Agenda item

To submit a report by the Corporate Director (Sustainable Development) and other Senior Officers in relation to the above.

Additional Background Papers :-

http://www.anglesey.gov.uk/business/energy-island/energy-island-news/new-nuclear-build-at-wylfa-supplementary-planning-guidance/123426.article

The Chair welcomed the relevant Officers to the meeting together with Mr. Alex Melling - AMEC Environment & Infrastructure to the meeting.

Submitted – a report by the Corporate Director (Sustainable Development) and other Senior Officers in relation to the above.

The Corporate Director stated that given the scale, complexity and timescales of the proposed New Nuclear Build, the preparation and adoption of the SPG is a priority activity for the County Council.  The SPG will contribute towards ensuring that the potential known impacts of the New Nuclear Build and its associated developments are identified, avoided, mitigated and compensated where possible; and that the socio-economic benefits associated with the construction and operation of the power station are fully realised.

The preparation of the SPG has been co-ordinated by the Economic and Community Regeneration Service under the guidance of a number of County Council Senior Officers.  AMEC Environment & Infrastructure (the County Council’s providers of multi-disciplinary support and expertise) have been responsible for drafting the document.  Resources to fund the preparation of the SPG have been secured through the Planning Performance Agreement with Horizon Nuclear Power. 

The Principal Development Officer (Strategy) gave a slide presentation to the Committee and noted that the SPG’s project wide guiding principles are :-

·        Supporting the Energy Island Programme and Enterprise Zone;

·        Local Job Creation & Skills and Development;

·        Employment Logistics;

·        Local Supply Chain;

·        Supporting Tourism;

·        Maintaining & Enhancing Community Facilities;

·        Health & Wellbeing;

·        Community Cohesion;

·        Workers Accommodation;

·        Maintaining & Strengthening Welsh Language & Culture;

·        Transport & Utilities;

·        Conserving & Enhancing the Natural & Historic Environments;

·        Planning Obligations & Community Benefits;

·        Use of Council Powers;

·        Waste;

·        Climate Change.

He noted that 7 Zones have been identified which seek to guide the New Nuclear Build’s associated developments to Anglesey’s largest settlements and along key transport corridors (i.e. areas which the Council is minded to prefer and support).

Mr. Alex Melling from AMEC gave a brief presentation to the Committee in respect of the draft SPG.

Formal consultation on the SPG commenced in February 2014 and a total of 52 individual responses received.  The nature of the comments received included the need to :-

·        Ensure jobs for local people, especially young people;

·        Maximise contract and supply chain opportunities for local businesses;

·        Provide appropriate skills training;

·        Ensure construction workers are accommodated in suitable locations;

·        Minimise negative impacts of the Island’s tourism sector;

·        Minimise the impact of road improvements along the A5025;

·        Mitigate potential impacts on local communities and the Welsh language.

Issues raised by Members :-

·             Concerns raised to the lack of mention of the A5025 from Amlwch to Menai Bridge within the SPG.  The Officers responded that the workers that will be travelling to the site will be transported from a central location due to security issues and to ease the traffic on the Island’s transport network;

·             Matters raised in respect of capacity and expertise within the relevant department in respect of the scale of the nuclear new build at Wylfa.  The Corporate Director (Sustainable Development) responded that a Major Consent Team exists to deal with major planning applications. Consultants, under a framework agreement, will be drafted in to support that team as and when required.  The funding will be come from the Planning Performance Agreement from the applicants/developer.

·               Matters raised in respect of the effect of the Nuclear New Build on Services for the island’s residents i.e. health.  The Corporate Director (Sustainable Development) responded that a Health Impact Assessment will monitor the effect on local services during the planning procedure.  An assessment will be made on the actual needs and how the mitigation process will be assessed; this will be attached to the planning S106 agreement;

·             Questions were raised in respect of storage of nuclear waste at Wylfa.   The Officers responded that the Local Authority does not support nuclear waste storage on the Island.

·             Issues raised in respect of the effect on Tourism and Housing Needs on the Island during construction of the New Nuclear Power Station.  The Officers responded that the County Council has done a lot of work in respect of the demand for construction workers accommodation and the effect it may have on tourist and private accommodation, the housing market, rented accommodation.  GP10 within the SPG addresses these issues.

·             Matters raised in respect of the effect on the Welsh Language and the Heritage of the Island.  The Officers responded that in relation to the Welsh language, the County Council (through the Energy Island Programme) and Horizon Nuclear Power have agreed in principle to co-fund a secondee from the Welsh Government’s Welsh Language Unit to develop appropriate integration and mitigation measures.

·            Concerns were expressed to the effect of small local businesses on the Island during the construction of the new nuclear site.  It was noted that some companies may experience difficulties in recruiting employees.  The Officers responded that training of local persons in the skills required will be essential in helping local companies to be able to compete for work during the construction of the Wylfa site.  It was stated that Coleg Menai and Bangor University is leading on the skills development programme at present.    Members further noted that the staff at the present Wylfa site should not be forgotten as they have the skills and expertise within the nuclear organisation.

·             Members stated that the wording ‘Land and Lakes’ should be removed from the SPG as it promotes a private company.

RESOLVED

·         To note the purpose, scope and principles of the New Nuclear Build at Wylfa Supplementary Planning Guidance;

·        To recognise the role of the County Council in the statutory consenting process for the proposed New Nuclear Build;

·        That the wording ‘Land and Lakes’ be removed from the SPG and substituted by a brief description of the land in receipt of planning permission;

·         That this Scrutiny Committee supports the submission of the New Nuclear Build at Wylfa Supplementary Planning Guidance for adoption by the Full Council on 29^th July, 2014.