Agenda and minutes

To adopt and sign as a correct record the committee minutes of the meeting held on 2 October 2018 (attached). 

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 October 2018 were agreed as an accurate record and were signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting. 

Councillor David Turner declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda item 6, Local Plan Publication Version (2034) as he was a member of Culham Local Liaison Committee.

To receive notification of any matters which the chairman determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent, and to receive any announcements from the chairman. 

None.

To receive any questions or statements from members of the public that have registered to speak. 

The list showing the members of the public who had registered to speak was tabled at the meeting.

To consider the report of the head of planning (attached).

The committee considered the head of planning’s report on the South Oxfordshire Local Plan Publication Version (2034). 

The report outlined the contents of the latest version of the Local Plan and associated documents and sought the committee’s comments to Cabinet.  Subject to Council’s approval, the plan would be subject to Regulation 19 consultation from 7 January 2019 for six weeks, and subsequently submitted for examination. 

Councillor Felix Bloomfield, Cabinet member for planning, introduced the report. Also present to answer questions were Adrian Duffield, head of planning, Holly Jones, planning policy manager, Emma Baker, planning policy team leader, and James Gagg, planning infrastructure team leader.

The committee was informed that there had been a thorough assessment of all possible housing site allocations.  Some new sites had been added, some removed.  The site selection background paper would be published in January.  The Plan had been prepared to accord with the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the duty to co-operate with neighbouring councils.  It planned for housing, employment, retail and infrastructure.  Any significant amendments to the plan as proposed would impact on the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal as the March deadline to submit this plan would be missed.

The committee heard registered speakers as follows.

·         Roger Kirkham expressed the view that a number of emerging policies relying on national guidance did not meet the aspirations set out in the Local Plan relating to local circumstances.

·         Ian Ashley, representing Garsington residents, stated that there was no evidence that Oxford City’s unmet housing need could not be met within the City, that the Objectively Assessed Need (OAN) in the Local Plan was incorrect and that the Plan did not adequately address environmental challenges.

·         Michael Tyce, on behalf of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, stated that none of the strategic housing sites were required in the Local Plan as the current plan provided adequate housing numbers. 

·         Gill Bindoff, representing South Oxfordshire Sustainability, requested that the Local Plan give a higher priority to tackling climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and requiring carbon neutral buildings and schemes to provide low carbon renewable energy. 

·         Robin Bennett, representing South Oxfordshire Green Party, stated that there was no unmet housing need and that the proposed developments were not sustainable.

·         Councillor Sue Cooper requested that action be taken to mitigate the effects of climate change and expressed the view that not all of the proposed strategic sites were required.

·         Ann Pritchard, representing Chalgrove Parish Council, and Paul Boone, representing Chalgrove Airfield Action Group, requested that Chalgrove Airfield be removed from the list of housing allocation sites in the Local Plan as the land was not available. 

·         Vicky Fowler spoke on behalf of Martin-Baker Aircraft Company Limited, which held a business tenancy at Chalgrove Airfield, and stated that Martin Baker was not prepared to relinquish its lease. 

·         Caroline Baird, on behalf of Save Culham Green Belt, and Samantha Casey-Rehaye, representing Culham Parish Council, requested that Culham be removed from the list of housing allocation sites in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

To review the attached scrutiny work schedule. Please note, although the dates are confirmed, the items under consideration are subject to being withdrawn, added to or rearranged without further notice.

This item was deferred due to the meeting guillotine having been reached before its consideration.