19 September 2023 – Minutes

THAME TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Committee held on 19 September 2023 at 7:35pm in the Upper Chamber, Thame Town Hall.

Present:

Cllrs D Bretherton, H Dollman, M Dyer, L Emery, H Fickling, H Richards (Deputy Chairman)

Officers

M Sturdy, Town Clerk
G Markland, Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer
L Fuller, Committee Services & Processes Officer

 

1 Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Champken-Woods (personal), Dawson (personal), Dite (personal), Gilbert (personal), and Jones (personal).

In the absence of the Chairman, Deputy Chairman Cllr Richards chaired the meeting.

 

2 Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

There were no declarations of interest.

 

3 Public Participation and Public Questions

There was no public participation.
There were no public questions put to the Committee.

 

4 Minutes

The Minutes of the Committee Meeting held on 20 June 2023 were received.

RESOLVED that:

  1. The minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2023 are confirmed as a correct record, and signed by the Chairman.

 

5 Working Groups

a) NPCC Co-Ordination Working Group (NPCCCWG)

There was nothing to report.

b) Infrastructure Delivery Plan Working Group (IDPWG)

Cllr Bretherton reported that the final major Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) payment within the Infrastructure Delivery Plan had been paid to Chinnor Rugby Club. The next action will be to consolidate the remaining monies and distribute to the Community Youth Centre project. South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) have asked parish and town councils to confirm whether they would like SODC to transfer due CIL monies or hold it on their behalf.

RESOLVED that:

  1. The Town Council would like South Oxfordshire District Council to continue to automatically transfer its CIL share, rather than hold the monies on the Town Council’s behalf.

c) Green Living Plan Working Group (GLPWG)

The Thame Green Living Steering Group no longer meet. The Environmental Forum has developed as a community organisation. A decision was needed on how to continue reporting matters relating to Thame Green Living to the Council.

It was noted that Thame Green Living are organising an Energy Event on Wednesday 18 October 2023, 7pm, at Thame Barns Centre, and would welcome support from the Town Council.

d) Travel Plan Working Group (TPWG)

The report was noted. A key meeting will be held next week with officers at Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) to decide whether to progress with the community bus.

e) Burial Space Working Group (BSWG)

It was noted that the recent extension at St Mary’s Church is filling up quickly, and with 40 spaces – around 3 or 4 years – left, this is becoming an issue. The Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer (NPCO) advised that the new burial ground planning application on the Taylor Wimpey site had not yet been submitted, and the applicant had made representation to the latest Thame Neighbourhood Plan (TNP) consultation.

 

6 Reports from Town Council Representatives

a) Transport Representative – Cllr Bretherton

The next meeting is scheduled for October. OCC have recently appointed a new head of service.

b) Thame Community Land Trust – Bob Austin

The report was noted. The project is still progressing and intends to break ground this year, despite some legal issues and the S106 agreement not yet being signed off, which Cllr Bretherton advised he would follow up with SODC.

 

7 South Oxfordshire District Local Plan

SODC have issued a new timetable, with the Regulation 18 Preferred Options consultation now due to take place in January 2024. This has been delayed due to issues at Didcot, and the timetable may further change. The plan is due to go to SODC and Vale of White Horse District Councils in November for approval.

 

8 Thame Neighbourhood Plan Revision (TNP2)

The latest TNP2 consultation received 200 responses. This seemed low considering the effort put into marketing, however it may be that as this was the third round of consultation, residents are content with the preferred options being proposed. The NPCO and Troy Planning will be working through and understanding the representations. A list of changes and recommendations will be proposed, and presented at an informal meeting, hopefully in October, before proceeding to Full Council.

 

9 Future of NPCC

The committee were asked to consider the short-term future of this committee, in terms of its function and frequency, in order to make best use of time. The Council’s strategy work will involve reviewing all committees. Members felt that having scheduled meetings helped to keep work progressing, as well as providing opportunities for work to be ratified. It was noted that all Councillors are members of the NPCC Co-Ordination Working Group, so in practice this meant going to Full Council was preferred. At present, the schedule of meetings is agreed up to January 2024, with one NPCC meeting scheduled in November. One option could be for Full Council to handle all TNP matters and updates, with the remaining functions of NPCC reallocated to other committees. This, and future NPCC meeting frequency, is a matter for Full Council to agree. Members are welcome to make any suggestions.

 

10 Consultations

The following consultations were noted:

  1. Additional flexibilities to support housing delivery, the agricultural sector, businesses, high streets and open prisons; and a call for evidence on nature-based solutions, farm efficiency projects and diversification. Consultation closes 25 September 2023.
  2. Plan-making reforms: consultation on implementation. Consultation closes 18 October 2023.

For both consultations, the NPCO will seek to circulate comments in advance, however TNP2 work will take priority and Councillors are encouraged to read through the consultation material and respond individually, too.

 

The meeting concluded at 7:58pm.

 

Signed ………………………               Date ………………….

Chairman