Agenda and minutes

Forward Plan ref:  2012/025

Contact: Peter day, Minerals and Waste Policy Team Leader Tel: (01865) 815544

Report by the Deputy Director for Environment & Economy (Growth & Infrastructure) (CMDGI4)

The Cabinet Member considered a revised programme for the preparation of the Minerals and Waste Plan.

Councillor Purse referred to the destruction of dinosaur footprints at Ardley some years previously. That had been a significant discovery and yet what had been preserved was not representative of the immensity of the find itself. It was important to put in place a process to prevent that from happening again.

Mr Day referred to the Minerals Planning Strategy document and in particular the section on Biodiversity and Geodiversity (Policy C6)).   The dinosaur footprints at Ardley had been classed as a geological find and it was difficult when granting any planning permission to be mindful of what might be there. The County Council were unable to prevent a development from going ahead when such a find occurred and this had been the case at Ardley.

The Cabinet Member had some sympathy with the views expressed by Councillor Purse and noted the advice given by officers with regard to the relevant section in the Strategy document.

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before her the Cabinet Member for Growth & Infrastructure confirmed her decision as follows:

(a)                     approve the programme at Annex 1 to the report CMDGI4 as the basis for the Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Development Scheme (Fourth Revision) 2012, to have effect from 8 May 2012;

(b)                    authorise the Deputy Director for Environment & Economy (Growth & Infrastructure) to:

(i)           revise the Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Development Scheme, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Growth and Infrastructure;

(ii)         take the necessary steps to bring the revised Scheme into effect from 8 May 2012 and publish the revised Scheme, in accordance with Sections 15 and 16 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended).