Issue - meetings

REPORT DRR18/049

Members considered a Government consultation by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the principle of whether non-hydraulic fracturing shale exploration development should be granted planning permission through a permitted development right.

Consideration was also given to a consultation by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the criteria required to trigger the inclusion of shale production projects into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime.

The Council’s suggested responses to both consultations were also set out in the report.

The Chairman emphasised the importance of the Council’s objections to the shale gas consultation.  If shale gas production was designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, then decision making powers would be taken away from the Local Planning Authority and would lie solely with the Secretary of State.

RESOLVED that:-

1.  the Planning Authority’s concerns in regard to both consultations, be noted; and

2.  the draft suggested responses to both consultations be noted and final responses be prepared by the Chief Planner in consultation with the Chairman.