Agenda item

Proposed by Councillor Clark and seconded by Councillor Joy Andrews.

RDC is a consultee for the planning application currently in front of NYCC to perform a test frack and go into production for up to 9 years at the KM8 site in Kirby Misperton.  The Planning Committee must discuss this by mid October in order that they can offer a view.  RDC has no policy on fracking.  The eyes of the country and the world will be watching with interest in the decision making process and we have yet to debate this issue.  It is complex and of great significance for the future of Ryedale at many levels not least its economy, jobs, health and potential costs to the council.  This process is now in its 11th hour so we must avoid losing our voice by taking it past midnight.  This issue must therefore be debated on the 8th October 2015.  If we do not debate the issues at this point then the voice of Ryedale people will become muted in the decision making process at NYCC.

On the scientific evidence to date Ryedale Liberals believe that the case for fracking is not made.

·         84% of peer reviewed science shows significant risks or impacts on health.

·         88% shows risks and impacts on air quality.

·         66% shows risks to water quality.

·         The impact on agriculture is not known but is liable to be negative.

·         The impact on tourism is not known but is liable to be negative.

·         The impact in traffic is not known but is liable to be large.

This council therefore resolves:

(i)         On the present information available RDC calls for a 5 year moratorium on            fracking in Ryedale.  When sufficient evidence becomes available RDC can        reconsider its policy.

(ii)        It therefore calls upon the Planning Committee to take this decision into      account when making its recommendation to NYCC on the KM8 planning       application.

Note :

(i) The motion on notice calls for a moratorium of five years on fracking  which would        fetter the Council's discretion to  make a consultation response after  considering         all         representations from statutory and non statutory consultees. The District      Council meeting on 17 February 2015 considered a Monitoring Officers report      on   the legal principles that need to be observed by the District Council in        decision           making. A copy of the report is attached on the agenda at page 51.

(ii) The Planning Committee will be considering the matter as a consultee.

A procedural motion was moved by Councillor Paul Andrews and seconded by Councillor Burr to suspend standing order 11.4 to allow the notice on motion to be discussed.

Upon being put to the vote, the procedural motion was carried.

Voting Record

17 For

11 Against

1 Abstentions

1.     It was moved by Councillor Clark and seconded by Councillor Thornton

"RDC is a consultee for the planning application currently in front of NYCC to perform a test frack and go into production for up to 9 years at the KM8 site in Kirby Misperton.  The Planning Committee must discuss this by mid October in order that they can offer a view.  RDC has no policy on fracking.  The eyes of the country and the world will be watching with interest in the decision making process and we have yet to debate this issue.  It is complex and of great significance for the future of Ryedale at many levels not least its economy, jobs, health and potential costs to the council.  This process is now in its 11th hour so we must avoid losing our voice by taking it past midnight.  This issue must therefore be debated on the 8th October 2015.  If we do not debate the issues at this point then the voice of Ryedale people will become muted in the decision making process at NYCC.

On the scientific evidence to date Ryedale Liberals believe that the case for fracking is not made.

·         84% of peer reviewed science shows significant risks or impacts on health.

·         88% shows risks and impacts on air quality.

·         66% shows risks to water quality.

·         The impact on agriculture is not known but is liable to be negative.

·         The impact on tourism is not known but is liable to be negative.

·         The impact in traffic is not known but is liable to be large.

This council therefore resolves:

(i)         On the present information available RDC calls for a 5 year moratorium     on fracking in Ryedale.  When sufficient evidence becomes         available        RDC can reconsider its policy.

(ii)        It therefore calls upon the Planning Committee to take this decision into    account when making its recommendation to NYCC on the KM8          planning application."

The Council Solicitor and Monitoring Officer advised Members of Council that Members of the Planning Committee wishing to participate at a future meeting of the Planning Committee on the consultation response on the fracking planning application would need to keep an open mind and reserve their final decision on the issue of fracking until the Planning committee meeting when they have the Officer report and all the available facts.

Members of the Planning Committee were advised not to reach a final decision on the issue of fracking before they have received the officers report and all the facts available to Members of the Planning Committee meeting.

If Members of the Planning Committee were able to keep an open mind  they would be able to participate at a future meeting of the Planning Committee on the consultation response on the fracking planning application.

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

Recorded Vote

For

Councillors Acomb, Joy Andrews, Paul Andrews, Bailey, Burr, Clark, Jainu-Deen, Jowitt, Keal, Raper, Shields, Thornton and Wainwright.

Against

Councillors Steve Arnold, Val Arnold, Cowling, Frank, Gardiner, Ives and Oxley.

Abstentions

Councillors Cleary, Cussons, Duncan, Farnell, Goodrick, Hope, Maud and Sanderson.

            Resolved

            (i)         On the present information available RDC calls for a 5 year                          moratorium on fracking in Ryedale. When sufficient evidence                         becomes availableRDC can reconsider its policy.

            (ii)        It therefore calls upon the Planning Committee to take this                            decision into             account when making its recommendation to                            NYCC on the KM8 planning application.