Issue - meetings

That:

1)        the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan: Sand and Gravel Provision and Operator Performance regulation 18 Consultation be agreed for public consultation;

2)         the proposed consultation framework be agreed;

3)        any minor amendments to the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan: Sand and Gravel Provision and Operator Performance Regulation 18 Consultation and material to support this consultation be delegated to the Director of Localities and Customer Services, in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning and Enforcement.

The Executive considered a report relating to a proposed Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan: Sand and Gravel Provision and Operator Performance Regulation 18 Consultation.

During the introduction of the report the Executive Member for Planning and Enforcement advised that although other sites had been identified they were subsequently found to be unsuitable.  As a result of a ‘call for sites’ two new sites for the extraction of sand and gravel had come forward; one in the Spencers Wood/Swallowfield area and the other located in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.  As these had come forward the Council had a duty to go out to consultation on the sites to ascertain their suitability.  The consultation was intended to be carried out during 10 February-20 March.

Councillor Smith confirmed that if the Council could not find any suitable sites and the amount of available minerals decreased then the price of raw materials would increase.  He advised that an event was due to be held in Swallowfield to gain residents’ feedback on the proposals and he hoped that many people would attend.

The Leader of Council reiterated the importance of people responding to the consultation and asked the press and local Members to encourage people to do so.

RESOLVED that:

1)        the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan: Sand and Gravel Provision and Operator Performance regulation 18 Consultation be agreed for public consultation;

2)         the proposed consultation framework be agreed;

3)        any minor amendments to the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan: Sand and Gravel Provision and Operator Performance Regulation 18 Consultation and material to support this consultation be delegated to the Director of Localities and Customer Services, in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning and Enforcement.