The Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services presented a report setting out a suggested response to government consultation documents for Ports and Energy Infrastructure

The National Policy Statements had been prepared under section 5(9b) of the Planning Act 2008, to provide the context for decisions to be made by the Infrastructure Planning Commission, formally established on 1st October 2009.  The Infrastructure Planning Commission was the body which administered development consent for nationally significant infrastructure, including ports, airports and major energy infrastructure such as power stations, windfarms and major pipelines.

Cabinet was asked to agree that the Director’s report should form the basis of the Council’s responses to these documents.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the content of this report be used as the basis of responses to the Department for Transport (Draft Ports National Policy Statement) and the Department for Energy and Climate Change (Draft Energy Infrastructure National Policy Statements).

(2)  That it is Cabinet’s view that, taking into account the Eddington and Stern reports on global warming and congestion, Merseyside, having the ability to reach more areas of the country more efficiently , should have a higher position in the ranking of development of port infrastructure as part of a national sustainable transport strategy.