Agenda and minutes

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

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. 

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

David Pryor, Chair of Didcot First, addressed Cabinet. He urged Cabinet to recommend the adoption of the Local Plan. He expressed the view that Didcot had experienced fragmented investment with insufficient infrastructure and facilities to support the population growth. The Local Plan and the associated HIF funding provided an opportunity for Didcot to benefit from much needed infrastructure - new roads and bridges, which could support economic growth, provide much need facilities and regenerate the town.

Iain Duff addressed Cabinet on behalf of East Hagbourne Parish Council. He expressed concern that Cabinet may recommend the withdrawal of the Local Plan which could lead to further speculative planning applications. The parish council had successfully fought off a number of applications and as the Local Plan had progressed the number of speculative planning applications had decreased. He expressed concern that withdrawal of the Local Plan could also jeopardise the Housing Infrastructure Fund funding and the construction of an alternative road to Oxford. He urged Cabinet to recommend the adoption of the Local Plan.

Michael Tyce addressed Cabinet on behalf of CPRE Oxfordshire. He stated that the Local Plan provided for twice as many houses as even the Government thinks are required. A failure to deliver the five year supply would lead to predatory development. The proposed level of housebuilding in the plan would result in an unsustainable level of population growth, straining communities and services and have a detrimental impact on the countryside and settlements. He urged Cabinet to recommend the withdrawal of the plan. He expressed the view that the risk to Government funding was unlikely having regard to the funds to support house building in neighbouring authorities. He stated that a new plan for the district would provide an opportunity to provide the number and kind of homes required in the right places taking account of the climate emergency and allow an assessment of Oxford’s unmet need. He urged Cabinet to recommend the withdrawal of the plan.

Patrick McGuirk addressed Cabinet on behalf of Haseley Brook Action Group. He expressed the view that there is a need for sustainable and affordable housing located near areas of employment. He welcomed the provision of sites near Oxford to provide much needed affordable housing for nurses, teachers and other public sector and key workers. He expressed concern regarding the proposed allocation at Chalgrove which would encourage a car based settlement. Any proroguing of the Local Plan would encourage speculative development to the detriment of local communities. He urged Cabinet to recommend the adoption of the Local Plan and lobby for the removal of the Chalgrove site at examination stage.

Kathy Rushton addressed Cabinet on behalf of Save Culham Green Belt. She stated that the proposals for Culham would lead to the loss of wildlife and open fields. She urged Cabinet to recommend the withdrawal of the plan. The provision of new large scale developments in the countryside was incompatible  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

To consider the head of planning’s report (to follow). 

Cabinet considered the report of the head of planning on the progress made in responding to the Council resolution of 18 July 2019 regarding the Housing and Infrastructure Fund and, having assessed the risks, the options to progress the Local Plan 2034.

Councillor Leigh Rawlins, Cabinet member for planning, thanked the public speakers for their addresses. He thanked councillors and officers for the work they had done.

He explained that the purpose of the Cabinet report is to update councillors on the progress made in responding to the Council resolution of 18 July 2019; and to consider, having assessed the benefits and risks, which option to progress the Local Plan.  

The report set out three options for progression of the Local Plan for the district. Option A is the officers recommended option, which is to continue with the Local Plan examination. Option B is to withdraw the Local Plan from examination and re-consult on a revised Regulation 19 in due course. Option C is to withdraw the Local Plan from examination and to re-start the Local Plan. The advantages and risks of those options are set out in the report for each option.

Having considered the officer’s report he moved the following motion seconded by Councillor Andrea Powell.

 “That Cabinet recommends Council to:

1.    withdraw the emerging South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2034,

     for the following reasons:

• the uplift above the standard method from 627 homes to 775 homes a year is excessive, and the existence of the Growth Deal should not be used as a justification for this uplift
• the overall supply of homes in the Local Plan period is considered excessive as it is over 5,000 homes greater than the need identified for South Oxfordshire, even allowing provision for Oxford City’s unmet housing need.
• the Local Plan does not give sufficient weight to responding to the climate emergency that we face as recognised by the decision of Council of 11 April 2019
• concerns about site selection issues including:
  • that the scale of Green Belt release is not justified
  • flawed site selection having regard to the sustainability and deliverability of strategic allocations
• concerns about the impact of the housing mix delivery and density policy

2.    withdraw from the Oxfordshire Statements of Common Ground linked to the emerging South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2034

3.    agree to commence work as soon as practicable on a new ambitious Local Plan, to seek to address the above concerns

4.    request a report on the merits of a joint Local Plan with neighbouring authorities

5.    request the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to provide financial support to support a new ambitious Local Plan

6.    explore other opportunities for funding

7.    bring forward revenue expenditure on a new Local Plan currently estimated at £2 million into the next Medium-Term Financial Plan period, representing the most cost-effective option

8.    ask officers to prepare a new Local Development Scheme and work programme and bring this to Cabinet for approval.”

In moving the motion, Councillor Rawlins  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.