Purpose

Greater Manchester leaders at
the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) Executive
Board meeting on 28March 2025 agreed to the production of a
statutory Greater Manchester Joint Minerals and Waste Plan (GMJMWP)
for Greater Manchester. The report considers the necessary
resultant steps required in relation to the decision-making process
within Trafford Council.
 
The existing Greater Manchester
Minerals and Waste Plans require updating in full because they are
out of date having been adopted over a decade ago. Their
replacement with a single, joint minerals and waste plan will
ensure efficient compliance with national planning
policy.

Decision

That the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration
approves the delegation of the formulation and preparation of the
joint development plan document, covering minerals and waste across
Greater Manchester, to the AGMA Executive Board.

Reasons for the decision

The delegation to the AGMA
Executive Board to prepare the GMJMWP (insofar as such matters are
executive functions), will help to ensure timely progress in
developing the GMJMWP, whilst retaining the Councils’
approval at key stages.

Alternative options considered

To produce two separate joint
plans with the nine GM Councils, one for waste and one for
Minerals. This approach would require more resources than a single,
joint plan due to duplication of work and could result in
delay.
 
To produce a joint Waste Plan
and incorporate minerals policies into each authority’s Local
Plan. Trafford along with some other authorities in GM are already
advanced in preparing a Local Plan and therefore cannot incorporate
minerals within their plan timetable. These GM authorities
(including Trafford) would continue to have outdated minerals
policies, contrary to national policy.
 
Do not update the current plans
– ‘do nothing’ scenario. This approach would be
contrary to national policy and legislation and risks unplanned
proposals coming forward.