Issue - meetings

A report of the Statutory Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods that seeks approval to delegate to AGMA Executive Board the formulating and preparing of a joint development plan document with the other 9 Greater Manchester councils.

The Scrutiny Board considered a report of the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive that sought approval from the Cabinet to delegate to the AGMA Executive Board the formulation and preparation of a joint development plan document with the other nine Greater Manchester councils (Bolton Bury, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan), to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester insofar as such matters were executive functions. This report had been considered by the Cabinet (Minute 9 refers) at its meeting held on 21^st July 2025.

The leaders of the Greater Manchester authorities, at the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) Executive Board meeting on 28^th March 2025, had agreed to the production of a statutory Greater Manchester Joint Minerals and Waste Plan (GMJMWP).  The submitted report considered the necessary steps required in relation to seeking approval from all the Greater Manchester districts to commence preparation and to delegate its preparation to the AGMA Executive Board. 

The existing Greater Manchester Minerals and Waste Plans was required to be updated in full because they were currently out of date having previously been adopted over a decade ago. Their replacement, with a single, joint minerals and waste plan would ensure efficient compliance with national planning policies. 

The options and alternatives that the Cabinet had considered were:

a.    Option 1 - following the approval in principle of the above recommendation by Council to the making of a joint development plan document with the other 9 Greater Manchester councils (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan), to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester, Cabinet is recommended to: Delegate to AGMA Executive Board the formulating and preparing of the joint development plan document to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester insofar as such matters are executive functions. This option is the most efficient option and will ensure an up-to-date minerals and waste plan. There are no disadvantages to this option.

b.    Option 2 - to not delegate to the AGMA Executive Board, the formulating and preparing of the joint development plan document to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester insofar as such matters are executive functions. This will mean that the minerals and waste plan would be unable to be delegated to the AGMA Executive Board by all ten districts, which will put at risk the timely progression of the minerals and waste plan.

Option 1 was approved by the Cabinet.

The Scrutiny Board were informed that as this matter was a key decision, the proposal had previously been considered by the Council’s Cabinet at its meeting on 21^st July 2025. It had been agreed by the Cabinet that the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods, be granted delegated authority to take the final decision on the delegation, having considered any comments made thereon by this meeting of the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board.

Resolved:

That the Scrutiny Board endorses the decision made by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6

A report of the Statutory Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods that seeks approval to delegate to AGMA Executive Board the formulating and preparing of a joint development plan document with the other 9 Greater Manchester councils.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director of Place/Deputy Chief Executive that sought approval from Members to delegate to the AGMA Executive Board the formulation and preparation of a joint development plan document with the other nine Greater Manchester councils (Bolton Bury, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan), to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester insofar as such matters were executive functions.

The leaders of the Greater Manchester authorities, at the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) Executive Board meeting on 28^th March 2025, had agreed to the production of a statutory Greater Manchester Joint Minerals and Waste Plan (GMJMWP).  The submitted report considered the necessary steps required in relation to seeking approval from all the Greater Manchester districts to commence preparation and to delegate its preparation to the AGMA Executive Board. 

The existing Greater Manchester Minerals and Waste Plans was required to be updated in full because they were currently out of date having previously been adopted over a decade ago. Their replacement, with a single, joint minerals and waste plan would ensure efficient compliance with national planning policies. 

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option 1:  Following the approval in principle of the above recommendation by Council to the making of a joint development plan document with the other 9 Greater Manchester councils (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan), to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester, Cabinet is recommended to:

Delegate to AGMA Executive Board the formulating and preparing of the joint development plan document to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester insofar as such matters are executive functions.

This option is the most efficient option and will ensure an up-to-date minerals and waste plan. There are no disadvantages to this option.

Option 2: To not delegate to the AGMA Executive Board, the formulating and preparing of the joint development plan document to cover planning for minerals and waste across Greater Manchester insofar as such matters are executive functions. This will mean that the minerals and waste plan would be unable to be delegated to the AGMA Executive Board by all ten districts, which will put at risk the timely progression of the minerals and waste plan.

Option 1 was the preferred Option.

The Cabinet was informed that as this matter was a key decision, the proposal will be considered by the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board at its meeting on 24^th July 2025, which was after this Cabinet meeting.  It was therefore proposed that the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, be granted delegated authority to take the final decision on the delegation, having considered any comments made thereon by the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board on 24^th July 2025.

Resolved:

That following the approval in principle by Council to the making of a joint development plan document with the other nine Greater Manchester councils (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan), to cover planning for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9