Proposed by Mr Whybrow and Seconded by Mr Chittenden.
“Kent County Council believes that local plans, local planning and local democratic decisions, including control of local mineral and fossil fuel development, should remain with local authorities. The council rejects the continued centralisation of local decision-making at the expense of local determination.
As such, KCC rejects central government’s proposal, via a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS), for the exploration phase of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to be allowed under Permitted Development (PD), thereby removing the need for planning permission. KCC also rejects the proposal to bring the production phase of fracking under Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP), to be decided centrally by government and the planning inspectorate, thus further removing decision-making from local councils.
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Accordingly, the Council requests the Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport & Wasteto respond to the government consultation by rejecting the changes proposed for PD and NSIP as inappropriate and with the view that local Minerals Planning Authorities should retain local control and primacy for all planning decisions at all stages for all types of oil and gas exploration.”
Minutes:
(1) Mr Whybrow moved and Mr Chittenden seconded the following motion:
“This Council notes:
1. Kent County Council believes that local plans, local planning and local democratic decisions, including control of local mineral and fossil fuel development, should remain with local authorities. The council rejects the continued centralisation of local decision-making at the expense of local determination
2. As such, KCC rejects central government’s proposal, via a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS), for the exploration phase of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to be allowed under Permitted Development (PD), thereby removing the need for planning permission. KCC also rejects the proposal to bring the production phase of fracking under Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP), to be decided centrally by government and the planning inspectorate, thus further removing decision-making from local councils.
3. Accordingly, the Council requests the Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport & Waste to respond to the government consultation by rejecting the changes proposed for PD and NSIP as inappropriate and with the view that local Minerals Planning Authorities should retain local control and primacy for all planning decisions at all stages for all types of oil and gas exploration.”
(2) Mr Dance proposed and Mr Holden seconded the following amendment:
“Kent County Council believes that local planning decision, including control of mineral and fossil fuel development, should remain with local authorities and, therefore, rejects government’s proposal via its June 2018 consultation for the exploration phase of non-hydraulic fracturing to be allowed under Permitted Development (PD) rights. KCC also rejects the proposal to bring the production phase of shale gas development under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP), to be decided by government and the planning inspectorate, thereby removing local decision-making.”
(3) Mr Whybrow, as proposer of the original motion, with the support of his seconder agreed to accept the amendment.
(4) Following the debate, the Chairman put the substantive motion set out in paragraph (2) above to the vote and the voting was as follows:
For (56)
Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr P Barrington-King, Mr P Bartlett, Mrs C Bell, Mrs P Beresford, Mr R Bird, Mr A Booth, Mr D Brazier, Mr D Butler, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mrs S Chandler, Mr N Chard, Mr I Chittenden, Mrs P Cole, Mr N Collor, Mr G Cooke, Miss E Dawson, Mrs T Dean, Mr T Dhesi, Mr D Farrell, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Ms S Hamilton, Mr M Hill, Mr T Hills, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr A Hook, Mr E Hotson, Mrs L Hurst, Mr P Lake, Mr B Lewis, Ida Linfield, Mr R Long, Ms D Marsh, Mr J McInroy, Mr P Messenger, Mr D Monk, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr M Payne, Mrs S Prendergast, Mr K Pugh, Miss C Rankin, Mr A Ridgers, Mr C Simkins, Dr L Sullivan, Mr B Sweetland, Mr I Thomas, Mr M Whiting, Mr M Whybrow, Mr J Wright.
Against (0), Abstained (0)
Substantive motion Carried
(5) RESOLVED that:
a) this Council believes that local planning decision, including control of mineral and fossil fuel development, should remain with local authorities and, therefore, rejects government’s proposal via its June 2018 consultation for the exploration phase of non-hydraulic fracturing to be allowed under Permitted Development (PD) rights. This Council also rejects the proposal to bring the production phase of shale gas development under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP), to be decided by government and the planning inspectorate, thereby removing local decision-making.