The report looked at the Essex and Southend replacement Waste Local Plan Pre-Submission Draft that provides the key principles and policies proposed to guide the future management of waste in the Plan area up until 2032.

It proposed to safeguard existing waste capacity, allocate sites suitable for waste facilities and a range of policies to manage waste development.

A number of ‘Strategic Sites’ had been identified to meet the waste capacity needs of Essex and Southend. None had been identified in Brentwood Borough. The consultation document identified two ‘Areas of Search’ and eight ‘Safeguarded Sites’ within Brentwood Borough.

This consultation provided the final opportunity for comments to be made on the Replacement Waste Local Plan and supporting documentation before it is submitted for an Examination in Public. Only representations on matters of soundness and legal compliance can be considered by the Planning Inspectorate. Further to raising specific points regarding Areas of Search and Safeguarded Sites, the Replacement Waste Local Plan is considered to be sound and legally compliant.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr McCheyne and SECONDED by Cllr Mynott to agreed the recommendation set out in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY to:

1.         Approve the response to the Essex and Southend Replacement Waste Local Plan Pre-Submission Draft (March 2016), as set out in Appendix A.

REASON FOR RECOMMEDNATION

It is not considered necessary to object to the Essex and Southend Replacement Waste Local Plan Pre Submission Draft consultation on the basis of identifying two Areas of Search and safeguarding eight existing waste facilities within the Borough.

Principally the identified approach of the emerging Replacement Waste

Local Plan is to meet the waste capacity requirements through strategic allocations (none of which are identified in the Brentwood Borough). The

Areas of Search would be an option for waste development should none of the strategic allocations be deemed suitable and for non-strategic sites. Any applications would still be subject to assessment against the appropriate policies of the Waste Local Plan and Brentwood Local Plan.

The Brentwood Draft Local Plan identifies sufficient additional employment land for the plan period. With the sites at West Horndon and Codham Hall Farm allocated for non-waste development the additional employment land identified in the Borough to meet future needs may be suitable as alternative locations for future waste facilities.

The Council supports the main aim of the RWLP to continue to support better and more sustainable ways of dealing with waste, further reduce dependence on landfill and achieve net self-sufficiency for all waste streams.