Agenda item

On a motion from Councillor John Bull, seconded by Councillor Robin Moss, it was

RESOLVED as set out below;

Council notes that:

1.  Currently fracking companies are required to apply for planning permission from the local authority to drill or sample a well. They also have to apply for planning permission from the local authority to undertake shale gas production.

2.  The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is consulting on whether proposals for non-hydraulic shale gas exploration should be granted planning permission through a permitted development right.

3.  The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is also consulting on whether to include major shale gas production projects in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime. This would mean that the Secretary of State would automatically become the decision maker for determining an application for future shale gas production projects meeting certain criteria.

4.  The Council previously adopted resolutions on fracking on 11th July 2013 and 10th September 2015.

5.  On the 6th August, 2018 the Leader of Council wrote to the Secretary of State, Greg Clark, objecting to these proposals.

6.  The Council has responded to the consultation opposing permitted development rights for shale gas exploration and the inclusion of major shale gas production projects in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime.

7.  The potential impact of fracking and its capacity to divert water flows could be catastrophic for the World Heritage City of Bath.

Council believes that:

8.  The local planning process is one of the main ways in which communities can express their views about what happens in their area. Permitted development significantly reduces the potential for local people to comment on a development.

9.  It is important that local councils have a say in whether shale gas exploration goes ahead as this activity could result in significant local impacts such as increased traffic, noise and lighting as well as damage to the ecology and visual landscape of an area.

10.Shale gas production is highly controversial with the potential to significantly impact on local communities. Decisions about these developments should continue to be made by democratically accountable local planning authorities and not as part of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime.

Council agrees to ask the Leader of Council to:

11.Write to;

a.  our local MPs asking for their support in opposing these proposals;

b.  all authorities which border Bath & North East Somerset, to ask them to support us in our opposition to fracking in our region;

c.  the appropriate Minister requesting that the Avon Act is extended across the whole Avon catchment area in B&NES.

12.In the event that permitted development rights for shale gas exploration are introduced, to explore the potential for an Article 4 Direction to remove these permitted development rights from shale gas exploration in this area.

13.To work with all planning authorities in the catchment area defined by the carboniferous limestone bowl in which the hot springs sit to introduce Article 4 Directions.

14.Request that our Avon Pension Fund Committee members investigate options to continue diverting investment from companies specialising in fossil fuel energy production to companies specialising in environmentally responsible energy production.

[Notes;

1.  The above successful resolution was carried with 54 Councillors voting in favour, and 3 Councillors abstaining.]