06 November 2018 – Minutes
THAME TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting of the Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Committee held on 6 November 2018 at 6.30pm in the Upper Chamber, Thame Town Hall
Present: Cllrs B Austin (Chairman), D Bretherton (Deputy Chairman), P Cowell, D Dodds, M Dyer, H Fickling and C Jones
Officers:
G Hunt, Town Clerk
G Markland, Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer
A Oughton, Committee Services Officer
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Emery (Holiday), Lambert (Personal), Midwinter (Personal) and Stiles (Personal).
2. Declarations of Interest and Dispensations
There were no declarations of interest.
3. Public Participation & Public Questions
There were no applications to address the Committee.
There were no public questions put to the Committee.
4. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
5. Working Groups
To receive a verbal update from the chairmen of:
a) NPCC Co-Ordination Working Group – there had been no requirement for the group to meet.
b) The Infrastructure Delivery Plan Working Group
Cllr Bretherton and the Town Clerk reported signs of improvement at SODC with regard to s106. There is finally an officer who understands how the Thame Sports Facility Strategy works and adjustments have also been made to account for all the forward spending on the cricket club. However, there are still significant issues around Thame Town Council being notified of receipt of s106 monies. SODC were doing their best and still trying catch up.
c) The Green Living Plan Working Group
The Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer (NPCO) reported the Thame RSA group will soon be undertaking a detailed analysis of the responses received on the draft Green Living Plan consultation. Members of the RSA Group have volunteered to help with Lord Williams’s School ‘Off Timetable Day’ and will also attend the District Council’s Renewable Energy Seminar.
d) The Town Centre Working Group
The report was noted. Members commended the work being done.
e) Transport Plan Working Group
The Town Clerk reported that as per the email previously circulated, he had met with senior officers at the County Council to discuss a Thame Specific Transport Strategy. County Officers had promised a write up of the meeting, which was held over a month ago but nothing had been received.
The County Council Officers had listened to Thame’s needs as part of the next transport plan but the County seemed to be concentrating on areas where there is growth as part of the Growth Deal. They were sympathetic to Thame’s need for a Town Wide Travel Plan but it’s doubtful the County will have the resources to contribute to it.
f) Community Facilities Working Group
The Town Clerk had escalated the need to discuss the future of the Cattle Market site to Mark Stone when he met with him and chased a response a month later but had still not heard any more.
g) Burial Space Working Group
The Town Clerk had discussions with Cemetery Development Services at the SLCC Conference last month. They confirmed they had not been approached by Taylor Wimpey or Nexus re the burial space at Site C.
6. South Oxfordshire District Local Plan
The NPCO reported that Cherwell District Council had received a letter from the planning inspector who is minded to support the principle of greenbelt release for Oxford City’s unmet housing need. Cherwell had decided to go for a quick revision and plan for Oxford’s unmet need as part of the Growth Deal. The planning inspector’s view will be supported elsewhere and SODC will have to react in some way to the Growth Deal figure in terms of housing need.
7. Thame Neighbourhood Plan Revision
The NPCO reported that with the delays to the SODC Local Plan it was becoming more evident things were beginning to build up. For example there has not been a review of the Thame Leisure Strategy so there is no way of knowing what the need is for a boxing facility in the town. A planning application to include a boxing facility was discussed at Planning & Environment Committee meeting earlier this evening.
The report on the Local Plan is due to go to Cabinet in December, this will give some indication of what is being planned for Thame from a housing point of view.
8. Oxfordshire Growth Board
There was nothing further to report.
9. Oxford – Cambridge Expressway
There was nothing further to report.
10. Thames Valley Police Station, Greyhound Lane
Appeal Decision – APP/Q3115/W/17/3173982
Members noted that following agreement at the Full Council meeting on 16 October 2018 Cornerstone Barristers were instructed to investigate and advise on the feasibility of a call for a Statutory Review under Section 288 of the 1990 Town and Country Planning Act. The advice received was that the prospects of overturning the decision were low, and costly.
11. Affordable Housing / Community Land Trust (CLT)
The report was noted.
Cllr Austin reported the application for Stage 3 funding to help with the legal formation of the Thame CLT had been successful. The working groups were making good progress and it was hoped to move towards a public launch shortly.
12. Housing Needs Survey
Members noted that the Chairman of the Committee has now escalated the lack of an up-to-date Housing Needs Analysis for Thame to the Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, requesting a meeting at Councillor level.
13. Health Hub / Hallam Land
Members noted that the Planning Authority’s response to Hallam Land’s pre-application proposal is imminent, and that a useful internal update meeting was held on 26 September 2018.
14. Lord Williams’s Lower School Site
It was noted that a useful meeting was held with Lanpro, consultants charged with developing Design Brief for the Lower School Site on 17 October 2018. A public exhibition is scheduled at the site from 4:30pm to 7:30pm on Thursday 15 November 2018.
The NPCO reported Lord Williams’s School has requested to meet to discuss the results of the consultation on 18 December 2018.
15. Other Items to Note
The items were noted.
The meeting concluded at 7.55pm
Signed …………………..
Chairman, 18 December 2018