Decision details

Purpose of report: To inform the Executive Member for Environment of two separate but parallel Government consultations relating to the regulation of shale gas development through planning processes and to set out a draft officer response to each of the consultations.

The report will ask the Executive Member to note the government consultations on:
i) Permitted development rights for shale gas exploration;
ii) Inclusion of shale gas production projects in the NSIP regime; and
consider the draft officer response as set out in the report and agree to its submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy by the agreed deadline of 25th October 2018

Resolved:  (i)      That the government consultations on:

a)   permitted development rights for shale gas exploration and

b)   inclusion of shale gas production projects in the NSIP regime

be noted.

(iii)     That, subject to the addition of ‘density of well pads’ to the list of matters requiring prior approval in paragraph 44, the views set out in the ‘Suggested Authority Response’ sections of the report be endorsed and approved for submission the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, as relevant.

Reason:     To allow officers to respond to the government consultations prior to the deadline of 25 October 2018.