Independent: A local council is seeking to ban fracking in its area in what it claims is the first such move by a local authority in the UK against the controversial gas extraction procedure. Brent, in north London, said it was seeking to use any legal avenues available to prevent energy firms from being able to drill within its boundaries. The Government firmly backs action to exploit what are believed to be large reserves of shale gas in rocks beneath the UK, which it claims could help bring down energy...