Report by Executive Director of Economic Growth & Neighbourhood Services

The Executive Director of Economic Growth & Neighbourhood Services submitted a report seeking approval to adopt the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan (CEBJMWP), which had been prepared by the Council with Wokingham Borough Council, Bracknell Forest Council and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to cover proposals for minerals and waste in the plan area.  The report recommended the adoption of the CEBJMWP, to replace the saved policies from the Waste Local Plan and the Replacement Minerals Local Plan.  The final Inspector’s Report had been received on 20 October 2022 and concluded that, subject to the Main Modifications set out in the draft report, the CEBJMWP was sound and legally compliant and fulfilled the duty to co-operate.  Once adopted the CEBJMWP would constitute part of the development plan for Reading, alongside the adopted Reading Borough Local Plan.  The CEBJMWP would therefore be the first matter to consider in determining planning applications relating to minerals or waste development.  The Plan had already been adopted by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead on 22 November 2022, Bracknell Forest Council on 11 January 2023 and Wokingham Borough Council on 26 January 2023 respectively.  The report had appended: the Equality Impact Assessment scoping; Report on the Examination of the CEBJMWP; the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan (Adoption version); Policies Map (Adoption version); and the Climate Assessment Tool.

The following motion was moved by Councillor Leng and seconded by Councillor Hornsby-Smith and CARRIED:

Resolved –

(1)           That the Report of the Inspector who conducted the Examination into the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan (Appendix 2); and that the Inspector had found the Plan, as amended by the Main Modifications, to be sound, legally compliant and that it fulfilled the duty to co-operate, be noted;

(2)           That the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Plan, incorporating the main modifications (Appendix 3), and the associated Policies Map (Appendix 4) be adopted.