Councillors in the Vale of Glamorgan have unanimously rejected an application to test drill for shale gas in the county.

Analysis by Andy Chyba

This represents a total vindication of the stance we have taken from the outset of this campaign back in January 2011.

It also represents a triumph for people power, with the local people of Llandow and the Vale being prepared to wrestle with the issues in order to understand them, and then go out and comprehensively win the arguments calmly, rationally and on merit. Louise Evans and the whole ‘Vale Says No!’ team have achieved far more than any political party could achieve in terms of raising awareness of the issues and getting people and, most importantly, the media to engage with the issues.

I would also like to acknowledge the very brave decision taken by the Vale Planning Committee this evening. 10 Conservatives, 5 Labour, 2 Plaid Cymru and 2 Independents make up this committee. To obtain a unanimous verdict is a stunning result, that ought reverberate around the nation. It is a sensational precedent, as I am pretty certain it is the very first time a shale gas test drilling application has been opposed anywhere in the UK.

The main line of argument that I feel has achieved this result is with regard to the lack of any regulatory regime designed specifically for this industry. This was conceded by Coastal Oil & Gas and the Environment Agency at the Scrutiny Committee Meeting on Monday. The Vale Councillors, including Leader Cllr Kemp, recognised that their approval of this industry could well be letting an evil genie out of the bottle with no way of effectively controlling it and no chance of getting it back in the bottle once it was out. They rightly realised that the Welsh Government and Westminster were effectively passing the buck and likely to make them the scapegoats when the inevitable calamities start to happen.

They also rightly recognised the sound logic behind our argument that test drilling applications should not be considered in isolation. They are simply the first step in an integrally linked set of stages to full production. If there is no chance of allowing subsequent stages, there is no point in allowing the first stage. History tells us that the other side will force through the counter-argument; that if you allow them to invest huge resources in stage one, you cannot waste all that investment by not allowing the subsequent stages. The Vale Councillors accepted this argument against the advice of their Planning Officer, whose tick box sheets presumably cannot cope with ‘big picture’ thinking.

These are messages that need to be delivered loud and clear to town halls across the land. The precedent has now been set. Councillors do not need to bow to the advice of their box ticking, rubber stamping Planning Officers. They can determine what is right and wrong by calling in evidence from people who know what they are talking about, rather than feign understanding and vote in accordance to the party line.

The Vale of Glamorgan Planning Committee have struck a real blow for local democracy, and have proven themselves to be people of true integrity and with the strength to challenge the systems they are asked to operate within – systems designed to let the exploiters and developers to have it all their own way at our expense most of the time.

This decision will strengthen the campaigns against the many and varied threats represented by the frackers, not just in the Vale, but across the land.

The next big question is how will the Welsh Government and Westminster respond to this slap across the face for their complacency to date?

Analysis by Iolo AP Dafydd, BBC Wales environment correspondent

“Almost all councillors spoke of their fears about pollution if fracking for shale gas took place following a positive outcome to test drilling in Llandow.

Several said they felt the planning committee needed advice and guidance from the Welsh government as well as the UK government, because drilling for shale gas was of national importance.

Some councillors said they felt the Welsh government was passing the buck by insisting the councillors had enough power and control to make their own decision, whether that be test-drilling or possibly in future fracking for shale gas.

Most said they accepted there will be an appeal. Cliff Patten – a planning consultant for Coastal Oil and Gas – affirmed after the meeting it was likely.

Many councillors also felt a public inquiry was needed.”

http://www.ted.com/talks/jae_rhim_lee.html?utm_source=newsletter_weekly_2011-10-19&utm_campaign=newsletter_weekly&utm_medium=email

It is the most exciting and uplifting thing I have listened to for a long time and is yet another rebuttal and antidote to the dystopian future the frackers have planned for us!

http://www.ted.com/talks/justin_hall_tipping_freeing_energy_from_the_grid.html?utm_source=newsletter_weekly_2011-10-19&utm_campaign=newsletter_weekly&utm_medium=email

Representations were made by:

• Coastal Oil & Gas Ltd
• Environment Agency
• Welsh Water
• Prof Cartwright, Cardiff University
• Cowbridge Residents Group
• CPRW
• Denis Campbell – UK Progressive Magazine
• Me and Louise Evans for ‘The Vale Says No!’

We really had Coastal Oil & Gas on the ropes most of the night, and it was good to see the Environment Agency getting a rough ride too. As for Prof Cartwright, I thought he was there as the ‘frackers friend’ – but his contributions were feeble.

The evening culminated in an unexpected coup. A member of the Scrutiny Committee proposed that the Vale of Glamorgan Council be requested to declare itself in favour of a moratorium and, further, to call on the Council to lobby both the Welsh Government and Westminster for a moratorium too.

This was put to the vote and was passed unanimously by the entire Scrutiny Committee!!

Many of this Committee will be sitting on the Planning Committee meeting on Thursday which will decide the fate of Coastal Oil & Gas’ test drilling application at Llandow.

Watch this space!

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Apologies for Absence
3. Minutes and matters arising
4. Officers’ reports
5. Campaigns update – esp. fracking/pv for free
6. Elections – BCBC 2012 – Nomination of Candidates
7. AOB
8. DoNM

NOTE – Venue is 2 minutes walk from both the Bus and Train stations in Bridgend.
See map: https://bridgendgreens.wordpress.com/2011/07/16/next-meeting/

IF ANYONE NEEDS A LIFT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW
Andy.

Dear Andrew,

Ive been known to drop the occasional expletive, but the most offensive F word to me is not the one that goes f***. Its F***** – the famine happening in the Horn of Africa, mainly Somalia.

I hope youll take a few minutes to watch ONEs new video The F Word: Famine is the Real Obscenity and in doing so sign the petition….

http://act.one.org/go/133?akid=2663.2269684.jm_yBD&t=5

Dear world leaders,

The famine in Somalia could kill 750,000 in the coming months, and tens of thousands have already died. When you meet at the Group of 20 (G-20) Summit in November, you have the opportunity to break the cycle of famine and ensure people are hungry no more. Lives are in your hands. Please keep the promises you have made to the 2 billion poor people who depend on farming for their livelihoods.

The reasons for the famine in the Horn of Africa are complex and solutions are difficult, especially in Somalia, but we cant lose sight of some simple facts:

1. 30,000 children have died in just 3 months. Thirty thousand. With over 12 million people at risk.

2. Famine is not a natural catastrophe drought doesnt have to lead to famine. It can be prevented, as we have seen in much of Kenya and Ethiopia.

In the 21st century, its an obscenity that people are dying because they cant get enough food to eat. Every one of those 30,000 children is part of a family a son, a daughter, sister or brother. We cant imagine what it must be like to starve to death, but most of us know what its like to lose someone we love.

Please watch the film and make use of the voice you have — sign the petition. It will make a difference in putting pressure on world leaders to do more to help those in need right now, and live up to promises already made to invest in the things proven to work early warning systems…irrigation…drought resistant seeds and of course, peace and security.

Thanks for reading.

Bono

Take action:
http://action.amnesty.org.uk/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1194&ea.campaign.id=12236&utm_source=email&utm_medium=mass_email&utm_campaign=deathpenalty&utm_content=stoning_action3

This is a departure for EBS. They say:
“for the first time, we’re extending our mortgage range specifically to support people who own ordinary properties. With our homes using three times as much energy as our cars – contributing over 27% of our [carbon dioxide] emissions in the process – we feel it’s essential to help everyone make their home as Eco-friendly as possible. We hope that adding a cheaper mortgage to the prospect of lower energy bills and better air quality will provide a tangible incentive for people to live more sustainably.”

The EBS autumn newsletter also includes some helpful links to other organisations with an interest in retrofit.

http://www.superhomes.org.uk/

http://www.carbonlite.org.uk/carbonlite/

http://retrofitdiaries.org/

http://www.greatbritishrefurb.co.uk/ (Kevin McCloud of Grand Designs is an advocate)

BCBCs assistant chief executive, David Macgregor, has said:
Bridgend County Borough Council is committed to fairness and equity in the way we pay our staff, and like all councils, we must complete a job evaluation exercise. Under the proposals, 75 per cent of salaries will go up or stay the same. The majority of those who will benefit are our lower paid front-line staff such as care workers.

However it looks as if the majority of those that might see an increase will see only tiny increases that may not even cover inflation in living costs, whereas many of those losing out will see horrendous cuts to their incomes. Examples already identified include:

• Some teaching assistants currently paid a basic salary of just under £23,000 a year could expect to be paid just over £11,000
• A manager on about £33,500 a year would go down to just over £26,000
• Couples who both work for BCBC facing a cut in their joint income of up to £14,000
• Litter pickers, already on a low wage, had found their pay cut by £2,000
• A more junior officer’s basic pay would fall from around £25,500 to just under £18,000
• Some night care workers losing up to £3,000 per annum

GMB, UNISON and UNITE the three unions representing employees at Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) issued a joint statement today as follows:

Bridgend County Borough Council is publishing its proposals this week in relation to the Job Evaluation exercise. It is our view that BCBC are treating their own employees with total contempt and are deliberately provoking a dispute in order to force through their Draconian proposals. The unions were shocked to discover last week that BCBC had already prepared a document that was to be made public this week. Without any consultation with the trade unions on the document BCBC are intending to remove almost all terms and conditions relating to overtime, unsocial hours, weekend working etc and replace them with a plain time payment. It cannot be right that night care workers are losing up to £3,000 per annum as a result of BCBCs proposals.

Let me share the the statement that appears on Bridgend Labour Party’s website landing page:

“Thousands have decided that now is the time to join The Labour Party because they have realised that it is only The Labour Party that will create a society which has fairness, equality and meritocracy as core values.”

I will leave you to count the number of inaccuracies in this statement!! If there were to be any sort of ring of truth to this statement, I would expect the Labour administration in BCBC to be at the forefront of sorting this disgrace out. I have seen no sign of it to date. Carwyn Jones is reported to be ‘concerned’ – which is a step up from his response to the fracking issue at least!

Let it be remembered that people like David Macgregor (quoted above) are the paid servants of the council. The role of Chief Executive Officers is well decribed in this document: http://www.psi.org.uk/publications/archivepdfs/New%20dire/ND2.pdf from which this comes:

“For the chief executive to be truly effective, there is a need to develop a spirit of political and managerial partnership and mutual understanding. In County Councils there has been a tendency for chief officers to monopolise the political interface. Where this happens it leads to a lack of political awareness and sensitivity amongst managers, often at a quite senior level. Part of the chief executives role is to develop political sensitivity in the officer structure, perhaps through specific training, but more importantly through political exposure. This means developing confidence with both the members and the chief officers in this process.”

I would suggest that the disgraceful state of affairs we are now subject to here in Bridgend highlights the complete lack of political and managerial partnership at the political interface between the Labour administration and the Council officers. There are clearly a lot of jobs that need re-evaluating at a senior level.

BCBC chief executive Jo Farrars job was advertised at £120,000 in 2006 But Dr Farrar made £170,310 including pension contributions, expenses and benefits in kind in 2009-10, as revealed in last week’s Gazette. It is not known what pay cut is being proposed in her case!

As for the Labour administration’s ‘job evaluation’ – that comes round next May at the ballot box!!

If people are really interested in “a society which has fairness, equality and meritocracy as core values” it must be clear that blind allegiance to the Labour Party, that once served them so well, is never going to achieve it.

This is where they will find it: