Issue - meetings

This report informs the Executive Member of the government consultations on permitted development rights for shale gas exploration and inclusion of shale gas production projects in the NSIP regime, and seeks approval of a proposed response for submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy by the deadline of 25 October.

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.

The Executive Member considered a report which provided information on the above consultations relating to shale gas and sought approval for a suggested response from the council.

The consultations had been published on 19 July 2018 by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy respectively.  Essentially, they sought views on whether shale gas exploration should be treated as permitted development and on the criteria required to include shale gas production projects in the NSIP regime, reflecting the government’s Written Ministerial Statement on Energy Policy published on 17 May 2018.  The consultations were running in parallel with finalisation of the Minerals and Waste Joint Plan (MWJP) for North Yorkshire, York and the National Park, as detailed in paragraph 7 of the report.  Officers at the meeting provided an update on the current progress of the MWJP.

Suggested responses to the seven questions in the Permitted Rights consultation and the six questions in the NSIP consultation were set out in paragraphs 20-53 and 54-61 of the report respectively.  These reflected officers’ views that there was insufficient public interest justification for introducing the proposed new permitted development right, or for bringing shale gas projects within the scope of the NSIP regime.  The responses also sought protection for the historic character and setting of York, and a requirement for prior approval of a number of matters (listed in paragraph 44), should the government introduce the new right.

Resolved:  (i)      That the government consultations on:

a)   permitted development rights for shale gas exploration and

b)   inclusion of shall 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.