Insight and policy manager gave
a brief introduction to the report, which is an overview of the
government response to Covid-19 and Green Recovery to give greater
impetus to climate change actions. How do we wish to consider
reprioritising, refocus and re-comment or add to projects in the
one year work programme, to align with emerging national recovery
programmes and the South Oxfordshire District Corporate Plan which
is being reviewed later in this meeting.
The points raised by the
committee are outlined as follows:
- Page 2 – The
committee questioned what is meant by resilient.
- Page 3 – job
creation needs to specify green jobs as a priority for the
area.
- More promotion of
pedestrianisation was supported, for health and air quality
benefits. Pedestrianisation also eases social
distancing.
- It was supported that
we should specify zero carbon in build and operations for new
developments.
- Discussion was had
regarding the mechanisms of asking for zero carbon build. Can we
look at other Authorities? We aren’t enforcing code 4 on
sustainable homes currently although allowed in the old local plan
which is still in use. Planning permissions were relaxed during the
Covid-19 outbreak. We have a budget in the one-year work programme
for an enforcement officer, focused on Energy Performance
Certificates (EPCs), and within that post we hope there could be
the opportunity to include some additional planning enforcement
activity. Where appropriate to do so, we should ask developers to
build carbon zero. The more we ask, making it a common request, the
more success we may have.
- Page 3 – please
add rewilding to this item.
- It was confirmed that
the committee could ask for carbon zero via the new design guide.
Must comply with current planning policies but can be put in as a
request. Workshops to be held soon with task and finish group
– raise this issue here.
- Can we ask developers
to include biodiversity supporting features such as swift boxes,
bee friendly features and so on.
- 5th bullet
point – can we clarify what clean heat grant is?
- Discussed the recent
active transport funding via Oxfordshire County Council –
there was only 1 week to make a request – so it was agreed we
need to have “shovel ready” projects that are ready to
go when funds emerge.
- Mechanisms were
discussed for making requests to planning applications –
discussed how much statute can be brought to planning
determination. Statute trumps the National Planning Policy
Framework (NPPF) guidance. Current statute of being carbon zero by
2050 could be brought into applications now. How far can statute be
used in determination. Future discussion / write to the Chair of
Planning Committee and the Head of Planning, after first exploring
legal aspects with Legal.
RESOLVED:
to seek legal advice on whether statute and law can
override the old local plan that is currently in use.
Other discussion points
continue as follows:
- It was requested that
the committee should feed upwards to Council
- Should we be working
on skills/ apprenticeships seeing as we have the local business
links
- Oxfordshire County
Council (OCC) have implemented some improvement measures for
cycling such as verge clearing, but it was expressed that it would
be better to not spread the funding so thinly, and to divert funds
to a few ambitious projects, such as cycle routes between town and
village – safety measures that would encourage more to cycle
and or walk. Safety concerns regarding cycling and walking between
village and town were considered by the committee.
The
Cabinet member for environment agreed to feed this back to the
County Council.
- Tranche 1 of OCC
funding was to existing routes and bike racks. Tranche 2 will be
due shortly – please talk to county councillors about what is
available to us.
- We need to create a
list of requirements – ready for when funds become available,
and for the public to see what is coming up. Added that some
roadside cycle lanes are being improved as we speak.
The committee asked for a
future agenda item to collate a list of requirements of an
Oxfordshire Infrastructure Strategy and:
the Oxfordshire Plan 2050.
Recommendations to go to Cabinet and Council.