Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Planning and Infrastructure

The Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager presented the report, informing Members of the renewable and low carbon energy study undertaken and how its findings related to the Council’s Zero Carbon Roadmap.

Some Members were concerned that time spent working on this could be wasted when building regulations were not up to date and government advice could change.  There was a risk the Local Plan would not be ‘sound’. They sought assurances that decisions made going forward would be consistent with government policy and the principle.  The Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager explained that although it was impossible to guarantee that everything agreed would be successful at examination, all advice given by officers would be in line with current regulations and national policy.

Following a comment on the lack of discussion within the report on the possible use of hydrogen hubs, the Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager acknowledged the popularity of this energy source within the haulage industry and referred to section 4 of the study where this had been addressed.  He assured Members that this was an emerging energy source which was covered in the study and which officers would be monitoring going forward.

Members were complimentary about the work undertaken to date in the local plan and could see the potential moving forward.  Some disappointment was shared that officers were not moving forward with this more quickly and they were urged to ensure policies were future proofed for changing regulations when written. 

Following a further discussion in relation to other sources of energy including wind power and water sourced heat pumps using water from coalmines, as well as the enforcement of renewable energy supplies for Developers, the Chairman reminded Members that as the building regulations had not been updated since 1997, these things were very difficult to enforce.  He added that it was a constant battle as the developers were working in accordance with the current regulations, albeit that they were out of date.

It was moved by Councillor J Legrys, seconded by Councillor D Harrison and by affirmation of the meeting

RESOLVED THAT:

The following be noted -

1)     The completion of the Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Study.

2)     The Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Study supports the findings of the Zero Carbon Roadmap in respect of renewable energy targets.

3)     A further report giving consideration to possible policy options would be brought to a future meeting of the Committee.

NOTE: The full discussion on this item can be viewed on the recording of the meeting published on the minute pages.  The link below will direct you to the meeting page.

Local Plan Committee - Wednesday 31 March 2021