Agenda item

The Principal Minerals Planner presented the report of the Review of Minerals Permission (ROMP) for Hope Shale works for Members to authorise the delegation to officers to agree a final Schedule of Conditions.  The scheme was subject to 36 conditions which allowed mineral extraction to take place until 21 February 2042, with restoration to be completed five years later.  A final restoration plan would be submitted in ten years’ time when it would be clearer how much shale was left on site.

Some Members had visited the site the previous day.

Members discussed the following points:

•         Being overly prescriptive on the Restoration Plan could impact on operator costs and reduce outcomes.

•         Parts of the site no longer being worked had shown signs of recovery without restoration measures.

•         If solar panels were a consideration at the aftercare stage, a planning application would be required.

A motion to APPROVE the application in accordance with the officer recommendation was moved, seconded, put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the Scheme of Conditions set out in Appendix A are agreed in principle, and that delegated authority is granted to the Head of Planning and Conservation to determine the final wording of the Scheme of Conditions following discussions with the Applicant.

10:30 M Smith returned to the meeting