Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bailey (who had a prejudicial interest in the sole item of business), Cussons and Jowitt.

The following interests were declared:

Councillor Paul Andrews declared a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest as he lived in Ryedale and therefore fracking potentially affected him and his property, and as a member of Frack Free Ryedale.

Councillors Val Arnold, Duncan, Goodrick and Sanderson declared a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest as North Yorkshire County Councillors.

Councillor Burr declared a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest as a North Yorkshire County Councillors and having been involved with the Joint Minerals and Waste Plan.

Councillor Clark declared a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest as he lived in the National Park and as a member of the Liberal Party, which was one of the first parties to publicly oppose fracking.

All Members of Council, except Councillor Clark, had been lobbied.

Proposed by Councillor Paul Andrews and seconded by Councillor Jowitt

This Council resolves to task Officers with the preparation of a brief for consultants to represent the Council at the Examination In Public of the Joint Minerals and Waste Plan. This will help to gauge the availability of consultants and the level of potential cost. The brief shall be drafted by the Head of Planning and will be consistent with the representations made by this Council to the plan. The brief will be agreed in consultation with group leaders. It is also resolved that the Head of Planning, in consultation with group leaders be given authority to appoint suitable consultants.

The reasons for the motion are as follows:

Ryedale District Council has made representations on the plan.  Some of the representations have been taken into account to a greater or lesser extent: others, not.  Members should wish to vigorously support all the comments made which have been taken into account and to vigorously pursue all those comments which have not been taken into account.

Ryedale District Council will be expected to provide full professional representation at the Examination In Public.  This would normally mean the attendance of officers.  However, the Council’s officers do not have the experience of highly skilled specialists in minerals planning.  The Council could therefore be at a disadvantage if it does not engage consultants who are experienced specialist mineral planners.

The Examination In Public into the Joint Minerals and Waste Plan is imminent and an urgent decision is required as this may be the last Council meeting before the Examination In Public commences.

Requisition also signed by Councillors Joy Andrews, Burr, Clark, Potter, Elizabeth Shields and Thornton.

[A report from the Monitoring Officer on the implications of the above notice on motion is included on the agenda at page 3.  This report has previously been presented to Council at its meetings on 6 July 2017 and 14 December 2017.]

This meeting was filmed and is available on the Council’s Youtube channel.

It was moved by Councillor Paul Andrews and seconded by Councillor Burr

“This Council resolves to task Officers with the preparation of a brief for consultants to represent the Council at the Examination In Public of the Joint Minerals and Waste Plan. This will help to gauge the availability of consultants and the level of potential cost. The brief shall be drafted by the Head of Planning and will be consistent with the representations made by this Council to the plan. The brief will be agreed in consultation with group leaders. It is also resolved that the Head of Planning, in consultation with group leaders be given authority to appoint suitable consultants.

The reasons for the motion are as follows:

Ryedale District Council has made representations on the plan.  Some of the representations have been taken into account to a greater or lesser extent: others, not.  Members should wish to vigorously support all the comments made which have been taken into account and to vigorously pursue all those comments which have not been taken into account.

Ryedale District Council will be expected to provide full professional representation at the Examination In Public.  This would normally mean the attendance of officers.  However, the Council’s officers do not have the experience of highly skilled specialists in minerals planning.  The Council could therefore be at a disadvantage if it does not engage consultants who are experienced specialist mineral planners.

The Examination In Public into the Joint Minerals and Waste Plan is imminent and an urgent decision is required as this may be the last Council meeting before the Examination In Public commences.”

The requisition for the Extraordinary Meeting was also signed by Councillors Joy Andrews, Clark, Jowitt, Potter, Elizabeth Shields and Thornton.

A report from the Monitoring Officer on the implications of the notice on motion was included on the agenda.  This report had previously been presented to Council at its meetings on 6 July 2017 and 14 December 2017.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Clark and seconded by Councillor Potter:

To add at the end of the first sentence:

“This representation to exclude the Vale of Pickering and the Wolds.”

Upon being put to the vote the amendment was lost.

Recorded vote

For - Councillors Joy Andrews, Clark, Potter and Thornton.

Against – Councillors Acomb, Paul Andrews, Steve Arnold, Val Arnold, Burr, Cleary, Cowling, Duncan, Farnell, Frank, Gardiner, Goodrick, Hope, Ives, Jainu-Deen, Di Keal, Maud, Oxley, Raper, Sanderson, Elizabeth Shields, Wainwright and Windress.

Abstentions – None.

Upon being put to the vote, the motion was lost.

Recorded vote

For - Councillors Acomb, Joy Andrews, Paul Andrews, Burr, Di Keal, Maud, Potter, Elizabeth Shields, Thornton and Windress.

Against – Councillors Steve Arnold, Val Arnold, Cleary, Cowling, Duncan, Farnell, Frank, Gardiner, Goodrick, Hope, Ives, Jainu-Deen, Oxley, Raper, Sanderson and Wainwright.

Abstentions – Councillor Clark.

The meeting closed at 8.13pm.