WOKINGHAM BOROUGH
COUNCIL
AN INDIVIDUAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER
DECISION
BY COUNCILLOR JOHN KAISER,
EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR PLANNING AND
HIGHWAYS
RELATING TO CONSIDERING A RESPONSE
OF THE COUNCIL TO THE CONSULTATION
BY THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE ON THE
SUBMARINE DISMANTLING PROJECT
WILL BE MADE IN FF4B
ON
WEDNESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2015
AT 8.30am
NOTICE OF
INDIVIDUAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER DECISION
ITEM NO. IMD 2015 - 04
TITLE Considering a Response of the Council to the Consultation by the Ministry of Defence on the Submarine Dismantling Project
DECISION TO BE MADE BY Councillor John Kaiser, Executive Member for Planning & Highways
DATE AND TIME OF DECISION 8.30 am on Wednesday 4 February 2015
VENUE FF4B
INDIVIDUAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER DECISION REFERENCE IMD:2015 - 04
TITLE Considering a Response of the Council to the Consultation by the Ministry of Defence on the Submarine Dismantling Project
FOR CONSIDERATION BY Councillor John Kaiser, Executive Member for Planning & Highways
ON Wednesday 4 February 2015
TIME 8.30am
WARD Shinfield
DIRECTOR Heather Thwaites, Director of the Environment
OUTCOME / BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY
That the final location chosen by the Ministry of Defence for the interim storage of intermediate level radioactive waste arising from the submarine dismantling project has minimal negative impacts upon Wokingham Borough and that any positive benefits are maximised.
RECOMMENDATION
The Executive Member for Planning and Highways a) approves the comments outlined in this report; and
b) that they be submitted as a formal response to the consultation from the Ministry of Defence on their Submarine Dismantling Project (in particular that the authority indicates that it objects to the choice of either Aldermaston or Burghfield if this impacts upon the Detailed Emergency Planning Zones around these sites)
SUMMARY OF REPORT
The Ministry of Defence has published their Submarine Dismantling Project consultation which lists five sites for the interim storage of intermediate radioactive waste, two of which are close to the borough – the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) facilities at Aldermaston and Burghfield. Around these sites, Detailed Emergency Planning Zones (DEPZ) are defined (see policy TB04 of the Managing Development Delivery (MDD) Local Plan) to ensure that any issues associated with the continued operation of the current nuclear facilities are considered in assessing development proposals around these sites.
Since the storage of waste could affect the DEPZ around the AWE facilities at Aldermaston and Burghfield, it is important to respond so that any issues for Wokingham Council associated with their development can be addressed.
Background
The Ministry of Defence is consulting upon their Submarine Dismantling Project: Sites for Interim Storage of Intermediate Radioactive Waste from 14 November 2014 until 20 February 2015. The consultation document indicates there are five potential sites for the interim storage of waste until the Geological Disposal Facility is available after 2040. The five sites being considered for the storage of the nuclear reactors arising from the dismantling of submarines are the AWE facilities at Aldermaston and Burghfield; Sellafield, Cumbria; Chapelcross, Dumfriesshire and Capenhurst, Cheshire. It is important to provide a response to the consultation so that those factors which could concern Wokingham Borough can be resolved. This includes addressing the impacts of the storage of radioactive waste at either AWE Aldermaston or Burghfield for implementing the land use planning strategies of the authorities around these sites - Basingstoke & Deane, Reading, West Berkshire and Wokingham.
Analysis of Issues
Whilst the consultation document details how the five sites were selected and what nuclear activities occur on each site, it does not explain how the interim storage of waste could affect the Detailed Emergency Planning Zones (DEPZ) around the sites. Within the DEPZ around Aldermaston and Burghfield, advice from the Office for Nuclear Regulation indicates that proposals which increase the number of people living, working or visiting these areas should be rejected, where these additional people cannot be accommodated in the existing emergency plans overseen by West Berkshire Council. The existing emergency plans are overseen by West Berkshire Council since both AWE sites are located within that authority. Policy TB04, paragraphs 3.12-3.18 and Appendix 5 of the MDD indicates how the DEPZ and wider consultation zones are defined around these sites and indicates that for Aldermaston and Burghfield the DEPZ’s are currently set at 3km and 1.5km respectively.
Whilst the DEPZ’s are based upon the current activities occurring at these sites, there is no information within the Ministry of Defence’s consultation on whether the choice of either Aldermaston or Burghfield as the interim stage facility for intermediate level radioactive waste could result in a changes to the boundary of these areas and/or amendments to any headroom for additional people to live, work or visit the area within a revised emergency plan. Due to the impacts of the DEPZ boundaries on the
acceptability of development approved, committed or proposed (including through the relevant Development Plans of the four authorities including Wokingham Borough), it is essential that this is raised during the consultation.
If the interim storage of intermediate level radioactive waste at either the AWE facilities at Aldermaston and/or Burghfield does not affect the DEPZs and associated
consultation zones currently defined around the sites, it is considered that the authority has no further comments on which of the five potential waste sites should be selected.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE RECOMMENDATION
The Council faces severe financial challenges over the coming years as a result of the austerity measures implemented by the Government and subsequent reductions to public sector funding. It is estimated that Wokingham Borough Council will be required to make budget reductions in excess of £20m over the next three years and all Executive decisions should be made in this context.
How much will it Cost/ (Save)
Is there sufficient funding – if not quantify the Shortfall
Revenue or Capital? Current Financial
Year (Year 1)
Nil Nil Nil
Next Financial Year (Year 2)
Nil Nil Nil
Following Financial Year (Year 3)
Nil Nil Nil
Other financial information relevant to the Recommendation/Decision
None anticipated
Cross-Council Implications (how does this decision impact on other Council services, including property and priorities?)
A decision by the Ministry of Defence upon the location for the interim storage of intermediate level radioactive waste could affect how the authority needs to resolve impacts on development in the borough together with co-ordination of emergency planning/ community resilience activities within the relevant DEPZ surrounding the AWE facilities at Aldermaston and Burghfield.
SUMMARY OF CONSULTATION RESPONSES
Director - Resources No response received
Monitoring Officer No specific comments (23/1/15)
Leader of the Council Fine with comments in report (23/1/15)
Reasons for considering the report in Part 2
n/a
List of Background Papers
Information published by the Government on the Submarine Dismantling Project which is available at
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/submarine-dismantling-project-site-for-the-interim-storage-of-intermediate-level-radioactive-waste.
Office for Nuclear Regulation advice available at
http://www.onr.org.uk/cross-onr-programme.htm.
Contact Graham Ritchie Service Development Policy & Planning
Telephone No (0118) 974 6457 Email [email protected]
