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Minerals newsPlanning white paper responsesThe CBI Minerals Group has submitted detailed responses to the planning white paper and related consultations on behalf of the minerals sector. The Group supports the general aims of the white paper to make the planning system quicker, more efficient and more cost effective and the proposals for the establishment of the new planning commission but are of the opinion that mineral planning applications should continue to be dealt with under the existing planning regime. We were disappointed that the white paper made no reference to minerals and how essential they are for all development.We are not convinced that the proposed new planning performance agreements will be of significant assistance to mineral operators and believe that the focus should remain firmly on improving the overall performance of planning authorities. We are strongly oppose the proposals to remove of the £50,000 cap on planning fees and to introduce a new punitive fee for applications to vary a planning condition on an existing planning permission. The Group’s full responses may be viewed here. UK National Minerals ForumThe first detailed scoping meeting of the UK National Minerals Forum (UKNMF) took place in May followed by a further full meeting of the Forum in early July. The next meeting is scheduled for September. Dr Brian Marker OBE, formerly Head of Minerals at the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) was invited to chair the meetings. Membership of the Forum is drawn from across the entire minerals sector together with senior departmental representatives from CLG, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) as well as the Planning Officers Society, Natural England and the Council for National Parks.The scope of the Forum and its terms of reference have now been drawn up and the issues which are likely to feature early in the deliberations of the UKNMF are:
These are early days in the life of the UKNMF but all participants have shown great enthusiasm and interest is growing. The British Geological Survey website is likely to host Forum news and documents in the future. If you would like a copy of the minutes, call Bob LeClerc on 020 7395 8059. APMG discusses planning white paperThe Associate Parliamentary Minerals Group (APMG) met on 12 June to discuss the planning white paper. Paul Hudson, Chief Planner at CLG briefed 25 MPs, Peers and Industry members on the White Paper and the implications for minerals. He acknowledged the special position of minerals in the planning system and confirmed that MPS1, published in November last year, would continue to play a pivotal role in future mineral planning. He highlighted the importance of mineral safeguarding; a key tenet of MPS1.Mr Hudson also underlined the Government’s continued support for the managed aggregate supply system and he concluded by stating that an adequate and steady supply of minerals is crucial for development. He asked the mineral industry members present to use their voice and take the opportunity to respond to the white paper and the various consultations that accompany it. The APMG next meets on 16 October. More details on the APMG are available from Bob LeClerc on 020 7395 8059. Implementation of the Mine Waste DirectiveThe Mine Waste Directive must be implemented by Member States by 1 May 2008. The Directive will require site operators to draw up a waste management plan and all non-inert facilities will require a permit to operate. A financial guarantee may also be required.Existing Planning and Health and Safety legislation in the UK covers most of the requirements of the Directive and the CBI Minerals Group firmly believes that the most efficient way to implement the Directive is by ‘bolting it on’ to the existing planning legislation. Government is considering two basic options to implement the Directive either via the planning system or via the new Environmental Permit Programme (EPP) which is to be introduced in April 2008 by DEFRA and will be administered by the Environment Agency. The Group is actively involved in discussions with CLG, BERR and DEFRA about these models for implementation and on guidance for the interpretation of the requirements of the Directive. An Impact Assessment of the relative costs of implementing the alternative options has been prepared by CLG and we are awaiting a ministerial decision of the preferred model for implementation. A full consultation on the draft regulations for implementation will take place in the late autumn. Planning-gain supplement and mineralsThe PM’s announcement that a Planning-gain Supplement Bill will be introduced in the next session of Parliament unless a better idea is proposed to capture a share of the financial gain resulting from the grant of planning permission for funding infrastructure development re-opens the debate on PGS. The CBI Minerals Group supports the CBI opposition in principle to PGS and welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement in his last Pre-Budget Report published in December 2006 that the application of PGS to mineral operations is under review.The Group strongly believes that PGS would not be workable for the minerals sector and would restrict the supply of essential minerals. The Group's position on PGS is summarised in a letter sent to the Treasury in March (PDF 112kb). The Group will now renew its lobbying of the Treasury to have minerals excluded in advance of the Pre-Budget Report in the autumn when it is expected that further details will be announced. Minerals Group partners English HeritageThe Minerals Group is collaborating with English Heritage, the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers, the Quarry Products Association and the British Aggregates Association in preparing good practice guidance to provide planning authorities, the minerals industry and those with an interest in the historic environment with a tool for managing the impact of mineral extraction on archaeology. The guidance will supplement but not replace the CBI Code of Practice. It is hoped that the guide will be completed before the end of the year and a copy will be made available on this site as soon as has been published.Living With Minerals 3The Living With Minerals 3 Conference will take place on Monday 3 November 2008 at the QEII Conference Centre in Central London. The theme of the event will be reporting on the work of the UK National Minerals Forum since its launch in November 2006.The 2008 Conference will be highly interactive, held in cabaret style with a professional facilitator. It is proposed to repeat the very enjoyable reception after the event in the House of Commons in association with the Associate Parliamentary Minerals Group. Our aim is to make LWM3 the premier UK minerals event of 2008. If you are interested in being a sponsor, exhibitor or delegate, call Sue Thornton on 020 7395 8013 for details. |
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