The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Local Plan (CEBJMWP), which was being prepared on behalf of Reading, Bracknell Forest, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and Wokingham Councils to fulfil their responsibility for the planning of future production of minerals and the management of waste disposal within the Berkshire area.  Attached to the report at Appendix 1 was an Equality Impact Assessment and at Appendix 2 a Schedule of Main Modifications.

The report noted that the CEBJMWP had been through several stages of community involvement and had been submitted to the Secretary of State on 2 March 2021.  This had marked the beginning of a public examination held by an independent Planning Inspector, including public hearings in September and October 2021.  The Inspector had identified a number of main modifications that were needed to make sure that the plan was sound and legally compliant.  These main modifications needed to be subject to consultation, and a consultation document was set out at Appendix 2.  A six-week consultation was proposed to take place during February and March 2022.  Representations received would be passed to the Inspector who would then produce a final report on the soundness and legal compliance of the plan, incorporating the main modifications.  If the plan was found sound and legally compliant, it could proceed to adoption.

Resolved –

(1)      That the Main Modifications to the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Local Plan (Appendix 2) be approved;

(2)      That community involvement on the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Local Plan be authorised.