Agenda item

1.  It was moved by County Councillor Frank De Molfetta and seconded by County Councillor David O'Toole that:

 

Since 28 June 2018 Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service and its partners have been dealing with a major wildfire incident at Winter Hill.

 

Many partners have been, and continue to be, involved in fantastic work in extreme weather and difficult conditions to protect the safety of residents, animals and wildlife.  These include officers, firefighters, support staff, the County Council's Fleet Maintenance Service, partners and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to contain the fire thereby protecting the infrastructure on the top of the hill and threats to life and property while maintaining operational fire cover across Lancashire. The generosity and support of members of the public who have sent messages of support and given generous donations of supplies and machinery is also noted.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore asks the Interim Chief Executive and Director of Resources to liaise with the Chief Fire Officer to ensure the Council's gratitude is expressed to all Partners to thank them for their support.

 

On being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED and it was:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Since 28 June 2018 Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service and its partners have been dealing with a major wildfire incident at Winter Hill.

 

Many partners have been, and continue to be, involved in fantastic work in extreme weather and difficult conditions to protect the safety of residents, animals and wildlife.  These include officers, firefighters, support staff, the County Council's Fleet Maintenance Service, partners and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to contain the fire thereby protecting the infrastructure on the top of the hill and threats to life and property while maintaining operational fire cover across Lancashire. The generosity and support of members of the public who have sent messages of support and given generous donations of supplies and machinery is also noted.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore asks the Interim Chief Executive and Director of Resources to liaise with the Chief Fire Officer to ensure the Council's gratitude is expressed to all Partners to thank them for their support.

 

2.  It was moved by County Councillor Charles Edwards and seconded by County Councillor Stuart Morris that:

 

In Lancashire approximately 67% of the adult population are living with excess weight. High levels of excess weight are also prevalent amongst the children of Lancashire, with the highest prevalence figures being found in the most deprived wards.

 

Obesity is a complex issue and requires a multifaceted approach. One element of this approach is working together to limit the over proliferation of hot food takeaways.

 

Between 2012 and 2016 every district in Lancashire saw increases in the numbers of fast food outlets, and Lancashire as a whole has seen an increase of 20%. In Lancashire 48.7% of fast food outlets fall within wards that sit in the 20% most deprived nationally.

 

Based on a review of evidence and implemented planning policies from other areas the 'Hot Food Takeaways and Spatial Planning Public Health Advisory Note' recommends that local planning authorities consider the development of policies or supplementary planning documents that include:

 

-  A 400m restriction zone for new hot food takeaways surrounding secondary schools – limiting children's access to unhealthy food.

-  Refusing applications for new hot food takeaways within wards where more than 15% of year 6 pupils and 10% of reception pupils are classed as obese.

-  Prevent the clustering of too many hot food takeaways in deprived neighbourhoods.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore asks that the Leader of the County Council; the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Environment and Planning; the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing and the interim Chief Executive and Director of Resources jointly write to the Chief Executives and Leaders of each of the 12 Lancashire District Councils to support this request.

 

On being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED and it was:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

In Lancashire approximately 67% of the adult population are living with excess weight. High levels of excess weight are also prevalent amongst the children of Lancashire, with the highest prevalence figures being found in the most deprived wards.

 

Obesity is a complex issue and requires a multifaceted approach. One element of this approach is working together to limit the over proliferation of hot food takeaways.

 

Between 2012 and 2016 every district in Lancashire saw increases in the numbers of fast food outlets, and Lancashire as a whole has seen an increase of 20%. In Lancashire 48.7% of fast food outlets fall within wards that sit in the 20% most deprived nationally.

 

Based on a review of evidence and implemented planning policies from other areas the 'Hot Food Takeaways and Spatial Planning Public Health Advisory Note' recommends that local planning authorities consider the development of policies or supplementary planning documents that include:

 

-  A 400m restriction zone for new hot food takeaways surrounding secondary schools – limiting children's access to unhealthy food.

-  Refusing applications for new hot food takeaways within wards where more than 15% of year 6 pupils and 10% of reception pupils are classed as obese.

-  Prevent the clustering of too many hot food takeaways in deprived neighbourhoods.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore asks that the Leader of the County Council; the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Environment and Planning; the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing and the interim Chief Executive and Director of Resources jointly write to the Chief Executives and Leaders of each of the 12 Lancashire District Councils to support this request.

 

3.  It was moved by County Councillor Gina Dowding and seconded by County Councillor Paul Hayhurst:

 

Lancashire County Council notes:

 

·  That in May this year Ministers outlined a proposal in a Written Ministerial Statement to redefine non-hydraulic fracturing shale gas exploration applications as permitted development and to redefine large scale shale gas production sites as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, thus  removing any local authority control and community involvement in decision-making.

·  That the Government consultation on these proposals is expected to begin during the middle of July 2018.

·  That on 5 July 2018, a report by the cross-party Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee warned the Government against its proposal to bring fracking applications under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime, concluding that Mineral Planning Authorities, which in Lancashire is the County Council, were best placed to understand the local area and how fracking could best take place.

·  That the above report said the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime was unlikely to speed up the application process for fracking.

Lancashire County Council is committed to the principles of localism and the involvement of local communities in decisions that affect their environment, their health and safety and their well-being.

Lancashire County Council believes:

·  That moving decisions about fracking, which have huge implications for local communities, to a national level would contradict the principles of localism.

·  That ‘Permitted Development’ – the category of planning that the government wants to move Shale gas exploration drilling into – which was designed for developments with low environmental impacts, is an inappropriate category for drilling with such wide-reaching implications for local communities and climate change.

·  That bringing fracking applications under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime will be harmful to local communities.

·  That local authorities are best placed to continue to make decisions throughout the planning process for shale gas exploration drilling, appraisal and production.

Lancashire County Council resolves:

 

·  To respond to the forthcoming government consultation with the above views.

·  To share this response with Lancashire MPs and relevant government ministers.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Barrie Yates and seconded by County Councillor Peter Steen:

 

Lancashire County Council notes that in May this year Ministers outlined a proposal in a Written Ministerial Statement to redefine non-hydraulic fracturing shale gas exploration applications as permitted development and to redefine large scale shale gas production sites as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, thus removing any local authority control and community involvement in decision-making.

 

Lancashire County Council is committed to the principles of localism and the involvement of local communities in decisions that affect their environment, their health and safety and their well-being and resolves to respond to the Government's forthcoming consultation that applications for fracking should be determined by local planning authorities in accordance with planning law and guidance, and also to share this response with Lancashire MPs and relevant government ministers.

 

The amendment was accepted and became the substantive motion. The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Lancashire County Council notes that in May this year Ministers outlined a proposal in a Written Ministerial Statement to redefine non-hydraulic fracturing shale gas exploration applications as permitted development and to redefine large scale shale gas production sites as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, thus removing any local authority control and community involvement in decision-making.

 

Lancashire County Council is committed to the principles of localism and the involvement of local communities in decisions that affect their environment, their health and safety and their well-being and resolves to respond to the Government's forthcoming consultation that applications for fracking should be determined by local planning authorities in accordance with planning law and guidance, and also to share this response with Lancashire MPs and relevant government ministers.