwarded for consideration by Cabinet at its meeting on 16 December 2022.

The Chairman advised that the next meeting of the Board would take place on Thursday 8 December 2022 at 2.00pm.