To answer questions submitted by Opposition Group Leaders on items on the agenda.
Minutes:
Question from Councillor J Walker to Councillor Upton.
“There is little clarity on the ownership model proposed for the site beyond Uniper as landowner, and the primary benefit to local residents appears to be a diminishing promise of jobs. At this strategic stage, what concrete steps are the Cabinet and its partners taking to ensure that the wealth generated by these data centres is retained within the local economy, rather than extracted elsewhere?”
Councillor Upton stated that the Council had no control over the future ownership model for the site, and he felt that concerns raised regarding reduced jobs was flawed, given there was no reduction in anticipated employment numbers. Data centre use was already permitted within the existing LDO and Councillor Upton advised that the Government had called for data centres sites, known as AI Growth Zones, and that the East Midlands Combined County Authority had submitted a bid for them. He confirmed that development on the site, including data centres would generate significant Business Rates, which would be retained for reinvestment in the local area.
Councillor Walker asked a supplementary question.
“Have you considered alternative business models that prioritise community wealth building, local democratic ownership, and long-term social value rather than primarily extracted or externally owned businesses, and if so, what models have you explored?”
Councillor Upton reiterated that the main wealth generation for Rushcliffe would be through Business Rates, which would then be cascaded across the local area and the Council was not in control of other financial matters.
Question from Councillor Thomas to Councillor Upton. Councillor Thomas was unable to attend the meeting, so her question was read out by the Leader, Councillor Clarke MBE.
“The licence for water extraction is from the Trent, not the Soar, and the Soar is considerably closer to the Southern site than the Trent.? It is not clear to us from the documentation how the water will get across the A453 to the data centre, or how it will get back to the Trent for discharge. Residents are concerned, the Soar must be protected from temperature increases.? Will there be conditions on approval of Certificates of Compliance (or planning applications) to require that heat generated by cooling data centres on the power station site will be harvested and reused?”
Councillor Upton agreed that the current licence for water extraction was from the River Trent, and that the former power station had used significant amounts for cooling; however, the expectation was that any future water extraction would be significantly lower. He stated that the Local Development Order Amendment report, which he would be presenting later made no changes to water extraction or usage. Councillor Upton advised that there were wide ranging options for cooling date centres; however, currently, the Council was not in a position to say whether any data centre would require river water for cooling, and if so, how much. That would be part of any data centre cooling design and would form part of the Certificate of Compliance process, with any water extraction requiring an environmental licence, and it was too early to comment on specific details.