Agenda item

The Committee considered a report that sought agreement to the Council’s response to the final consultation on the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Proposed Submission Plan.

The Plan was being developed by Bracknell Forest Council, Reading Borough Council, the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead and Wokingham Borough Council.  Although Slough Borough Council was not part of the plan, it had made previous representations during prior stages of consultation, most of which had been addressed to the satisfaction of the Council.

However, the previous objection to Policy DM9 (Protecting Public Health, Safety and Amenity) still remained.  It was considered that it did not include an appropriate policy framework for considering the impact of HGV movements upon air quality and securing appropriate mitigation.  This was an important issue for Slough as there may be proposals for haul routes to come through Air Quality Management Areas in places such as Brands Hill.  There had been no amendment to this position in the final consultation draft and the Committee was asked to respond to the current consultation to restate the objection.  The Committee agreed this recommendation.

Resolved –

(a)  That the Council should object to Policy DM9 (Protecting Public Health, Safety and Amenity) in the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Submission Plan on the grounds that it did not provide an appropriate policy framework for considering the impact of HGV movements upon air quality and securing appropriate mitigation.

(b)  That the proposed representations to the Central and Eastern Berkshire Joint Minerals and Waste Proposed Submission be agreed and submitted to the Council.