To submit a report by the Director of Place and Community Well-being.

It was resolved –

·                    To approve the attached letter including Appendix A as the Isle of Anglesey County Council’s response to Welsh Government’s National Development Framework (2020-2040) Consultation.

·                    That delegated authority be given to the Director of Place and Community Well-being to carry out any minor amendments, variations or corrections which are identified and reasonably necessary prior to formal issue of the response.

The report of the Director of Place and Community Well-being incorporating the Isle of Anglesey’s draft response to the Welsh Government’s draft National Development Framework Consultation was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

In the absence of the Portfolio Member for Planning and Public Protection, the Chair reported that the Council’s draft response to the consultation on proposals within the National Development Framework has been shared with all the Council’s Members for their information and input. Additionally, comments have been received from town and community councils and have been forwarded to the Officers.  The Leaders of the six North Wales councils are also formulating a response on behalf of the North Wales Economic Ambitions Board in order to highlight areas where the Framework’s proposals diverge from the Board’s aspirations for the region. The Chair said that she understood that the 1st November, 2019 deadline to respond to the consultation had now been extended to the 15th November, 2019 and she added that she would like to take this opportunity to thank the Council’s Officers for  co-ordinating the response and bringing the information together.

The Chief Planning Officer said that responding to the draft NDF is critically important because it will set the direction for development in Wales from 2020 to 2040; it articulates a strategy for addressing key national priorities through the planning system, including sustaining and developing a vibrant economy, decarbonisation, developing resilient ecosystems and improving the health and well-being of communities. It is a spatial plan and is part of the highest tier of development plan focusing on issues and challenges at national scale. The Council therefore welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Framework and whilst it supports the principle of creating such a Framework, it does have serious concerns and reservations in relation to a number of themes and policies in the draft NDF specifically with reference to the following –

•           Recognition of existing Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) – the Council is of the view that the draft NDF does not give sufficient recognition to projects such as Wylfa Newydd and National Grid nor to the ability of nuclear energy to meet emissions targets. The importance of these projects to the future economic growth of Anglesey and North West Wales cannot be underestimated and need to be reflected as such in the NDF.

•           Approach to Low Carbon Energy – the draft NDF’s approach to low carbon energy is too narrow focusing excessively on wind and solar developments. The designation of the majority of the Island as a priority area for wind and solar energy is of significant concern and is unacceptable. The Council objects to this designation for a number of reasons including issues around the infrastructure needed to sustain such developments.

•           Regional Growth Areas – the Council is very surprised and is disappointed that Holyhead has not been recognised or defined as a regional growth area for Wales and believes that the NDF needs to be amended to reflect the potential strategic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10