Issue - meetings

The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment to report the recommendation of the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee.

That the recommendations of the Grid Capacity Task & Finish Group, set out within section 4 of the cover report to the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee of 26 February 2024, on the council’s future approach to the strategic risks and opportunities regarding the electricity network, be approved, subject to the following:

(a)           That, in respect of recommendation 6, MPs be invited to a meeting to enable councillors and officers to directly brief them on the issues and difficulties faced with the grid infrastructure and the issues raised during the review.

(b)           That an additional recommendation (7) be included – That the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee monitor grid provision in Dorset and associated issues including emerging policy and regulatory reform, on an annual basis.

(c)           That a councillor webinar be provided post May 2024 regarding grid capacity, including technologies and the future impact on planning and energy provision.

(d)           That a councillor site visit be arranged post May 2024 to Canford Renewable Energy.

Reason for the decision

To ensure that the council was best placed to mitigate the risks and exploit the opportunities associated with the future of the electricity grid.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment set out the recommendations of the Grid Capacity Task & Finish Group of the Place & Resources Scrutiny Committee, on the council’s future approach to the strategic risks and opportunities regarding the electricity network. The Portfolio Holder took the opportunity to thank the task group for their work on this matter.

The Portfolio Holder continued to report that the scrutiny committee had clarified how Dorset Council could play a more strategic role in unlocking grid capacity in Dorset.  He further advised that an Energy Officer had recently been appointed to the council and part of their role would be to support this work.

The recommendations were proposed by Cllr R Bryan seconded by Cllr B Quayle.

The Chairman of the Place & Resources Scrutiny Committee reported on the work of the task and finish group and thanked them for their efforts on this subject. He highlighted the recommendations set out within the report and the need to strengthen relationships with network operators across a strategic and operational level. Other comments included ensuring that rural communities were not left behind.

Cabinet members supported the recommendations.

Decision

That the recommendations of the Grid Capacity Task & Finish Group, set out within section 4 of the cover report to the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee of 26 February 2024, on the council’s future approach to the strategic risks and opportunities regarding the electricity network, be approved, subject to the following:

(a)       That, in respect of recommendation 6, MPs be invited to a meeting to enable councillors and officers to directly brief them on the issues and difficulties faced with the grid infrastructure and the issues raised during the review.

(b)       That an additional recommendation (7) be included – That the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee monitor grid provision in Dorset and associated issues including emerging policy and regulatory reform, on an annual basis.

(c)        That a councillor webinar be provided post May 2024 regarding grid capacity, including technologies and the future impact on planning and energy provision.

(d)       That a councillor site visit be arranged post May 2024 to Canford Renewable Energy.

Reason for the decision

To ensure that the council was best placed to mitigate the risks and exploit the opportunities associated with the future of the electricity grid.

To consider a report of the Climate and Ecology Policy Officer following a task and finish group review.

The committee received and considered a report of the Climate and Ecology Policy Officer, which presented the findings from the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee Task and Finish Group inquiry into the impacts, challenges and opportunities of grid constraints and the associated reforms. The report included a set of recommendations for how the council could best position itself to mitigate the risks and exploit the opportunities with regard to how the network was planned, governed, invested in, reflected in the council’s policy and decision-making and strengthening relationships with network operators.

It was highlighted that the review had been a useful exercise which had enabled the consideration of key issues, with discussion with both internal and external representatives. The review had identified a series of recommendations for progressing consideration of the issues. Thanks were expressed to all those that had been involved.

The Chairman highlighted the recommendations set out within the report and in addition requested an additional recommendation for continued annual scrutiny review of this area, a councillor webinar and visit to Canford Renewable Energy post May 2024 and for the briefing with MPs to be undertaken through a meeting, to allow councillors and officers to directly brief them on the issues and difficulties faced with the grid infrastructure and the issues raised during the review.

It was proposed by B Goringe seconded by B Heatley

Recommendation to Cabinet

That the recommendations of the Grid Capacity Task & Finish Group, set out within section 4 of the cover report to the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee, on the council’s future approach to the strategic risks and opportunities regarding the electricity network, be approved, subject to the following:

i)               That, in respect of recommendation 6, MPs be invited to a meeting to enable councillors and officers to directly brief them on the issues and difficulties faced with the grid infrastructure and the issues raised during the review

ii)              That an additional recommendation (7) be included – That the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee monitor grid provision in Dorset and associated issues including emerging policy and regulatory reform, on an annual basis

iii)            That a councillor webinar be provided post May 2024 regarding grid capacity, including technologies and the future impact on planning and energy provision

iv)            That a councillor site visit be arranged post May 2024 to Canford Renewable Energy.