Agenda item

6.1

It was moved by Councillor Mark Jones, and seconded by Councillor Moya O’Rourke, that this Council:-

(a)       believes local communities do not want fracking in their area and that the locally elected Labour Administration have supported our communities’ ability to decide what the future of fracking should be in their areas, rather than having to endure the diktats from on high by an over-zealous Government;

(b)       supports the actions of local community groups, such as Sheffield Climate Alliance, Frack Free South Yorkshire and Mosborough Against Fracking in opposing the policy framework initiated by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition government in what this Council believed to be its wholly reckless and irresponsible dash for shale gas;

(c)        believes Britain urgently needs a renewable energy revolution and supports the position taken by the Labour Party calling on the Government to ban fracking, and focus on unlocking the jobs and growth that a low-carbon energy infrastructure can provide for our industry, workforce and communities; in contrast to the Conservative Party’s apparent fixation on shale gas - regardless of evidence, public opinion or the impacts this will have on local communities;

(d)       notes with bitter disappointment that the Government have recently announced a series of measures to support the development of shale gas extraction which are being imposed on local communities, local councils and local wishes, to force through changes at the behest of fracking companies;

(e)       notes that at present, decisions on shale gas exploration planning applications have a statutory time frame of 16 weeks where an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required, and that the stated aim of the new measures from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy is supposedly in order to meet these time frames;

(f)        believes, however, that all applications where an EIA is required already have significant central government provisions over performance - including Right of Appeal against timely non-determination, call-ins, and special measures designation, and therefore begs the question that with such powers already in place why does fracking require more?;

(g)       contends that the emphasis and support for all types of planning applications should be a government priority, including addressing the long standing delays in the planning inspectorate, and, furthermore, as delays in the Planning Inspectorate system are a big problem on all fronts, believes it is likely that other schemes, such as prioritising housing and strategic infrastructure planning, will suffer delays if fracking is given special and preferential treatment;

(h)       believes that giving fracking special treatment will be counter-productive as it will reinforce public concerns that government wants to press on with fracking regardless of public opinion or evidence on the potential environmental and health impacts;

(i)         believes that the Government’s measures appear to be a toxic combination of caving into the fracking industry and reinforcing existing bad policy, which will set a dangerous precedent in taking away local decision making on planning decisions;

(j)         contends that it is scandalous to take away local decision making powers and put it in the hands of government ministers and that such a change will likely see fracking unfairly imposed on areas against the will of local communities; and

(k)        reaffirms the Administration’s commitment to not permitting fracking on Council-owned land and to reject approaches to do so, and laments that the Government’s changes appear to make it increasingly hard for local authorities to exercise democratic oversight and control over the planning process.

6.2

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Adam Hanrahan, seconded by Councillor Gail Smith, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.         the deletion of paragraph (b) and the re-lettering of original paragraphs (c) to (k) as new paragraphs (b) to (j); and

2.         the addition of new paragraphs (k) to (p) as follows:-

(k)        notes the Liberal Democrats’ May 2017 manifesto statement that: we “oppose fracking because of its adverse impact on climate change, the energy mix, and the local environment.”;

(l)         also notes the Lib Dem commitment to double green electricity generation to 60 percent by 2030;

(m)      supports the work that local residents’ and campaign groups have undertaken within the City to highlight the impact of fracking on our natural environment;

(n)       notes the work done by Lib Dem councillors and campaigners in engaging with residents across the City to seek their views on fracking, in particular with a residents’ survey where 1381 households responded with 86 percent against fracking;

(o)       contrasts this with the pro-fracking position held by the MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge who commented, “I don’t think those fears are justified at all. I spent a number of years attending meetings, listening to both sides of the debate, including the Environment Agency, Public Health England and the Heath and Safely Executive, and I am absolutely convinced that with the right regulatory framework there is no reason to fear [fracking]”; and

(p)       therefore resolves that the Leader of the Council writes to the MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge setting out this Council’s opposition to fracking and expressing our disappointment on the pro-fracking position that she has taken on this vital issue affecting our city’s environment.

6.3

It was then moved by Councillor Martin Phipps, seconded by Councillor Alison Teal, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of new paragraphs (l) and (m) as follows:-

(l)         congratulates the Labour Party on their new-found support for long standing local and national Green Party policies such as supporting renewable technology and opposing fracking; and

(m)      notes the action taking place up and down the country against fracking, and supports their right to peacefully protest against administrations unfairly imposing policy against the will of local communities.

6.4

After contributions from four other Members, and following a right of reply from Councillor Mark Jones, the amendment moved by Councillor Adam Hanrahan was put to the vote and was negatived.

6.4.1

(NOTE: Councillors Kaltum Rivers, Douglas Johnson, Robert Murphy, Martin Phipps and Alison Teal voted for paragraphs (o) and (p) of part 2 of the amendment and against part 1 and paragraphs (k) to (n) of part 2 of the amendment, and asked for this to be recorded.)

6.5

The amendment moved by Councillor Martin Phipps was then put to the vote and was negatived, with the exception of the proposed new paragraph (m), which was carried.

6.5.1

(NOTE: Councillors Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Adam Hanrahan, Mohammed Mahroof, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Roger Davison, Shaffaq Mohammed, Paul Scriven, Sue Alston, Cliff Woodcraft, Steve Ayris, Gail Smith, David Baker, Penny Baker and Mike Levery. voted for paragraph (m) and against paragraph (l) of the amendment, and asked for this to be recorded.)

6.6

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

(a)       believes local communities do not want fracking in their area and that the locally elected Labour Administration have supported our communities’ ability to decide what the future of fracking should be in their areas, rather than having to endure the diktats from on high by an over-zealous Government;

(b)       supports the actions of local community groups, such as Sheffield Climate Alliance, Frack Free South Yorkshire and Mosborough Against Fracking in opposing the policy framework initiated by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition government in what this Council believed to be its wholly reckless and irresponsible dash for shale gas;

(c)        believes Britain urgently needs a renewable energy revolution and supports the position taken by the Labour Party calling on the Government to ban fracking, and focus on unlocking the jobs and growth that a low-carbon energy infrastructure can provide for our industry, workforce and communities; in contrast to the Conservative Party’s apparent fixation on shale gas - regardless of evidence, public opinion or the impacts this will have on local communities;

(d)       notes with bitter disappointment that the Government have recently announced a series of measures to support the development of shale gas extraction which are being imposed on local communities, local councils and local wishes, to force through changes at the behest of fracking companies;

(e)       notes that at present, decisions on shale gas exploration planning applications have a statutory time frame of 16 weeks where an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required, and that the stated aim of the new measures from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy is supposedly in order to meet these time frames;

(f)        believes, however, that all applications where an EIA is required already have significant central government provisions over performance - including Right of Appeal against timely non-determination, call-ins, and special measures designation, and therefore begs the question that with such powers already in place why does fracking require more?;

(g)       contends that the emphasis and support for all types of planning applications should be a government priority, including addressing the long standing delays in the planning inspectorate, and, furthermore, as delays in the Planning Inspectorate system are a big problem on all fronts, believes it is likely that other schemes, such as prioritising housing and strategic infrastructure planning, will suffer delays if fracking is given special and preferential treatment;

(h)       believes that giving fracking special treatment will be counter-productive as it will reinforce public concerns that government wants to press on with fracking regardless of public opinion or evidence on the potential environmental and health impacts;

(i)         believes that the Government’s measures appear to be a toxic combination of caving into the fracking industry and reinforcing existing bad policy, which will set a dangerous precedent in taking away local decision making on planning decisions;

(j)         contends that it is scandalous to take away local decision making powers and put it in the hands of government ministers and that such a change will likely see fracking unfairly imposed on areas against the will of local communities;

(k)        reaffirms the Administration’s commitment to not permitting fracking on Council-owned land and to reject approaches to do so, and laments that the Government’s changes appear to make it increasingly hard for local authorities to exercise democratic oversight and control over the planning process; and

(l)         notes the action taking place up and down the country against fracking, and supports their right to peacefully protest against administrations unfairly imposing policy against the will of local communities.

6.6.1

The votes on the Substantive Motion were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-