The Essex and Southend Replacement Waste Local Plan Pre-Submission Draft was submitted to the Secretary of State for an Examination in Public which took place between September and October 2016. Following the public hearing sessions Essex County Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council made a request to the Inspector to make several modifications to make the document sound/legally compliant and appropriate for adoption.  The modifications are subject to a public consultation, responses to this will be considered by the Inspector before a formal report is issued.

Brentwood Borough Council previously made comments on the Pre-Submission Draft version of the Plan regarding Areas of Search and Safeguarded Sites, concluding that the Plan was sound and legally compliant.  The Main Modifications being proposed are considered to be reasonable and do not result in a change in this position. This report recommends that the Council makes a formal response to the Schedule of Modifications consultation to confirm that there is no comment.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr McCheyne and SECONDED by Cllr Bridge to approve the recommendations in the report.

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

1.         To approve a response of ‘no comment’ to the Essex and Southend Replacement Waste Local Plan Schedule of Modifications (January 2017), as explained in this report.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

It is not considered necessary to make any formal comments to the Essex and Southend Replacement Waste Local Plan Schedule of Modifications as these do not result in any potential negative effect on development within Brentwood Borough.  These changes are deemed necessary by the Planning Inspector in order to make the Plan sound and capable of adoption.

As outlined in representations made in previous consultations, the Council supports the main aim of the Replacement Waste Local Plan 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.