Issue - meetings

To receive questions from members of the public, of which prior notification in writing has been received (no later than noon on the Tuesday prior to the day of the meeting).

Should you wish to submit a question please complete the online form at www.maldon.gov.uk/publicparticipation.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 1(3)(e) and the Council’s Public Question Time and Participation at Council and Committee Meetings Scheme, the Chairman of the Council referred to four questions from Judy Lea on behalf of the Maldon Society of which prior notification had been given.  A copy of the questions and the prepared response from the Leader of the Council was circulated prior to the meeting.

We understand that the whole of the Local Development Plan has only one policy reference to a new nuclear power station (confirmed by Director Paul Dodson via email on 28th April this year). Embedded in Policy D4 there is the statement “The council will strongly support the principle of the development of a new nuclear power station at Bradwell-on-Sea”. 

Our question is in four related parts:

a)         Can the Council please now make widely available and easily accessible the detailed arguments and supportive evidence upon which this policy was founded?

Response:

The documentation on the preparation of the Renewable Energy and Low Carbon policy is already a matter of public record and is available on the council’s website: https://www.maldon.gov.uk/info/20048/planning_policy/9163/local_development_plan_supporting_documents

From here, the documents that have informed the development of the District’s renewable energy and low carbon policy can be inspected, including the consultation documents and Committee Reports.

The policy was considered by the Planning Inspectorate during the Examination in Public between 2016-2017 an Inspector’s Report was issued detailing his considerations for alterations to Policy D2.

b)         The need for a new station is determined by national government, but that policy is now well overdue for reassessment. Since calculations were made in support of the current national policy there have been enormous changes to both the means of electricity supply and storage, and the consumer demand for it. For example, even pre virus, there has been a 37% drop in electricity consumption below the government prediction. Amongst many other factors which have changed are the increased political awareness of the dangers of relying on China, the reduced costs of green energy, and the knowledge extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. Does the District Council therefore now consider it wise to suspend its unequivocal support for the new station until its place in national government policy has been properly reassessed and the need reaffirmed?

Response:

Whilst the Council may choose to now advise it no longer supports the new station (by a Motion for example), in 2017 it adopted the Local Development Plan which advises that the statutory policy position of the Council is different.  The policy has statutory weight in decision-making and the Council cannot just withdraw aspects of policies it no longer supports when it is inclined to.  The Council may feel that is inclined to change its position based on evidence and judgement, but I can only see that it can do that in two ways:

i.                by completing a full / partial review of the Local Development Plan, submit it to the Government and be advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1037