Issue - meetings

Report by the Service Director for Economy and Regeneration.

The proposed Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations DPD is enclosed separately for members of the Council and available on the Council’s website.

Cllr Fleur de Rhé-Philipe, Cabinet member for Economic Development and Strategic Planning presented a report on the Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD). She presented the DPD for Council’s consideration and approval taking into account consultation responses for the purpose of submission to the Secretary of State for Examination as recommended by Cabinet at its meeting on 19 June 2012.

Cllr de Rhé-Philipe explained the background and history into how the DPD had evolved and the previous deliberations by Cabinet during the plan preparation process.

Council was assured that the DPD was considered sound and based on robust and proportionate evidence gathering and consultation. A schedule of the main issues which arose from the consultation exercise was presented, although these were not considered to be significant new issues. The report outlined the general concerns and issues which had been raised.

Cllr de Rhé-Philipe explained that in light of comments and advice received during consultation, some minor modifications were proposed which if approved, would be submitted to the Secretary of State along with the DPD. Such modifications were in the interests of clarity, consistency, updating in light of changes to the planning system and the National Planning Policy Framework, minor text changes and additional wording within some site profile tables to reflect concerns raised by consultees on a number of areas.

Council’s endorsement of the DPD would confirm that Council considered the DPD to be sound and that it should be submitted to the Secretary of State for Independent Examination. It was noted that Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet endorsed the DPD for onward recommendation to its full Council meeting on 19 July 2012.

During debate, Cllr Colmer explained that 80% of the sites proposed in the DPD were within his Division. He expressed concern that proposals in the DPD would exacerbate the volume of HGV traffic in the affected areas. He therefore, asked Cllr Tonge, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport to commission a study in advance of any planning application being submitted to ensure a plan was in place rather than being put in the position of reacting to any application.

Cllr Tonge undertook to look into this but made the point that it would be dependent on receiving S.106 funds.

Cllr de Rhé-Philipemoved the recommendations and this was seconded by Cllr John Noeken. Cllr de Rhé-Philipe expressed her gratitude to officers for all their hard work in bringing the DPD to this stage.

On being put to the vote, it was

Resolved:

That Council:

1)           approves the Submission draft Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) and proposed modifications set out at Appendix 3 and the Equalities Impact Assessment at Appendix 4 of the report submitted, for the purpose of submission to the Secretary of State and

2)            delegates to the Director for Economy and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Strategic Planning and the Chairman of the Environment Select Committee, authorisation to propose  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53