In standing to move a Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(1), Councillor Phil Gilchrist indicated acceptance of an amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Orders 12(1) and (9) to be moved by Councillor Geoffrey Watt and seconded by Councillor Gerry Ellis.  The Council gave its agreement to the variation to the Motion as required by Standing Order 12(1), such agreement being given by general consent.

Accordingly, Councillor Phil Gilchrist moved and Councillor Dave Mitchell seconded, the following varied Motion –

“Council recalls that, at its meeting of 18 July 2011 (Minute 28), Council unanimously approved a Notice of Motion proposed by Cllr Mark Johnston and seconded by Cllr Dave Mitchell.

The Motion responded to and set out this Council’s response to public concerns at that time. These concerns remain as shown by the strong opposition to developments in Lancashire and in North Yorkshire.

As part of the motion, it was resolved that Council:

(a)  states its opposition to any application by IGas or other companies to carry out shale gas or coal gas methane testing or extraction in Wirral until such time as the Council is satisfied as to the safety of the process and that the risk of adverse environmental impacts have been fully addressed.

(b)  requests the appropriate chief officer prepare a report for the Planning Committee, the Economy and Regeneration and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committees to aid members in better understanding the Council's responsibility and regulatory role in relation to gas exploration.

(c)  further requests the Economy and Regeneration OSC to include a study of the potential economic impacts of shale gas exploration and exploitation in Wirral in its workplan, including whether the impact of a proliferation of shale gas drilling on the Liverpool City Region will adversely impact on it becoming a leading area for the manufacture of low carbon technologies and development of a green economy.

Council also recalls that at its meeting of 14^th July 2014 (minute 17) the Mayor had referred a Notice of Motion ‘Underground Coal Gasification’, which had been proposed by Cllr Geoffrey Watt and seconded by Cllr Gerry Ellis, to the Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee.  That motion was duly considered by the Committee on 22^nd September 2014 (minute 15) receiving unanimous support and was referred back to Council on 20^th October 2014 (minute 52) where that recommendation again received unanimous approval.

This second motion noted the existing protections afforded to the Dee Estuary, Hilbre Islands, North Wirral Coast and Mersey Narrows, together with the growing evidence of environmental damage emerging from countries where Unconventional Gas Extraction was practiced.  It also restated Council’s opposition to such practices under Wirral and its surrounding coastal areas, resolved not to facilitate them and further instructed the then Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Wirral’s four MPs and six neighbouring coastal authorities, informing them of Wirral’s stance and inviting those authorities to pass equivalent resolutions so as to protect our shared environment.

Since the approval of these Motions, there have been a number of developments:

i.  The Prime Minister has spoken of her intention that the UK should have a secure and safe supply of energy in the future (18October 2017).  This includes the continued development  of shale gas fields.

ii.  The Oil and Gas Authority issued ‘Consolidated onshore guidance’ in December 2017 https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/media/4622/160218_consolidated-onshore-guidance-compendium_vfinal.pdf

  Within this document, Chapter 7 contains paragraphs 27 and 32 which may have a bearing on our local geology.

iii.The Planning Committee of our neighbouring Council, Cheshire West and Chester, refused application 17/03213/MIN on 25 January 2018, the Committee report and Minute being set out here:

http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/s56155/1703213MIN%20-%20Final.pdf

  http://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=42393

  The Committee felt that the application did not “mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, ensuring the development makes the best use of opportunities for renewable energy use and generation."

iv. The recent comments from the Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, that there is no need or justification for shale gas extraction in the City Region given the abundance of alternative sustainable energy sources.

In the light of these developments and continuing public concern, Council requests that the Chief executive reports whether or not the eleven letters were ever sent, what if any replies were received and that officers examine the guidance from the Oil and Gas Authority, the decision of Cheshire West and Chester’s Planning Committee, along with the views of the LCR Mayor, and report further on how this Council can best maintain a robust policy and stance on this controversial process”.

Having applied the guillotine pursuant to minute 123 above, the Council did not debate this matter.

Upon being put to the vote, the varied Motion was lost (19:31) (One abstention).