Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Place, Environment and Climate Action

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/067

Contact: Kevin Broughton, MWLP Manager

Kevin.broughton@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Director of Economy and Place (CA12)

The County Council is the Minerals and Waste Planning Authority for Oxfordshire and responsible for producing the Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan which, alongside the District Authority Local Plans, forms the Development Plan for Oxfordshire.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)    approve the cessation of the preparation of the new Minerals and Waste Local Plan under the current plan-making process and authorise the production of a new Minerals and Waste Local Plan under the new plan-making process in accordance with the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023

b)    delegate to the Director of Economy and Place in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer

(a)  to put in place changes to the Minerals and Waste Development  

Scheme to reflect this and

(b)  to carry out a review within 6 months if the provisions of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act have not been brought into force by that time or earlier if necessary.

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before it a report which provided an update on progress with the production of a Minerals and Waste Development Scheme (MWDS) which contained the timetable for Minerals and Waste Local Plan production. The most recent MWDS was approved by Cabinet in December 2022.

The preparation process of the new Local Plan remained the same as set out with the timetable outlined in the December 2022 MWDS. However, progress through this process had been impacted by ongoing challenges in preparing the evidence required and acquiring the relevant expertise. These constraints had limited the County Council’s capacity to meet the milestones as set out within the MWDS; this despite continued efforts to address the issue.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, presented the report. She outlined the need to pause work on the current plan, pending national planning reforms under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. The aim was to fast-track a compliant plan once new regulations were published, assuring community partners and the industry of the Council’s readiness.

Councillor Roberts moved and Councillor Hannaby seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:-

a)    approve the cessation of the preparation of the new Minerals and Waste Local Plan under the current plan-making process and authorise the production of a new Minerals and Waste Local Plan under the new plan-making process in accordance with the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023

b)    delegate to the Director of Economy and Place in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer

1)    to put in place changes to the Minerals and Waste Development  Scheme to reflect this and

2)    to carry out a review within 6 months if the provisions of the  

Levelling Up and Regeneration Act have not been brought into force by that time or earlier if necessary.