To elect a Chairman of The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2012/13.

RESOLVED

that Councillor Young 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 2012/13.

RESOLVED

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

To approve as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting of The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Committee held on 13 December 2011.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2011 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from members any declarations of interest.

None were declared.

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.

In light of the Council’s previous decision to petition Parliament, this report summarises the current situation and possible financial impacts.

1)           That the current position of the Council with respect to it’s involvement in the Special Parliamentary Process be noted.

2)           That the Council continue to object to the Development Consent Order by petitioning Parliament be agreed.

3)           That the current budgeted provision to cover the cost putting forward the Council’s case should be £150,000.

4)           That if costs exceed £150,000 for Central Bedfordshire Council a report be brought back to The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Committee.

NOTED

that a meeting of The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) be scheduled for the end of January 2013.

The Committee received a report from the Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development about the Council’s objection to the proposal for a large waste to energy facility in Rookery Pit, Stewartby. 

The Council had been presenting its case in Parliament since 24 October 2012 but the presentation and cross examination of the evidence was taking longer than initially estimated.  The original estimated costs were in the region of £120,000 being shared with Bedford Borough Council on a 50/50 basis.  Members noted that a contingency reserve of £100,000 had been previously included in the budget. The revised estimated final cost was £250,000 with Central Bedfordshire Council contributing £125,000 towards this.

The Committee received comments from non Executive Members supporting the continuation to object to the Development Consent Order.  

The meeting was adjourned from 2.00 p.m. to 2.15 p.m. due to a fire drill.

The Committee discussed the proposed East West Rail link that would run close to Rookery South Pit and the impact that this would have on the proposal for a Waste to Energy Plant.

The Executive Member for External Affairs moved an amendment to the recommendations, which was duly seconded:

“2)    that the Council continue to object to the Development Consent Order by petitioning Parliament be agreed;

3)           that the current budgeted provision to cover the cost putting forward the Council’s case should be £150,000; and

4)           that if costs exceed £150,000 for Central Bedfordshire Council a report be brought back to The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Committee.”

Reason for decision:  To enable the Council to formally consider whether or not to continue to petition against the Rookery South Development Consent Order now laid before Parliament, through the processes available to it.

RESOLVED

1)           that the current position of the Council with respect to it’s involvement in the Special Parliamentary Process be noted;

2)           that the Council continue to object to the Development Consent Order by petitioning Parliament be agreed;

3)           that the current budgeted provision to cover the cost putting forward the Council’s case should be £150,000; and

4)           that if costs exceed £150,000 for Central Bedfordshire Council a report be brought back to The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Committee.

NOTED

that a meeting of The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) be scheduled for the end of January 2013.