To elect a Chairman of The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2011/12.

RESOLVED

that Councillor K Matthews be elected Chairman of The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

To elect a Vice-Chairman of The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2011/12.

RESOLVED

that Councillor R Stay be elected Vice-Chairman of The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

To receive from Members any declarations and the nature in relation to:-

(a)    personal interests in any agenda item

(b)    personal and prejudicial interests in any agenda item.

To receive any matters of communication from the Chairman.

The Chairman had no announcements to make.

To respond to general questions and statements from members of the public in accordance with the Scheme of Public Participation set out in Appendix A of Part A4 of the Constitution.

No members of the public had registered to speak.

To consider the IPC’s decision to approve the Covanta Waste to Energy Plant at Rookery South Pit, Stewartby.

1.      That the decision of the Infrastructure Planning Committee to approve the Waste to Energy Plant at Rookery South Pit, Stewartby, be noted;

2.      To petition against the Order and:

(a)         to agree that there should be a call on the Council’s contingency reserve to cover the cost putting forward the Council’s case;

(b)         that delegate authority be given to the Assistant Director Planning, in consultation with the Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development to approve the final content of any petitions; and

(c)         that the estimated cost in the region of £120,000 be shared on a 50/50 basis with Bedford Borough Council and if costs exceed this amount a report be brought back to The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Committee.

The Committee considered a report from the Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development on the Infrastructure Planning Commission’s (IPC) decision to approve the Convanta proposal for a ‘Waste to Energy’ plant at Rookery South Pit, Stewarby. 

Bedford Borough Council had decided to petition Parliament against the Development Consent Order (DCO).  Members considered whether Central Bedfordshire Council should object to the DCO jointly petitioning Parliament with Bedford Borough Council by sharing the estimated cost of £120,000 on a 50/50 basis. 

The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development responded to questions from Members including considering the principle reasons for objecting to the development. 

The Committee acknowledged that due to their membership on this Committee they would not take part in any decisions relating to the BEaR Project.

An additional recommendation was proposed and duly seconded as follows:

‘that the estimated cost in the region of £120,000 be shared on a 50/50 basis with Bedford Borough Council and if costs exceed this amount a report be brought back to The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Committee.’

Reason for decision:  To enable the Council to formally consider the IPC decision to approve the Convanta proposal for a Waste to Energy plant at Rookery South Pit, Stewarby and determine whether or not it wishes to petition against the Development Consent Order now laid before Parliament, through the processes available to it.

RESOLVED

1.      that the decision of the Infrastructure Planning Committee to approve the Waste to Energy Plant at Rookery South Pit, Stewartby, be noted;

2.            to petition against the Order and:

(a)         to agree that there should be a call on the Council’s contingency reserve to cover the cost putting forward the Council’s case;

(b)        that delegated authority be given to the Assistant Director Planning, in consultation with the Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development to approve the final content of any petitions; and

(c)         that the estimated cost in the region of £120,000 be shared on a 50/50 basis with Bedford Borough Council and if costs exceed this amount a report be brought back to The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Committee.