Issue - items at meetings - Designation of Brighton & Hove as a no-Fracking zone

Report of the Strategic Director; Place (copy attached).

1.         That Brighton & Hove be approved as a no-fracking zone.

117.1    The Strategic Director; Place introduced the report which had been produced as a result of a Notice of Motion to Full Council on the subject of ‘Fracking.’  He noted that should the recommendation be accepted, it would not be a legally binding policy and therefore did not affect the Waste and Minerals Plan, but would be consistent with the council’s commitment to create a more sustainable city.

117.2    Councillor G. Theobald questioned the logic of such a declaration when the Waste and Minerals plan provided for the option to apply to undertake oil and has exploration.  As the declaration would not be legally binding he did not see the need for it and referred to how ‘Fracking’ was being utilised in other parts of the world.

117.3    Councillor West stated that it was important to give an indication of the council’s intention to have a low carbon economy and to signal its concerns over the process of ‘Fracking.’

117.4    Councillor Mitchell stated that the Labour & Co-operative Group were supportive of the recommendation and suggested that a regional strategy should be developed to support this concern.

117.5    Councillor Peltzer Dunn stated that he remained to be convinced about the benefits of ‘Fracking’ but every source of energy needed to be explored and as such he could not support the recommendation.

117.6    The Chair stated that such a declaration would have weight and would give an indication as to the city’s position on the matter.  He then put the recommendation to the vote.

117.7    RESOLVED: That Brighton & Hove be approved as a no-fracking zone.