Decision details

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Hampshire 2050 on the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan: Partial Update – Proposed Submission Plan, which will form the basis of the public consultation scheduled for winter 2023.

The Chairman had received some correspondence, including a letter from the Leader of Dorset Council, regarding the proposed site allocations within the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Partial Update Plan.  He assured those who had contacted him that all comments received would be considered, and that the proposed consultation would provide the opportunity for everyone to have their say.  Cabinet was being asked for approval to enable that public consultation to take place.  He explained that, following the consultation, and subject to further County Council approval, the Plan would be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate along with all comments received.  It would then be subject to an independent examination in public, providing a further opportunity for the community to make their views known.

The Director summarised the report and in responding to questions from Cabinet, confirmed and clarified the following points:

-       There was a requirement to plan for oil and gas development set out in national policy.  The oil and gas policy had therefore been included in the Plan to ensure the County Council retained local control.  The policy had been strengthened to have regard to climate change.

-       The three sites currently subject to planning applications were being closely monitored and, if refused, would be reviewed to consider future suitability for inclusion in the Plan.

-       The proposed consultation statement would refer to all comments received.  All sites had been reviewed with specialists to consider which sites could be taken forward. Some sites had been removed because issues could not be mitigated.

Cabinet acknoweldged the need to have a suitable Minerals and Waste Plan for Hampshire and not having a Plan put the County Council at risk.  The Chairman thanked the officers for the report and put the recommendations to Cabinet.

Councillor Edward Heron indicated that he would not support the Plan in its current form and abstained.

The recommendations in the report were considered and agreed by Cabinet, with the exception of Councillor Heron as indicated above.  A decision record is attached to these minutes.