Agenda item

[To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Planning. Report of the Assistant Director for Planning.] This report introduces a consultation draft of the Joint North London Waste Plan (NLWP) and two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs):

·         Memorandum of Understanding for Joint Working with North London Boroughs and;

·         Memorandum of Understanding for providing a frame work for co-operation between London Legacy Development Corporation (“Legacy Corporation”) and the North London Boroughs.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration introduced the report, which all 7 North London boroughs would be seeking agreement to, and would confirm agreement to a consultation draft of the joint North London Waste Plan and two memorandums’ of understanding. The first as a basis for joint working with North London Boroughs and the second, providing a framework   for co-operation between London Legacy Development Corporation and the North London Boroughs.

The Board of the NLWA had set out the sites for consultation and there would follow a further statutory consultation and public examination before the final waste disposal sites were agreed. Therefore, a commitment was being sought on taking the draft North London Waste Plan out to consultation, at this stage, and, as previously outlined in the deputation response, the Pinkham Way Alliance views were valued as part of this consultation.

In response, Councillor Engert question, it was noted that Pinkham Way had not been included in the open space study as it was not accessible and had been part of a separate unsuccessful exercise to designate this land as a village green. In the longer term there was a need for evidence to support or disprove this site as appropriate for the disposal of waste.

In response to a further question, this site had been identified by TFL when considering potential around the North Circular as part of the strategic review of infrastructure and when considering the wider aspirations for growth in London. The Council had expressed no views about this site as part of this exercise and no views were included on the site from TFL on the Local Plan or Waste Plan.

RESOLVED

      i.        To approve the draft North London Waste Plan at Appendix A for public consultation, during a 6-8 week period currently scheduled for July to September 2015;

     ii.        To enter into the MoU at Appendix B with the other North London Boroughs, being Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest, for the purpose of preparing the NLWP;

    iii.        To enter into the MoU at Appendix C to provide a framework for co-operation between London Legacy Development Corporation and the North London Boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest undertaking the North London Waste Plan; and

   iv.        To delegate to the, Director Regeneration, Planning and Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, the power to agree any future MOUs related to the NLWP preparation and any minor, non-material changes made to the NLWP prior to public consultation.

    v.        To agree the appointment of Alan Strickland, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, to the NLWP Planning Members Group.

Alternative options considered

In line with the National Planning Policy Framework (paragraph 182) to ensure the NLWP is justified, a range of options have been tested to demonstrate that the North London Boroughs have considered reasonable alternatives and that the Plan follows the most appropriate strategy.

The three growth scenarios represent different population and economic factors that will affect the quantity of waste generated from households, businesses and services. The growth assumption options are:

·                     Option A: No Growth

·                     Option B: Growth

·                     Option C: Minimised growth

All the evidence and projections anticipate substantial population and economic growth in London over the next few decades. The Options Appraisal report concludes that Growth Assumption Option B: Growth is the most appropriate strategy for the Draft NLWP as it will provide the most accurate modelling scenario to project future capacity gaps.

Growth Options A and C are not considered to be appropriate strategies as they do not represent the most credible estimate of growth in North London over the plan period.

Reasons for Decision

The seven North London Boroughs (Barnet, Enfield, Waltham Forest, Hackney, Islington, Haringey and Camden), as Waste Planning Authorities (WPAs), are required to prepare a Waste Local Plan. Article 28 of the European Union (EU) Waste Framework Directive states that all member states must prepare a Waste Management Plan.

The main purpose is to ensure that there will be adequate provision of suitable land (sites and areas) to accommodate waste management facilities of the right type, in the right place and at the right time up to 2032 to manage waste generated in North London. The draft NLWP also provides policies against which planning applications for waste development will be assessed, safeguards existing waste sites and allocates sites and areas with potential to accommodate waste facilities in the future.