Decision to revoke planning permission for battery storage plant to be investigated
The required legal steps and the cost of the process if a decision to U-turn on the construction of a 40MW facility on greenbelt land are to be explored by East Renfrewshire Council.
Conservatives on the council previously had a motion which pushed for revocation ruled incompetent. They returned with a call for officials to set out the necessary process in a report.
However, they have claimed debate on the issue is being 'suppressed' as councillors voted against a wider discussion on the topic at a meeting last week.
Over 3,500 people have signed a petition against the plan from GPC 1337 Ltd, a subsidiary of Apatura, to store energy in batteries on agricultural land at the east side of Glasgow Road.
The firm wants to store surplus energy from the national grid in the batteries, which would then be returned when required. It has said the development will 'support the decarbonisation of the energy industry in the UK'.
Cllr Paul Edlin said there are 'widespread' concerns locally, including over safety, as there is 'evidence that such batteries have a risk of catching fire'.
His motion aimed to determine 'the likely cost and process' of revocation if it 'were to be proposed at a later date'.
'I would stress this is not a party political matter but rather a quasi-judicial issue,' he said.
Permission for the development was initially refused by East Renfrewshire's planning committee, but a second application was later approved.
After that decision, a reporter appointed by the Scottish Government rejected an appeal over the first plan. Keith Bray, the reporter, found the proposal would lead to 'adverse visual effects in a greenbelt location'.
Cllr Edlin's motion stated 'a previous application for an almost identical development was rejected' and asked councillors to note the 'significant similarities between the two applications and the clear precedent set by the reporter's ruling… regarding development in the greenbelt'.
However, these sections were removed by an amendment from council leader Owen O'Donnell, Labour, who described them as 'assertions and matters of judgement which we can't agree to as a council body'.
Councillors voted 11-5 in favour of his amendment, which was backed by both Labour and the SNP.
Before considering the motion, councillors were asked to decide whether they wanted to have a debate or move straight to a vote.
They voted 11-5 in favour of continuing without a debate, with only the Tories and Cllr David Macdonald, an independent, in support of further talks.
Cllr Edlin said he had 'no idea why this motion should be challenged' other than 'certain members of the council are not prepared to accept a motion' from the Conservatives.
'I find that very sad because we are here to serve the residents of the whole of East Renfrewshire,' he said, adding 'democracy has been suppressed because we can't discuss it'.
'The amendment… will have the same effect, the same things will be done, but the statement has been changed because it suppresses aspects of the discussion which is not in the spirit of openness which I would like to think this council has.
'This is a purely political decision as far as I'm concerned, and the motion is apolitical.'
Officials will now prepare a report on the 'legal and procedural steps required to issue a revocation order' as well as 'potential compensation liabilities'.
Cllr O'Donnell said the report would hopefully provide 'sunlight on issues which have led to much public and sometimes misleading debate'.
The council has also received notice of a judicial review, as campaigners look to get the planning ruling overturned.
The decision to rule the initial motion not competent was taken by independent Cllr Annette Ireland, who was chairing the planning meeting, following external legal advice, which had indicated the motion identified 'no basis for revocation'.
The developers have said the application was 'accompanied by a suite of technical documents which demonstrate the proposal will not lead to significant adverse harm'.
Council officials previously reported the second application differed from the original as more information has been submitted on fire safety and a water tank is now proposed to be underground.
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
28 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Dining across the divide: ‘I expected to be portrayed as an old gammon and paired up with some radical with coloured hair'
Occupation Works in software Voting record Cushla, who came to the UK from New Zealand in 1999, voted Labour in the last election. Describes herself as centre-left Amuse bouche Was the singer in a band in the 90s. She describes them as 'Enigma remixed by Einstürzende Neubauten' Occupation Retired photographer Voting record Reform in the last election, probably Reform in the next. Describes himself as right-of-centre Amuse bouche Martin once told the then Prince Charles an anecdote about an encounter with Liam Gallagher in a nightclub toilet. The future king was 'completely bemused' Martin I was expecting the Guardian to portray me as an old gammon and pair me up with some radical with coloured hair. Then she walked through the door with blue hair, which was rather amusing! She was lovely from the outset – friendly and interesting. We started with some shredded prawn rolls and deep-fried lotus root. Cushla We were both a little wary. I decided to set him at ease by saying: 'Don't worry, my partner voted for Brexit.' He said: 'Why are you here, then? You dine across the divide every evening!' I was expecting a grumpy old man. You can create a two-dimensional stereotype in your brain, and Martin wasn't that. The place was lovely. Martin I have seen a significant change in crime and general disorder even in the last couple of years – people jumping the barriers in the tube, shoplifting, phone-snatching, seemingly without repercussions. To get a grip on crime, you need to start tackling it at the lower level, otherwise people start thinking they can get away with it. Cushla Martin is training to become a magistrate and talked about his experience of watching people come in and out of court. I think he's far more in favour of imprisonment. I countered by saying: let's look at doing more restorative justice – giving offenders the chance to really encounter the impact of their crimes. Martin Some people who break the law, generally more white-collar criminals, are not best served by prison. But for severe crimes – violent, sexual – I think people should be kept in a lot longer than they are, away from society. It requires more cross-party planning, though. Investing in a prison is a 10- or 15-year project; governments don't want to put money into that because they'll be out of power by the time the prison is built. Cushla I think I would be a different kind of magistrate, but I say that from a position of hopeful naivety. I know the justice system is broken, that there is insufficient money. Martin We shared how much we despised the Tory government after 14 years of incompetence and were incredulous that the Labour party think the way to make things better is to cut disability payments and not revoke the two-child benefit cap. Cushla It surprised me that we agreed that the cap should be removed. When you're poor, you're poor, and the early stages are when the most good – and most damage – can be done. Martin Governments across all political parties have consistently promised to tackle illegal immigration and completely failed to do so. It's a cliche, but you're letting people into your house without knowing who they are. I'd favour some kind of holding and assessment system – more like the solution Australia came up with where they housed everyone on an island while they processed their applications and determined who should be let in and who shouldn't. Cushla I'm frustrated by the tag 'illegal'. People are not born 'illegal'; we're creating the conditions for them to become so. I came here on an ancestry visa so I am 'legal' by an accident of birth. What makes my accident of birth any better or worse than someone else's? And given the UK's history in the world, the UK does actually have a very particular moral obligation, whether it likes it or not. Martin It was great to meet someone with different views but also to be able to have a conversation, rather than just throw opinions at each other. I think it's society that demands we take extreme positions, and really, we're not far away from each other in what we think. Cushla When people think differently you don't tend to hear why or get the opportunity to actually challenge your own thinking. What this has taught me is you have to listen to rather than talk. Additional reporting: Kitty Drake Cushla and Martin ate at Xi Home Dumplings Bay in London E1 Want to meet someone from across the divide? Find out how to take part
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Reform candidate wins Goetre Community Council by-election
The Conservatives had been looking for a fourth successive victory in by-elections to town and community councils in Monmouthshire after successes in Caerwent, Wyesham in Monmouth and Portskewett near Chepstow. But it was Reform that triumphed in the election to Goetre Community Council with candidate Martin John Stevens topping the poll in the Goytre Ward to become Monmouthshire's first Reform councillor in the village between Pontypool and Abergavenny. Though town and community councils are non-partisan, with decisions made by the full council and no division along party lines, candidates can stand for political parties and Reform considers the victory to be significant. Stuart Keyte, who is a Reform councillor on Torfaen Borough Council, and chair of its Torfaen and Monmouthshire branch, said contesting the community council elections has been preparation for next year's Welsh election when the constituencies will be combined to elect six Senedd Members using a proportional system. Referring to comments made by Richard John, the leader of the Conservative group on Monmouthshire council, Cllr Keyte said: 'So much for being a Reform-free zone. The Tories threw the full weight of of their campaign machine with dawn leaflet raids on the day of the election and big names knocking on doors.' The Torfaen councillor said former MP David Davies had been leafleting for the Conservatives and described the recent elections as 'preparation for when the Senedd elections start to kick off.' When the Conservatives won the Wyesham ward by-election in July, just days after Conservative Senedd Member Laura Anne Jones who had represented the ward on Monmouthshire County Council defected to Reform, Cllr John had hailed the Tory victory. He dismissed Reform as offering no more than 'soundbites' and said: 'Monmouthshire remains a Reform-free zone.' The victory in Goetre came on a night of celebration for Nigel Farage's party as it won the previously Labour held Llangennech seat on Carmarthenshire County Council. Cllr Keat said Reform is challenging across Wales: 'We are polling in the high twenties or projected to win in seats across Wales.' The Goytre Ward by-election was called due to a councillor automatically losing their seat due to failing attend meetings and the eight member council now has one councillor each from Reform, Labour and the Conservatives. Goetre Community Council, Goytre Ward result BUTLER Andrew Michael (Local Conservatives) 97 PARRY Neil James 115 STEVENS Martin John (Reform UK 150) Elected WILLCOX Maureen Catherine 48 Spoilt papers: 0 Turnout: 37 per cent
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Cumberland Council pulls cash from arms firms supplying Israel
A council has begun the process of withdrawing its investments from companies which supply arms to Council's leader Mark Fryer, Labour, said the decision had been made following the "disproportionate aggression" by the current Israeli government against the people of has written to the council's chief executive, Andrew Seekings, to request the changes to the local authority's investments and for similar changes to be made to its pension local Conservative leader Mike Johnson accused Fryer of "trying to be foreign secretary" and said he should focus on council issues such as "the harsh financial pressures it is currently facing". "Companies that the council would be boycotting would include, for example, BAE, JCB, Google and Airbnb," Johnson said."And every single penny of lost investment income from these companies into the pension fund will have to be made up by council taxpayers." Fryer's request to divest from the Israel-linked companies follows on from a letter he sent to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last month, in which he called for the government to take "any action necessary to secure an immediate lifting of aid restrictions" in Gaza and for a ceasefire to be encouraged. The local Liberal Democrat and Green Party members supported the council's divestment plans, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Roger Dobson, Lib Dems, said his party fully supported "applying all legitimate pressure on the Netanyahu government to enable the delivery of vital humanitarian aid and to agree to an immediate ceasefire". The Prime Minister has said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to meet certain conditions, which include addressing the humanitarian crisis, implementing a ceasefire and reviving the prospect of a two-state Starmer insisted the move did not mean he supported Hamas and said the "terrorist organisation" could play "no part in any future government". Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
