To consider the following Notice of Motion proposed by
Cllr C Sutton and seconded by Cllr M Roe and supported by Cllrs L Fry, D Beer,
A Canning, P Kimber, N Ireland, R Hughes, B Heatley, B Ezzard, J Orrell, K
Wheller, A Starr, M Rennie, A Brenton, K Clayton, S Jones, D Tooke and H Legg.
At this council’s meeting on 15th February,
the Leader was asked whether Dorset Council intends to play its part in
addressing the climate crisis by prohibiting new attempts to exploit fossil
fuel resources here in Dorset. Cllr Ray Bryan replied that: “Government has not
revoked any of the petroleum exploration licences
issued in Dorset or elsewhere, and National Planning Policy does not indicate
that Mineral Planning Authorities should stop planning for oil and gas
extraction. This means that we cannot simply prohibit all fossil fuel
exploitation in the area but must consider each proposal on its merits”.
Even if all the commitments made at COP26 in Glasgow
last year are honoured, expert studies predict a rise
of at least 2.7oC in global temperatures. Former Chief Scientific
Advisor to the Government Professor Sir David King says, “What we do over the
next three to four years [will] determine the future of humanity. We are in a
very very desperate situation”.
In this context, cross-party support for this motion
would further underscore the commitment which Dorset Council has already shown
to playing its part in protecting current and future Dorset residents, and
those across the globe.
“The motion:
·
Dorset Council will lobby national government
urgently, strongly, at every opportunity and at all levels to revise the
Minerals section of the National Planning Policy Framework to enable Dorset
(and other) Planning Authorities to decline planning permissions on the grounds
of climate impact alone if they so wish and
·
Dorset Council will lobby the Local Government
Association to do the same.”
Minutes:
The following motion was proposed by C Sutton and seconded by M Roe and supported by: Cllrs: L Fry, D Beer, A Canning, P Kimber, N Ireland, R Hughes, B Heatley, B Ezzard, J Orrell, K Wheller, A Starr, M Rennie, A Brenton, K Clayton, S Jones, D Tooke and H Legg.
Notice of Motion
At this council’s meeting on 15th February,
the Leader was asked whether Dorset Council intends to play its part in
addressing the climate crisis by prohibiting new attempts to exploit fossil
fuel resources here in Dorset. Cllr Ray Bryan replied that: “Government has not
revoked any of the petroleum exploration licences issued
in Dorset or elsewhere, and National Planning Policy does not indicate that
Mineral Planning Authorities should stop planning for oil and gas
extraction. This means that we cannot simply prohibit all fossil fuel
exploitation in the area but must consider each proposal on its merits”.
Even if all the commitments made at COP26
in Glasgow last year are honoured,
expert studies predict a rise of at least 2.7oC
in global temperatures. Former Chief Scientific Advisor to the Government
Professor Sir David King says, “What we do over the next three to four years
[will] determine the future of humanity. We are in a very very desperate situation”.
In this context, cross-party support for
this motion would further underscore the commitment which Dorset Council has
already shown to playing its part in protecting current and future Dorset
residents, and those across the globe.
“The motion:
·
Dorset Council
will lobby national government urgently, strongly, at every opportunity and at
all levels to revise the Minerals section of the National Planning Policy
Framework to enable Dorset (and other) Planning Authorities to decline planning
permissions on the grounds of climate impact alone if they so wish and
·
Dorset Council
will lobby the Local Government Association to do the same.”
A number of views
were expressed by members both in support and against the motion.
In accordance with procedure rule 19.5, a recorded vote was taken.
Those who voted in favour of the recommendation:-
Cllrs: J Andrews, P Barrow, S Bartlett, B Bawden, R Biggs, D Bolwell, A Brenton, A Canning, K Clayton, S Cocking, T Cook, B Ezzard, L Fry, D Gray, M Hall, B Heatley, R Hope, R Hughes, N Ireland, P Kimber, R Legg, H Legg, J Orrell, M Rennie, M Roe, A Starr, C Sutton, D Tooke, K Wheller and S Williams.
Those who voted against the recommendation:-
Cllrs: R Adkins, A Alford, M Barron, P Batstone, C Brooks, P Brown, R Bryan, G Carr-Jones, S Christopher, T Coombs, J Dunseith, T Ferrari, S Flower, S Gibson, B Goringe, P Harrison, J Haynes, S Jespersen, C Jones, A Kerby, R Knox, N Lacey-Clarke, C Lugg, L Miller, L O’Leary, E Parker, M Parkes, A Parry, M Penfold, B Pipe, V Pothecary, B Quayle, B Ridout, M Roberts, D Shortell, J Somper, G Suttle, B Trite, D Walsh, P Wharf and D Worth.
Those who abstained:-
Cllrs: There were no abstentions.
Following a recorded vote, 30 for, 41 against and 0 abstentions, the motion was LOST.