Decision details

1.  It was moved by County Councillor John Fillis and seconded by County Councillor Julie Gibson that:

 

Suspend Fracking in Lancashire

 

Following the earthquakes being identified around the Fracking site on Preston New Road, we call upon the Chief Executive and Director of Resources to write to the Prime Minister on behalf of Lancashire County Council requesting that:

 

(i)  Fracking on the Preston New Road site is suspended by order of the government.

(ii)  An independent inquiry investigates the earthquakes being recorded within the local area.

(iii)  Fracking is suspended in Lancashire until the independent inquiry publishes its findings.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Michael Green and seconded by County Councillor Aidy Riggott:

 

Following the micro seismic events that have been detected around the Fracking site on Preston New Road, council expresses its appreciation for the highly detailed and professional monitoring of the exploration at Preston New Road by our officers and a number of specialist bodies that have made it the most closely supervised in Europe.

 

Council therefore requests the Chief Executive and  Director of Resources to write to the Secretary of State requesting that the drilling company and the monitoring agencies continue all efforts to ensure the safety of everyone and to close down operations immediately should any part of the operation become unsafe.

 

In accordance with the requirements of procedural Standing Order B45(4), a recorded vote was taken. The names of the County Councillors who voted for or against the amendment and those who abstained are set out below:

 

For (40)

 

T Ashton	A Clempson	M Green	J Rear	P Steen
A Atkinson	J Cooney	K Iddon	P Rigby	C Towneley
I Brown	G Driver	J Marsh	A Riggott	S Turner
P Buckley	J Eaton	S Morris	M Salter	A Vincent
J Burrows	C Edwards	E Nash	J Shedwick	C Wakeford
S Charles	D Foxcroft	D O'Toole	D Smith	G Wilkins
A Cheetham	A Gardiner	M Perks	A Snowden	P Williamson
S Clarke	G Gooch	E Pope	D Stansfield	B Yates

 

Against (34)

 

T Aldridge	B Dawson	N Hennessy	T Martin	M Pattison
A Ali	F De Molfetta	S Holgate	J Mein	J Potter
L Beavers	G Dowding	A Hosker	J Molineux	K Snape
J Berry	K Ellard	D Howarth	Y Motala	J Sumner
L Collinge	J Fillis	M Iqbal	L Oades	M Tomlinson
L Cox	J Gibson	H Khan	G Oliver	D Whipp
C Crompton	P Hayhurst	E Lewis	M Parkinson

 

The amendment was therefore CARRIED and became the substantive motion.

 

In accordance with the requirements of procedural Standing Order B45(4), a recorded vote was taken. The names of the County Councillors who voted for or against the motion and those who abstained are set out below:

 

For (38)

 

T Ashton	S Clarke	K Iddon	P Rigby	C Towneley
A Atkinson	A Clempson	J Marsh	A Riggott	S Turner
P Britcliffe	J Cooney	S Morris	M Salter	A Vincent
I Brown	G Driver	E Nash	J Shedwick	C Wakeford
P Buckley	C Edwards	D O'Toole	D Smith	G Wilkins
J Burrows	A Gardiner	M Perks	A Snowden	P Williamson
S Charles	G Gooch	E Pope	D Stansfield
A Cheetham	M Green	J Rear	P Steen

 

Against (31)

 

T Aldridge	F De Molfetta	S Holgate	J Mein	K Snape
A Ali	G Dowding	A Hosker	J Molineux	M Tomlinson
L Beavers	K Ellard	D Howarth	Y Motala	D Whipp
J Berry	J Fillis	M Iqbal	L Oades
L Collinge	J Gibson	H Khan	G Oliver
L Cox	P Hayhurst	E Lewis	M Parkinson
B Dawson	N Hennessy	T Martin	J Potter

 

Abstain (5)

 

C Crompton	D Foxcroft	B Yates
J Eaton	M Pattison

 

The motion was CARRIED and it was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Following the micro seismic events that have been detected around the Fracking site on Preston New Road, council expresses its appreciation for the highly detailed and professional monitoring of the exploration at Preston New Road by our officers and a number of specialist bodies that have made it the most closely supervised in Europe.

 

Council therefore requests the Chief Executive and  Director of Resources to write to the Secretary of State requesting that the drilling company and the monitoring agencies continue all efforts to ensure the safety of everyone and to close down operations immediately should any part of the operation become unsafe.

 

In accordance with the requirements of procedural Standing Order B45(4), a recorded vote was taken. The names of the County Councillors who voted for or against the amendment and those who abstained are set out below:

 

2.  It was moved by County Councillor Ed Nash and seconded by County Councillor Tim Ashton that:

 

Lancashire County Council believes in the absolute right of all citizens to peaceful and lawful protest.

 

However, recent unlawful protest actions carried out at Preston New Road in Fylde that have resulted in obstruction to the highway and significant disruption to traffic and the lawful business of residents give cause for concern.

 

In particular disquiet has been voiced that Lancashire Police are slow to remove obstructions to ensure the free flow of traffic and to remove those acting unlawfully.

 

In addition, Council notes that the Police action has so far cost over £3million and that this impacts negatively on the Police budget and thereby frontline policing in Lancashire.

 

This Council therefore:

 

(i)  Calls on the Chief Constable of Lancashire to ensure that adequate provision is made and necessary measures taken to minimise disruption.

(ii)  Requests that the Chief Executive writes to the Home Secretary to express this concern and requests that police action at this, and other similar protests, are funded by Central Government.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Gina Dowding which was accepted as a friendly amendment by Councillor Ed Nash in accordance with Standing Order B42:

 

Lancashire County Council believes in the absolute right of all citizens to peaceful and lawful protest.

 

However, recent unlawful protest actions carried out at Preston New Road in Fylde that have resulted in obstruction to the highway and significant disruption to traffic and the lawful business of residents give cause for concern.

 

In particular disquiet has been voiced that Lancashire Police are slow to remove obstructions to ensure that free flow of traffic and to remove those acting unlawfully.

In addition, Council notes that the Police action has so far cost over £7million and that this impacts negatively on the Police budget and thereby frontline policing in Lancashire.

 

This Council therefore:

 

  (i)  Calls on the Chief Constable of Lancashire to ensure that adequate provision is made and necessary measures taken to minimise disruption.

  (ii)  Calls on the Chief Constable to ensure all police officers attending any protests are adequately and properly trained to give utmost priority to the health and safety of the public, protestors, and police officers themselves at all times.

 (iii)  Requests that the Chief Executive writes to the Home Secretary to express this concern and requests that police action at this, and other similar protests, are funded by Central Government. 

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Azhar Ali and seconded by County Councillor John Fillis:

 

Lancashire County Council believes in the absolute right of all citizens to peaceful and lawful protest.

 

However, recent unlawful protest actions carried out at Preston New Road in Fylde that have resulted in obstruction to the highway and significant disruption to traffic and the lawful business of residents give cause for concern.

 

In addition, Council notes that the Police action has so far cost over £7million and that this impacts negatively on the Police budget and thereby frontline policing in Lancashire.

 

This Council therefore:

 

  (i)  Calls on the Chief Constable of Lancashire to ensure that adequate provision is made and necessary measures taken to minimise disruption.

  (ii)  Requests that the Chief Executive writes to the Home Secretary Sajid Javid MP and the Prime Minister Theresa May MP to ask for a fairer funding deal for Lancashire Police in light of the government cuts which have led to over 800 police officers being lost off the streets of Lancashire and for the full costs of Policing ‘fracking’ sites to be covered by central government. 

 

Following a period of debate, County Councillor Azhar Ali withdrew his amendment.

 

The substantive motion, as amended by County Councillor Gina Dowding's friendly amendment, was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Lancashire County Council believes in the absolute right of all citizens to peaceful and lawful protest.

 

However, recent unlawful protest actions carried out at Preston New Road in Fylde that have resulted in obstruction to the highway and significant disruption to traffic and the lawful business of residents give cause for concern.

 

In particular disquiet has been voiced that Lancashire Police are slow to remove obstructions to ensure that free flow of traffic and to remove those acting unlawfully.

 

In addition, Council notes that the Police action has so far cost over £7million and that this impacts negatively on the Police budget and thereby frontline policing in Lancashire.

 

This Council therefore:

 

  (i)  Calls on the Chief Constable of Lancashire to ensure that adequate provision is made and necessary measures taken to minimise disruption.

  (ii)  Calls on the Chief Constable to ensure all police officers attending any protests are adequately and properly trained to give utmost priority to the health and safety of the public, protestors, and police officers themselves at all times.

 (iii)  Requests that the Chief Executive writes to the Home Secretary to express this concern and requests that police action at this, and other similar protests, are funded by Central Government. 

 

3.  It was moved by County Councillor Gina Dowding and seconded by County Councillor John Potter that:

 

In light of the wide-ranging opinions expressed about the Brexit deal achieved by the Prime Minister, and the far-reaching and long-term effects on the residents, communities, businesses and public sector organisations within Lancashire, Council resolves:

• To undertake and publish as quickly as possible a Brexit Impact Assessment of the current deal on the economy, environment, and health of individuals and communities in Lancashire.
• To write to Lancashire's MPs and the Brexit Secretary asking them to support proposals to give the people of Lancashire a final say on whether to accept or reject the deal.

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Julie Gibson and seconded by County Councillor John Fillis:

 

In light of the wide-ranging opinions expressed about the Brexit deal achieved by the Prime Minister, and the far-reaching and long-term effects on the residents, communities, businesses and public sector organisations within Lancashire, Council resolves:

 

•  To establish a cross-party Cabinet Working Group, chaired by the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Environment and Planning. This group will facilitate the development of a support strategy for Lancashire Businesses in their efforts to export and import to the EU, and internationally, in preparation for life after Brexit.

 

On being put to the vote, the amendment was LOST.

 

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was LOST.