Agenda item

To receive updates from the Chairmen and/or Vice-Chairmen of the Select Committees in respect of the topics under scrutiny in their areas, including any recommendations for endorsement by the Management Committee.

The Chairman will first provide an update on development of the terms of reference of the Digitisation Task Group proposed at the meeting held on 5 January 2016.

The Management Committee is asked to endorse the reports of the Chairmen of the Select Committee and the updated work programme.

Hydrocarbon extraction

At its meeting on 23 February 2016 Full Council considered a motion from Councillors Jeff and Helen Osborn on the hydrocarbon extraction process known as Fracking, following the granting of Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences (PEDL) in the county, though planning permission would need to be applied for prior to any construction works. A number of Councillor Briefing Notes had been prepared on the subject, and Council also received a petition and several representations from members of the public on the issue at the meeting.

An officer response to the original motion from the Councillors Osborn was published in the Summons for the meeting, and following debate and an amendment of the motion to request scrutiny involvement, Council resolved:

Consequently Council requests that Scrutiny 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

The Committee discussed the referral and request, with input from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE, and Corporate Director, Dr Carlton Brand.

The Committee considered the broad implications on the county and council from proposed hydrocarbon extraction, as well as the potential complexities of technical and decision making processes to be followed, and debated whether before any Task Group was approved it would first be appropriate to undertake further research into those complexities. This would ensure that should following that research a Task Group be considered necessary, it would have the required information to identify key lines of enquiry which would add value to the council’s processes and policies.

Some members felt any research or investigation was not necessary until such time as an application was actually submitted, but others such as the mover of the original motion felt there was a need for additional guidance to better inform councillors at the current time to prepare for any future eventualities.

A debate followed on the potential extent of any investigation, including utilising research undertaken by other authorities, the possibility of briefings from expert witnesses, councillor seminars, which service would coordinate the work across the council and other data collection possibilities such as the use of external consultants. Information to gather could include basic information on the process of hydrocarbon extraction, government and council policy, landowner rights, a brief overview of environmental issues and economic impacts.

The timescale of such an activity was questioned, with some members such as the Leader of the Council stating that there was extensive information already prepared across the council, and it would not necessarily be an extensive piece of work to collate all that information for the initial guidance to inform scrutiny in determining what further action would be appropriate.

It was acknowledged as particularly important to determine what functions in relation to hydrocarbon extraction were devolved to local authorities and what was retained at a national level, so that any investigation or future enquiries by Scrutiny related solely to matters within the powers afforded to the council. It would also be important to ensure any investigation or future scrutiny work did not prejudice the council’s ability to fulfil its responsibilities as planning authority in the event of any applications being received in relation to hydrocarbon extraction, given the risk of predetermination and potential legal challenge which had occurred at other planning authorities.

It was also discussed that an initial approach could be for the council’s own technical officers to provide further guidance on all these topics, and following that Scrutiny would determine whether further work was needed, and in what form, such as a Task Group as suggested by Full Council. A Task Group would have the power to call witnesses from all sides of the discussion on the issue, as well as forming a view on the council’s preparedness to handle future applications that might be received, as none had been received to date.

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

That the Committee requests officers undertake an investigation into hydrocarbon extraction as detailed above, to include technical explanations of the process, current national policy, and the process of decision making, in particular what functions are devolved to local authorities or retained at a national level, and what policies are in place in Wiltshire Council in relation to these issues.

Digitisation

Following the management committee’s initial decision at its meeting on 5 January that a task group be formed to consider input into the council’s digitisation strategy, an update was received that the scope of the task group was being prepared, with a full update to be provided at the next meeting.

Good Neighbours

The Good Neighbours scheme involved locally based representatives assisting primarily older residents of rural areas to identify and access council services. As discussed at the meetings on 3 February and 12 February, responsibility for the scheme was being devolved to Area Boards, and an invitation had been received from the Cabinet Member for Public Health for Scrutiny to assess and comment upon the implementation of the devolution of the scheme.

After discussion, it was,

Resolved:

To request the Health Select Committee determine the most appropriate method to add value through scrutiny of the Good Neighbours scheme devolution.

Select Committee Updates

The Management Committee then received updates on the work of the select committees, including the following:

Health Select Committee - Details were provided on the work programme, including regarding mobilising wider health service in the community, including a programme called PharmacistsFirst as a potential model for other health providers

Environment Select Committee - Details were provided on the work programme, including that a further report on highways and streetscene was scheduled, which may include a briefing for members.

Children’s Select Committee - Details were provided on the work programme, including ongoing engagement between the committee and young person representatives, and the ongoing task groups including the Obesity Task Group which would report shortly.

Resolved:

To note the updates from the Select Committees.