Agenda item

This Council restates and reaffirms its profound concerns regarding the unsustainable proliferation of solar farm developments in South Kesteven.

 

South Kesteven District Council hereby resolves to:

 

1. Acknowledge the adverse impact of clustering solar farm developments around substations, leading to catastrophic consequences for the landscape, biodiversity and local amenities. Solar farms classed as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), numbering 15 in the Greater Lincolnshire area alone, will contribute to the industrialisation and transformation of open countryside, negatively affecting current and potential residents alike.

 

2. Affirm that land classified as Best and Most Versatile (BMV) should not repurposed for the development of solar farms. Considering the limited efficiency of solar energy (10-12%), due to the UK’s limited sunlight, the Council regards it as a poor investment compromising food security and escalating food imports and costs, resulting in questionable net carbon savings.

 

3. Promote superior alternatives to solar development on farmland, endorsing the principles set out by the Solar Campaign Alliance. The Council supports the smarter deployment of solar on domestic and industrial buildings and recommend this be added to the local plan.

 

4. Express concern about international labour practices, union rights and use of forced labour, as well as the adverse environmental impact in the supply chain of solar panels, particularly in NSIP developments.

 

This motion underscores our steadfast commitment to safeguarding food supply, preserving the landscape, our heritage and environment, while advocating for responsible and sustainable development within South Kesteven, aligning with our shared goal of achieving net zero carbon reduction targets.

 

In support of Lincolnshire County Council and North Kesteven District Council, this council resolves to send a copy of this motion to the Minister of Energy Security and Net Zero. 

Councillor Sue Woolley proposed the following motion:

 

This Council restates and reaffirms its profound concerns regarding the unsustainable proliferation of solar farm developments in South Kesteven.

 

South Kesteven District Council hereby resolves to:

 

1. Acknowledge the adverse impact of clustering solar farm developments around substations, leading to catastrophic consequences for the landscape, biodiversity and local amenities. Solar farms classed as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), numbering 15 in the Greater Lincolnshire area alone, will contribute to the industrialisation and transformation of open countryside, negatively affecting current and potential residents alike.

 

2. Affirm that land classified as Best and Most Versatile (BMV) should not repurposed for the development of solar farms. Considering the limited efficiency of solar energy (10-12%), due to the UK’s limited sunlight, the Council regards it as a poor investment compromising food security and escalating food imports and costs, resulting in questionable net carbon savings.

 

3. Promote superior alternatives to solar development on farmland, endorsing the principles set out by the Solar Campaign Alliance. The Council supports the smarter deployment of solar on domestic and industrial buildings and recommend this be added to the local plan.

 

4. Express concern about international labour practices, union rights and use of forced labour, as well as the adverse environmental impact in the supply chain of solar panels, particularly in NSIP developments.

 

This motion underscores our steadfast commitment to safeguarding food supply, preserving the landscape, our heritage and environment, while advocating for responsible and sustainable development within South Kesteven, aligning with our shared goal of achieving net zero carbon reduction targets.

 

In support of Lincolnshire County Council and North Kesteven District Council, this council resolves to send a copy of this motion to the Minister of Energy Security and Net Zero.

 

The motion was seconded.

 

The Monitoring Officer advised those Councillors present who were also members of the Planning Committee of the following:

 

“Any Councillor that sits on the Planning Committee who make decisions on planning applications must be able to demonstrate an open mind and that they have not pre-determined an application. This means that where Councillors have particular views on certain matters they may not be able to demonstrate this open mind to the merits of a particular application. In relation to this motion, members of the Planning Committee or potential substitutes should be careful in expressing views where, for example, that view might be interpreted as meaning that they were against all proposed solar farms involving the loss of any agricultural land. All planning decisions must be made in accordance with Local Plan policies and other material considerations, including National Policy. Planning policies allowed balanced decisions to be reached, where the decision maker would need to weigh up the benefits and harms of any development. In the case of solar farms, the temporary loss of agricultural land would be a harm, however that would need to be weighed against the benefits of the solar farm in terms of its contribution towards decarbonising the energy sector. Every application was different and would need to be assessed on its own merits. This might mean that in some cases, the temporary case of agricultural land might be acceptable on balance, and in other cases it might not. If a Councillors felt so strongly that a solar farm on agricultural land was not acceptable in any circumstance, then this would suggest a closed mind and that Councillor would be seen to have been pre-determined in relation to any future planning application.”

 

The following views were highlighted during the introduction to, and debate on the motion:

 

• Concerns about the proliferation of solar farms in SKDC and Lincolnshire had previously been raised and debated in various forums. In those debates the majority of SKDC Councillors had not necessarily supported solar farm applications on best and most versatile land. Different views had subsequently been posited at a following Planning Committee on Mallard Pass.
• At the time of submitting this motion there had been 15 Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) applications, including Mallard Pass, a site of over 2,000 acres. There were now 22 NSIP sites covering approximately 30,000 acres – this did not include ‘smaller’ applications.
• Last week the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero announced approval for the site at Mallard Pass.
• There was a possibility that SKDC may not derive any income from the site at Mallard Pass; business rates were only received where connections were sited, which in this instance would be Rutland County Council.
• Mallard Pass had seen opposition from residents in Market Deeping, Stamford and Bourne.
• Solar panels were to be encouraged on every space on buildings where possible. Rooftops were better sites for solar panels.
• The decision on Mallard Pass was a month late, in part due to the recent General Election.

 

An amendment was proposed to be added to the original motion; this was accepted by the original mover of the motion:

 

In light of the fast-track decision by the incoming Labour Government to approve the 2,105 acre Mallard Pass solar farm and the total disregard for local consultation – this Council has no confidence in the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

 

Note:  Councillor Nikki Manterfield left the Council Chamber and did not return.

 

A further amendment was proposed to the substantive motion, and this again was accepted by the original mover of the motion and became the substantive motion:

 

This Council:

 

1. Reaffirm those policies in our adopted Local Plan that seek to protect the district’s agricultural land asset, particularly land classified as Best and Most Versatile (BMV).

 

2. Supports sustainable development proposals where appropriate that help decarbonise the energy sector and reduce energy consumption in new buildings.

 

3. Agrees to write to our local MPs, the Minister of State for Energy and Net Zero and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, calling on Government to:

a. Adopt a strategic national approach to balance the need to protect agricultural land and food security whilst promoting decarbonisation of the energy sector.

b. Work with the energy sector to urgently resolve current issues around grid connections and capacity as identified by the Environment Audit Committee as two main barriers to the expansion of solar in the most suitable locations.

c. Support the renewables industry in research, development and manufacturing and recycling of equipment here in Britain to both boost the economy and reduce the overall carbon footprint.

d. Recognise the need to reduce demand for energy in existing homes by promoting effective retrofitted insulation schemes and support smarter deployment of solar on suitable buildings and other sites such as car parks.

 

As this was now the substantive motion, an amendment previously tabled was moved again, and was accepted as part of the substantive motion. The motion that was being debated now read:

 

In light of the fast-track decision by the incoming Labour Government to approve the 2,105 acre Mallard Pass solar farm and the total disregard for local consultation – this Council has no confidence in the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

 

This Council:

 

1. Reaffirm those policies in our adopted Local Plan that seek to protect the district’s agricultural land asset, particularly land classified as Best and Most Versatile (BMV).

 

2. Supports sustainable development proposals where appropriate that help decarbonise the energy sector and reduce energy consumption in new buildings.

 

3. Agrees to write to our local MPs, the Minister of State for Energy and Net Zero and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, calling on Government to:

a. Adopt a strategic national approach to balance the need to protect agricultural land and food security whilst promoting decarbonisation of the energy sector.

b. Work with the energy sector to urgently resolve current issues around grid connections and capacity as identified by the Environment Audit Committee as two main barriers to the expansion of solar in the most suitable locations.

c. Support the renewables industry in research, development and manufacturing and recycling of equipment here in Britain to both boost the economy and reduce the overall carbon footprint.

d. Recognise the need to reduce demand for energy in existing homes by promoting effective retrofitted insulation schemes and support smarter deployment of solar on suitable buildings and other sites such as car parks.

 

Debate on the substantive motion resumed:

 

• The incoming government had taken a different view to the previous administration. The decisions on solar panels at this stage would rest on debate and votes in Parliament; this motion was symbolism.
• Civil servants had been discussing this issue for a long period of time. A decision had been pending when the General Election had been called.

 

An amendment was proposed to remove the wording prior to ‘This Council…’ on the substantive motion was seconded, and following a vote this proposal was AGREED.

 

Debate resumed on the substantive motion:

 

• Each solar farm application had to be looked at on its own merits. The substantive motion touched on areas that hadn’t been discussed previously, such as ‘3c’ land.
• It would be preferable for SKDC to be affirming policies in the Local Plan, alongside retaining local decision making and consultation.

 

A proposal to amend the motion back to its original form at the outset of this item was seconded, but following a vote this amendment was LOST.

 

Having previously been moved and seconded, a vote was taken on the substantive motion, and following this it was AGREED that:

 

This Council:

 

1. Reaffirm those policies in our adopted Local Plan that seek to protect the district’s agricultural land asset, particularly land classified as Best and Most Versatile (BMV).

 

2. Supports sustainable development proposals where appropriate that help decarbonise the energy sector and reduce energy consumption in new buildings.

 

3. Agrees to write to our local MPs, the Minister of State for Energy and Net Zero and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, calling on Government to:

a. Adopt a strategic national approach to balance the need to protect agricultural land and food security whilst promoting decarbonisation of the energy sector.

b. Work with the energy sector to urgently resolve current issues around grid connections and capacity as identified by the Environment Audit Committee as two main barriers to the expansion of solar in the most suitable locations.

c. Support the renewables industry in research, development and manufacturing and recycling of equipment here in Britain to both boost the economy and reduce the overall carbon footprint.

d. Recognise the need to reduce demand for energy in existing homes by promoting effective retrofitted insulation schemes and support smarter deployment of solar on suitable buildings and other sites such as car parks.