Agenda item

To consider the attached motion and response.

The Chairman reported receipt of the above mentioned motion from Councillors Jeff Osborn and Helen Osborn. Accordingly, Councillor Jeff Osborn moved the following amended motion as previously circulated in the agenda supplement which was, in the absence of Helen Osborn, duly seconded by Councillor Terry Chivers:

‘This Council is concerned that the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has recently decided to offer licences for four blocks of land in Wiltshire.

Council notes that the OGA states that the licences for these blocks will contain conditions prohibiting activities in order to protect ecological sites.

Nonetheless, in its response to the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA), Council made a cogent case against the “water hungry” nature of this mode of exploration and extraction because of the serious impact it will have on Wiltshire aquifers.  This in consequence will constrain future housing development in the county.

For these and related reasons, Council has major reservations regarding fracking in the county.   This is compounded by central government’s recent extension of permitted development rights to cover exploratory drilling and investigation.

Consequently Council requests that Environment Select Committee establish a task group to better understand the general implications of possible hydrocarbon exploration and extraction in the county.  This will enable members on relevant planning committees to be better briefed on such matters.

Furthermore it should be noted that such activities are contrary to the recent international moves in Paris to limit such forms of energy in order to counter climate change.’

In moving his motion, Councillor Jeff Osborn stated that he had amended his motion in response to the officer’s response. The amended motion and the officer’s response were published in Agenda Supplement 2. Councillor Jeff Osborn also stated that he would consider accepting an amendment from the Cabinet Member as friendly amendments.

The Chairman invited Councillor Stuart Wheeler, Cabinet Member for Support Services, to respond to the motion. Councillor Wheeler moved the following amended motion:

‘This Council is concernednotes that the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has recently decided to offer licences for four blocks of land in Wiltshire, Council notes that the OGA statesand that the licences for these blocks will contain conditions prohibiting activities in order to protect ecological sites.

Nonetheless, in its response to the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA), Council made a cogent case against the “water hungry” nature of this mode of exploration and extraction because of the seriouspotential impact it will may have on Wiltshire aquifers. This in consequence will constrain future housing development in the county.

For these and related reasons,Council has major reservations regarding fracking in the county.   This is compounded byalso notes central government’s recentplanned extension of permitted development rights to cover exploratory drilling and investigation.

Consequently Council requests that Environment Select CommitteeScrutiny establish a task group to help Councillors better understand the general implications of possible hydrocarbon exploration and extraction in the county.  This will enable members on relevant planning committees to be better briefed on such matters.’

Furthermore it should be noted that such activities are contrary to the recent international moves in Paris to limit such forms of energy in order to counter climate change.’

In moving his motion, Councillor Wheeler stated that he was proposing the amendments so that the resolution could reflect facts and had removed any statements of opinion, thereby lessening the risk that the authority be accused of prejudgement. Councillor Wheeler confirmed that this should be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for action, and asked that any subsequent Task Group consider evidence from both sides of the debate.

Councillor Jeff Osborn and Councillor Terry Chivers agreed to accept Councillor Wheeler’s amendments to their motion.

There being no further debate, the meeting;

Resolved:

That motion No. 30, as amended detailed above, be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee.