Agenda and minutes

Venue: Didcot Civic Hall, Britwell Road, Didcot, OX11 7JN

Contact: Steve Culliford  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

46.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 103 KB

To adopt and sign as correct records the minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 27 September and 4 and 9 October 2018. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 27 September, 4 and 9 October 2018 as correct records and agree that the Chairman signs them as such. 

47.

Declaration of disclosable pecuniary interest

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

Minutes:

David Dodds declared a personal interest in item 11, the section 106 funding request by Thame Town Council, as he was a member of that council. 

48.

Urgent business and chairman's announcements

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. 

Minutes:

None

49.

Pyrton conservation area pdf icon PDF 1 MB

To consider the head of planning’s report. 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the head of planning’s report on the Pyrton Conservation Area appraisal and boundary review.  The report set out the consultation outcome and the consequent proposed revisions. 

 

The Cabinet member for planning supported the recommendations set out in the report to designate the Conservation Area boundary and adopt the appraisal.  This would allow the council to manage development in the Conservation Area and preserve and enhance the character of the area.  Cabinet concurred. 

 

RESOLVED: to

 

(a)      designate the Pyrton Conservation Area boundary as shown in Appendix 1 to the head of planning’s report to Cabinet on 18 December 2018; 

 

(b)      adopt the Pyrton Conservation Area Appraisal, as amended following public consultation, as part of the Development Plan evidence base and as a material planning consideration; and

 

(c)       delegate authority to the head of planning, in consultation with the Cabinet member for planning, to make minor changes, typographical corrections or non-material amendments to the Pyrton Conservation Area Appraisal and associated documents prior to formal publication and to undertake the necessary statutory actions to implement agreed recommendations. 

50.

Budget setting 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 133 KB

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s report, which updated on changes to the local government financial landscape. 

 

The Cabinet member for finance reported that the government funding known as New Homes Bonus would not continue in its current form beyond the 2019/20 financial year.  This had a potential material impact on the council’s medium to long term financial position. 

 

RESOLVED: to note the report. 

51.

Public participation

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

Minutes:

Eighteen members of the public addressed Cabinet on the South Oxfordshire Local Plan:

·         Bev Hindle, on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council, spoke in support of the Local Plan proposals. 

·         Ian Goldsmith spoke on behalf of Cuxham with Easington Parish Meeting, urging Cabinet to remove Chalgrove Airfield from the list of housing allocations in the Local Plan. 

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

·         Mr Harris, on behalf of Horspath Parish Council, urged Cabinet to remove the housing allocation at Northfields from the Local Plan. 

·         Gill Bindoff urged Cabinet to change the Local Plan’s emphasis to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and require carbon neutral buildings and schemes to provide low carbon renewable energy. 

·         Richard Roberts, on behalf of South Oxfordshire Sustainability, questioned the vision for sustainable development in the Local Plan. 

·         Ann Pritchard spoke on behalf of Chalgrove Parish Council urging Cabinet to remove Chalgrove Airfield from the list of housing allocation sites in the Local Plan. 

·         Vicky Fowler spoke on behalf of Martin-Baker Aircraft Company Limited, which held a business tenancy at Chalgrove Airfield, and urged Cabinet to remove Chalgrove Airfield from the list of housing allocation sites in the Local Plan. 

·         Simon Reynolds, on behalf of the Chalgrove Airfield Action Group, asked Cabinet to remove Chalgrove Airfield from the list of housing allocation sites in the Local Plan. 

·         Ian Gifford, a Chalgrove resident, asked Cabinet to remove Chalgrove Airfield from the list of housing allocation sites in the Local Plan. 

·         John Storrs, on behalf of Save Culham Green Belt, asked Cabinet to remove Culham from the list of housing allocation sites in the Local Plan. 

·         Caroline Baird, a Culham resident, asked Cabinet to remove Culham from the list of housing allocation sites in the Local Plan. 

·         Steven Sensecall spoke on behalf of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the Commercial Estates Group (CEG) to support the Local Plan proposals, including those to allocate land for housing at Culham. 

·         Robert Gardner spoke on behalf of Oxford Brookes University to support the Local Plan proposals, in particular allocating land for housing at the university’s Wheatley Campus. 

·         Alan East spoke on behalf of Holton Parish Council in support of the housing allocation site at Oxford Brookes University’s Wheatley Campus but expressing concern at the site’s removal from the Green Belt.  He believed that the new homes should be on the eastern part of the site. 

·         Doug Lamont spoke on behalf of Wheatley Parish Council objecting to the removal of the Oxford Brookes University’s Wheatley Campus site from the Green Belt. 

·         Ginette Camps-Walsh, on behalf of Beckley and Stowood Parish Council, spoke against the Local Plan, the planned urban sprawl of Oxford, and the proposed inclusion of land in Elsfield parish as a housing allocation site. 

·         Ann Henman, a resident of Beckley and Stowood parish, spoke in objection to land within the Green Belt being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

52.

Local Plan Publication Version (2034) pdf icon PDF 198 KB

To consider the head of planning’s report. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

The report proposed Cabinet recommend to Council to approve the plan and its associated documents for publication, under Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, and for submission to the Secretary of State for independent examination.  Subject to Council’s approval, the plan would be subject to Regulation 19 consultation from 7 January 2019 for six weeks. 

 

The Cabinet member for planning reported that, since the Council’s decision on 15 May 2018, there had been a thorough assessment of all possible housing site allocations.  Three new housing sites had been added to the draft plan.  The sites selection background paper had been made available to councillors prior to the meeting and would be published in January.  The plan was prepared in accordance with the revised National Planning Policy Framework and provided a strengthened approach to 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 upon the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal and the milestones contained therein. 

 

Officers provided Cabinet with the following updates to the report:

·         The housing trajectory would be updated

·         Policy EMP1 - additional text would be added to refer to the 'distribution proposed within the strategic allocation at Grenoble Road for approximately 10 hectares to extend the Oxford Science Park’ 

·         STRAT13: Land North of Bayswater Brook - additional wording to be added to refer to either providing for all necessary highways infrastructure as set out in the infrastructure delivery plan, which was likely to include a new road access between the site and the A40/B4150/Marsh Lane junction, and either a new road link between the site and the A40 between the Thornhill Park and Ride junction and the Church Hill junction for Forest Hill, or significant upgrades to the existing A40 Northern Oxford Bypass road including at the A40/ A4142 Headington Roundabout 

·         there needed to be an update to table 5F in the local plan.  The completions and commitment figure for Crowmarsh Gifford required updating to state 570 rather than 494 homes.  As Crowmarsh had met its growth target already, this did not affect the number of homes left to plan for 

·         the Scrutiny Committee had met on 13 December and recommended that the Oxford Brookes University site at Wheatley Campus should remain in the Green Belt and should be for ‘300 homes’, not ‘at least 300 homes’ 

·         the Scrutiny Committee had also recommended the text in Chapter 5 of the draft plan being amended to more accurately reflect the existing activities at Chalgrove Airfield and the tenant’s (Martin Baker) unwillingness to negotiate with Homes England.  Suggested amended text was tabled at the Cabinet meeting 

·         in Table 7.10 to the report’s Appendix 3, the reasons for selecting Lower Elsfield/Wick Farm as a combined housing allocation site (now referred to as Bayswater Brook) were shown in the row for the Thornhill  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

53.

Chalgrove Neighbourhood Plan pdf icon PDF 136 KB

To consider the head of planning’s report. 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the head of planning’s report on the Chalgrove Neighbourhood Plan. 

 

The plan had been prepared with the intention of preserving the look and character of Chalgrove village, while allocating two housing sites for approximately 320 new homes.  The plan was supported at the referendum on 22 November 2018. 

 

Cabinet welcomed the plan. 

 

RECOMMENDED to Council to:

 

(a)      make the Chalgrove Neighbourhood Development Plan so that it continues to be part of this council’s development plan; and

 

(b)      delegate to the head of planning, in agreement with the Qualifying Body, the correction of any spelling, grammatical, typographical or factual errors, together with any improvements from a presentational perspective. 

54.

Little Milton Neighbourhood Plan pdf icon PDF 137 KB

To consider the head of planning’s report. 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the head of planning’s report on the Little Milton Neighbourhood Plan. 

 

The plan had been prepared to safeguard the character of Little Milton and had achieved support at the referendum on 22 November 2018.  Cabinet welcomed the plan. 

 

RECOMMENDED to Council to:

 

(a)      make the Little Milton Neighbourhood Development Plan so that it continues to be part of this council’s development plan; and

 

(b)      delegate to the head of planning, in agreement with the Qualifying Body, the correction of any spelling, grammatical, typographical or factual errors, together with any improvements from a presentational perspective. 

55.

Section 106 request by Thame Town Council pdf icon PDF 166 KB

To consider the head of planning’s report. 

Minutes:

David Dodds declared a personal interest in this item, as he was a member of Thame Town Council, and left the meeting during its consideration. 

 

Cabinet considered the report of the head of development and regeneration.  This set out a request for the council to release section 106 funding to Thame Town Council towards the replacement of the cricket pavilion in Thame. 

 

Cabinet supported the request, noting that it required formal approval by the Council due to the amount of funding involved. 

 

RECOMMENDED to Council to:

 

(a)      create a budget for £168,915.00 for the replacement cricket pavilion project in Thame;

 

(b)      agree to pay Thame Town Council £148,951.72, subject to completion of building regulations;

 

(c)       agree to pay Thame Town Council the balance of £19,963.28, once equivalent funds have been received from developers under the S106 agreements; and 

 

(d)      agree to secure a legal agreement with Thame Town Council for the use of these S106 monies. 

56.

Joint gambling policy pdf icon PDF 351 KB

To consider the report of the head of housing and environment. 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the head of housing and environment’s report on the review of the gambling policy.  This was a joint policy with Vale of White Horse District Council and was subject to review every three years. 

 

The Cabinet member responsible for the licensing service reported that the review had not brought any significant policy changes, nor changes required by legislation.  The minor changes included:

·         additional information on the detail required for premises risk assessments, including for the risk assessments to be kept at the premises 

·         paragraphs 2.7.2 and 2.7.3 referred to the local area profiles that were now available on the council’s website to assist operators in developing their risk assessments required for the application process  

·         the policy had been updated to refer to refer to the General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018 and the council’s Licensing Enforcement Policy 

·         Annex 4 referred to the recent government review of gaming machines and social responsibility measures, and the decision that maximum stakes on fixed odds betting terminals would be reduced from £100 to £2 

 

The revised policy had been supported by the Licensing Acts Committee; Cabinet concurred. 

 

RECOMMENDED to Council to:

 

(a)      adopt the proposed joint gambling policy;

 

(b)      authorise the head of housing and environment to make minor editorial changes to the Joint Gambling Policy; and 

 

(c)       authorise the head of housing and environment to publish the Joint Gambling Policy in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005 (Licensing Authority Policy Statement) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006. 

57.

Virement of surplus capital budgets for refurbishment works at Henley and Thame Leisure Centres pdf icon PDF 107 KB

To consider the head of community services’ report. 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the head of community services’ report.  This set out plans for refurbishment works at Henley Leisure Centre’s dry side toilets, and to Thame Leisure Centre’s dry side changing rooms.  The report recommended the virement of capital funds from unused refurbishment budgets to allow the dry side refurbishments to take place at the two leisure centres. 

 

Cabinet supported the proposals. 

 

RECOMMENDED to Council to:

 

(a)      create a new capital scheme within the council’s approved capital programme to refurbish the dry side toilets at Thame Leisure Centre; 

 

(b)      vire £22,135 from the existing Thame wet side changing room refurbishment budget into that new capital budget;

 

(c)       create a new capital scheme within the council’s approved capital programme to refurbish dry side changing rooms at Henley Leisure Centre; and

 

(d)      vire £19,271 from the existing wet side changing room refurbishment budget into that new capital budget. 

58.

Council tax empty homes premium pdf icon PDF 231 KB

To consider the head of finance’s report. 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s report on a council tax premium on empty homes. 

 

The Cabinet member for finance reported that new legislation had been passed that allowed councils to apply a higher premium on council tax due on long-term empty homes.  He advised Cabinet to recommend Council to charge the premiums permitted by the legislation. 

 

Cabinet supported the recommendation, believing that this would encourage the owners of empty homes to bring them back into occupation and increase the supply of homes available. 

 

RECOMMENDED to Council:

 

that in accordance with the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018, the Long Term Empty Property Premium (currently set at a 50%) is:

(i)        increased to 100% from 1 April 2019 for those properties which are empty for two years and over;

(ii)       increased to 200% premium from 1 April 2020 for those properties which are empty for five years and over; and

(iii)      increased to 300% premium from 1 April 2021 for those properties which are empty for ten years and over. 

59.

Council tax base 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 114 KB

To consider the head of finance’s report. 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s report regarding the setting of the council tax base for 2019/20.  Before the council tax could be set by Council, a calculation had to be made of the council tax base: an estimate of the taxable resources for the whole district and for each parish. 

 

Cabinet noted how the council tax base was calculated and noted the assumptions made as part of that calculation.  Cabinet was asked to recommend the council tax base to Council.  Once set by Council in December, the council tax base would be notified to Oxfordshire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and each parish and town council to allow them to set their budgets for 2019/20. 

 

Cabinet supported the recommendations. 

 

RECOMMENDED to Council:

 

(a)      that the report of the head of finance to Cabinet on 18 December 2018 for the calculation of the council’s tax base and the calculation of the tax base for each parish area for 2019/20 be approved;

 

(b)      that, in accordance with The Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by South Oxfordshire District Council as its council tax base for the year 2019/20 be 56,793.3; and 

 

(c)       that, in accordance with The Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by South Oxfordshire District Council as the council tax base for the year 2019/20 for each parish be the amount shown against the name of that parish in Appendix 1 of the report of the head of finance to Cabinet on 18 December 2018. 

 

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