The Cabinet has decided to delegate the preparation of a joint development plan document to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester.

URL: https://democracy.rochdale.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2755

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: Subject to a subsequent decision to be made by Council to approve, in principle, the making of a joint development plan document with the other 9 Greater Manchester councils (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan), to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester, Cabinet to delegate to AGMA Executive Board the formulating and preparing of the joint development plan document to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester insofar as such matters are executive functions (including agreeing a timetable for the preparation of the plan).

Content: The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Economy and Place, which sought approval to delegate to the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) Executive Board the preparation of a joint development plan document to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester.   The Principal Planning Officer (Climate Resilience) was in attendance to present the information and to address the questions and the comments of the Cabinet Members.   The Officer informed that Greater Manchester leaders at the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) Executive Board meeting on 28th March 2025 had agreed to the production of a statutory Greater Manchester Joint Minerals and Waste Plan (GMJMWP) for the region.   The existing Greater Manchester Minerals and Waste Plans required updating in full, as they had been adopted over a decade ago. Their replacement with a single, joint minerals and waste plan would ensure efficient compliance with national planning policy.   The Officer continued informing that, on 16th July 2025, a Full Council decision would be required to agree to the principle of the making of a joint development plan document with the other nine Greater Manchester councils (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan), to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester.   The Officer also informed that there would be further reports to Full Council in respect of, matters, which were within its remit, including adoption of the joint development plan document.   Resolved: That subject to Full Council of 16th July 2025 approving, in principle, to the making of a joint development plan document with the other nine Greater Manchester councils (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan), to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester - 1.    That authority be delegated to AGMA Executive Board to formulate and to prepare the joint development plan document to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester insofar as such matters are executive functions; 2.    That it be noted that the following are the sole responsibility of Full Council: a.    Responsibility for giving of instructions to the executive to reconsider the draft plan submitted by the executive for the authority’s consideration; b.    The amendment of the draft joint development plan document submitted by the executive for the Council’s consideration; c.    The approval of the joint development plan document for the purposes of submission to the Secretary of State for independent examination; d.    The adoption of the joint development plan document. 3.    That it be noted that the following recommendations would be for Full Council to consider at its meeting of 16th July 2025: a)    Agree to the principle of the making of a joint development plan document with the other 9 Greater Manchester councils (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan), to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester; b)    Note that Cabinet agreed, subject to the above decision, to delegate the formulating and preparing of the draft joint development plan document to AGMA Executive Board; c)    Note that there would be further reports to Full Council in respect of, matters, which were within the remit of Full Council, including adoption of the joint development plan document.   Reason for decision: The existing Greater Manchester Minerals and Waste Plans required updating in full because they were out of date, having been adopted over a decade ago. Planning for both minerals and waste at the same time, and jointly across Greater Manchester, represented an efficient way to deliver updates to the planning policy framework. There were resource efficiencies (economy of scale) at each stage of plan preparation and would mean that up-to-date minerals and waste policies would be in place at the earliest possible time scale.   Alternatives considered and rejected: To produce two separate joint plans, one for waste and one for minerals. This approach would require more resources than a single, joint plan due to duplication of work and could result in delay.   To produce a joint Waste Plan and incorporate minerals policies into each authority’s Local Plan. Some authorities were already advanced in preparing a Local Plan and therefore could not incorporate minerals within their plan timetable. Therefore some Greater Manchester (GM) authorities would continue to have outdated minerals policies, contrary to national policy.   Do not update the current plans – ‘do nothing’ scenario. This approach would be contrary to national policy and legislation and risks unplanned proposals coming forward and securing approval (including approval following appeal).

Date of Decision: June 24, 2025