Issue - meetings

a)    The Cabinet – Adoption of the North London Waste Plan

b)    Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Annual Report

The report of the Director for Housing, Regeneration and Planning. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters and Planning.

This report recommends adoption by Full Council of the North London Waste Plan (NLWP). The NLWP has been subject to an Examination in Public by an independent Planning Inspector and has been found sound, subject to Main Modifications.

The Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters, and Planning introduced the report which recommended adoption by Full Council of the North London Waste Plan (NLWP). The NLWP had been subject to an Examination in Public by an independent Planning Inspector and had been found sound, subject to Main Modifications

It was commented that the development of the NLWP had been a long process with considerable community engagement that had resulted in a number of modifications. It was noted that three priority areas had been identified in the NLWP: Friern Barnet Sewage Works/ Pinkham Way, Brantwood Road, and North East Tottenham. It was clarified that the authority did not own these sites and it was noted that there were multiple site owners.

It was highlighted that paragraph 5.26 of the report contained a factual error in relation to the Pinkham Way site. It was clarified that Barnet Council had not put forward the site as suitable for waste management. It was noted that this position was reflected in Appendix C to the report which demonstrated that, due to issues of multiple ownership, only one small area of the site owned by the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) was likely to be deliverable for waste management. The Cabinet Member thanked the Pinkham Way Alliance for raising this issue.

The Cabinet Member also noted that the NLWP was last agreed by Cabinet in 2019. Following this, the independent Planning Inspector had examined the NLWP and had commented that it should demarcate more clearly where development could take place and that there should be additional arrangements for biodiversity. It was explained that these issues had been addresses in the NLWP and corresponding appendices. The Cabinet Member asked the Cabinet to agree to refer the NLWP to Council for approval.

In response to questions from the Cabinet and Cllr Isilar-Gosling, the following information was provided:

-       It was noted that the Brantwood Road site was situated close to a residential area. It was explained that, because of the restrictions on the residential road, any vehicles would have to access the site from the east and would not impact the residential road. It was added that this was a large site and that any waste facility was unlikely to fill the entire site; in addition, it would be recommended that any facility avoided close proximity to residential areas.

-       It was also noted, in relation to the Brantwood Road site, that nothing in the NLWP would preclude the provision of solar, wind, or other sustainable energy. It was highlighted that any proposals would be subject to pre-application engagement with the community and the usual planning policy requirements.  

-       It was noted that the NLWP identified sites but that there was no guarantee that facilities would be brought forward in all of the locations. It was added that the NLWP would be subject to ongoing monitoring.

-       If sites in the NLWP were brought forward, members noted the importance of ensuring that resident engagement and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9