This appeared on Cardiffgreengranny blog 24th Sept.2011
Vale Council officers in collusion with the company intervened to stop the E&E Scrutiny Committee considering "fracking" – they planned to take evidence from the company and anti-fracking campaigners – as the Echo reported 23 Sept “Legal Advice halts meeting over fracking”.
The "legal" frightener originated from the company Coastal Oil and Gas; Chair of Scrutiny, Cllr Chris Williams has been called a 'pillock' for going along with Jeff James and failing to insist on independent legal advice. Plaid Cymru is reportedly furious with him, as 'semi-detached' from their Councillor group.
The Vale Cabinet's Cllr Jeff James has also brought forward the borehole testing application for determination by the planning committee this Thursday. Once the borehole testing application is approved, it would be difficult to refuse any subsequent application.
The Planning Officers' report and Agenda for the 29 Sept. planning Committee should have been posted on the VoG website on Friday, but they did not go up, so the law for 3 days Notice for public comments prior to the meeting appears to be breached. On past experience, Jeff James will ignore this - it will take some serious interventions to halt the VoG leadership's machinations.
UPDATE:
The committee deferred decision for a site visit, despite officials saying the time was up for deciding. Letters from the Welsh Government came in on the day (dated 29 Sept.) - Jeff James waved them at the Committee, claiming it gave an all-clear, but did not circulate copies. This breached Council procedure. And when the letters came out, they showed the Vale Officers' report was inadequate.
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