Agenda item

To consider a report by the Planning Officer: Renewable Energy Schemes (copy enclosed) which seeks guidance on the resource commitment and level of community engagement for major infrastructure projects.

 10.50 a.m.

A copy of a report by the Planning Officer: Renewable Energy Schemes, which sought guidance on the resource commitment and level of community engagement to major infrastructure projects, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

Major infrastructure projects were large scale development proposals requiring a consent known as ‘development consent’ under procedures governed by the Planning Act 2008 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011).  Developers wishing to build major infrastructure projects were required to apply for planning permission to the Planning Inspectorate and Local Authorities were statutory consultees.  A Report setting out the planning context for major infrastructure projects had been considered by the Planning Committee in May, 2012, and Appendices 1 and 2 to the report included details of the Local Authority’s role in the planning process.  The financial and resource implications and potential impact/risks associated with each option had been included in Appendix 3, and indicative external costs to respond to major infrastructure projects included in Appendix 4.  There was no statutory obligation on the Local Authority to participate in the process of assessment of such schemes.  However, as some major infrastructure projects had a significant social, economic and environmental impact on the County and local communities, a collective response was provided to the Inspectorate and the Council participated, to some degree, in the process.  Member input was being sought on the level of resource allocation and the extent of community engagement which should be assigned to major infrastructure projects in future, particularly bearing in mind the Authority aspiration of becoming closer to the community. 

Officers summarised the main points in the report which covered resource allocation, the options available to the Council in terms of how it responded to major infrastructure projects and in terms of community engagement in respect of such major projects.  Local Authorities were statutory consultees on major infrastructure projects and had an important role to play if they chose to engage with the process.  However, there was no planning fee associated with such schemes to cover the respective costs.

The report summarised the key requirements within the process and it was stressed that applications included complex, lengthy documents which required a significant amount of time to assess prior to the formulation of a consultation response.  Consultation timescales were set out in statute and would therefore need to be conformed with.

Councillor J.S. Welch explained that residents in his ward had been unaware of recent proposals being put forward in that particular area, and he suggested that the Local Authority adopting a more proactive role would increase awareness locally.  He also referred to the affect proposals in various parts of the county could have on communities along A5 with regard to traffic related issues.  Councillor C.H. Williams felt that the Authority had a duty to ensure that there was no adverse impact on the residents of the County, whatever the scale of the proposed development.  The Head of Planning and Regulatory Services confirmed that in the event of a reduction in numbers, taking it below the given threshold, the application would then be submitted to the Local Planning Authority (LPA).  The LPA would then be eligible to receive the respective fee for the application and be better resourced to deal with it.     

In response to a question from Councillor J.M. Davies regarding funding and financial implications of each of the options presented, the Head of Planning and Regulatory Services referred to the Chief Finance Officer’s Statement with regard to resource and financial implications and the process for bidding for additional internal resources.  Councillor H.O. Williams referred to the visual impact of structures, such as windfarms, on communities outside the application area and stressed the importance of including these communities in the consultation process.

The Planning Officer: Renewable Energy Schemes felt that the Authority should engage in the process.  However, it would be important to be realistic about what the Council would be capable of delivering and for this reason Option B, which could be dealt with using the existing resources available was being recommended to members.  She provided details of the consultation process to date and confirmed that there was no reference in the Planning Act to the undertaking of community engagement.  The Development Control Manager outlined the potential risk to the Authority if it was decided to extend its involvement beyond its statutory role in the consultation process, and stated that it would be important that the Authority was viewed as a consultee within the process whilst supporting the local community.

With the Chair’s consent members of the public in attendance at the meeting raised and outlined the following points and issues pertaining to a number of current or potential major infrastructure applications:-

-          local authority involvement would be important because of the significant impact on the whole of the County, reference being made to the tourism industry, local forests and in particular to water supplies in the locality

-          a representative from ‘Stop the Exploitation of Mynydd Mynyllod’ (STEMM), suggested that the consultation process with respect to that particular development was being carefully controlled by the applicants.  He questioned the impartiality of the consultation process, particular reference being made to maps circulated which excluded any reference to the communities affected within the Application area

-          Visual impact assessments had been denied.

The Planning Officer: Renewable Energy Schemes responded to questions and concerns raised with regard to funding matters for different projects, particular reference being made to the criteria for funding from the Welsh Government and the reasons why funding was available for the Clocaenog Scheme but not for the Mynydd Mynyllod Scheme.

The Head of Planning and Regulatory Services made reference to the statutory process for consultation within the new legislation and outlined the possible financial implications and budgetary pressures on the Council in terms of the Options available.

Following further discussion and taking into consideration the views expressed at the meeting, the Committee agreed to recommend the following for:-

Resource allocation - OPTION 3:  that the Council utilises existing internal resources and allocates a budget from central funds to ensure that sufficient additional internal and external resources can be dedicated to respond to major infrastructure projects.

Community engagement - Option C:  which encompassed Option B plus in addition that the Council dedicate additional internal resources to pro-actively support third party organisations and help local communities understand, engage and respond to major infrastructure projects.

In response to members’ requests officers agreed to draw-up a consultation communication strategy to deal with large infrastructure project planning applications and agreed to circulate the draft scheme to Committee members ahead of the Committee’s next meeting.

Following further discussion, the Committee:-

RESOLVED – to recommend:-

(a)     that the Council complies with the provisions set out in the Planning Act 2008 and dedicates sufficient resources to ensure the Council can fully respond to major infrastructure projects and therefore recommends that Resource Allocation Option 3 is adopted for this purpose, and

(b)          that the Council dedicates additional internal resources to pro-actively support third party organisations and help local communities understand, engage and respond to major infrastructure projects and recommends Community Engagement Option C for this purpose.