08 April 2025 – Minutes (draft)

THAME TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning Committee held on 8 April 2025 at 6:30pm in the Upper Chamber, Thame Town Hall.

Present:

Cllrs M Baines (Chairman), D Dawson (Deputy Town Mayor), D Dodds, L Emery, and S McGarry (Deputy Chairman)

Officers

G Markland, Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer
L Fuller, Committee Services & Processes Officer

 

1) Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from Cllrs Gilbert (personal), Jones (personal), Richards (personal) and Swan (personal).

RESOLVED:

  1. To accept the apologies and reason given from Cllrs Gilbert (personal) Jones (personal), Richards (personal) and Swan (personal).

 

2) Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

Cllr Baines declared an interest in planning application P25/S0729/S73 as a neighbour opposite the site. This was not a pecuniary interest and did not preclude Cllr Baines from debating or voting on this item.

 

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 11 March 2025 were received.

RESOLVED that:

  1. The minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2025 are confirmed as a correct record, and signed by the Chairman.

 

5) Planning Applications

a) Members were asked to consider and agree a response for each of the following planning applications:

1959 – 27 Upper High Street

Replacement fascia and projecting signage.
P24/S3077/A

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: GDR2, GDV1, CPQ1, CPQ3, CPQ5
SODC Local Plan Policies:  DES1, DES2, DES3, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV8, TC5

RESOLVED:

  1. To support planning application P24/S0377/A with comments:
    1. The use of non-traditional materials on the hanging sign is regrettable.
    2. The placement of seating on the highway should conform with SODC’s Pavement Licencing Policy and be removed during the annual September Street Fair and other town centre events as required by the Town Council.

 

1961 – Waitrose Ltd, Greyhound Lane

Refurbishment of an existing customer carpark.
P25/S0727/FUL

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: GDR2, GDV1, CPQ1, CPQ2, CPQ3, NEB1, GATCP1
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES3, DES6, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV8, INF1, TC5, TH1, TRANS2, TRANS4, TRANS5

RESOLVED:

  1. To support planning application P25/S0727/FUL with comments:
    1. Subject to no objection from Highways.
    2. Subject to no objection from the District’s Forestry Officer.
    3. The Town Council would like to see an increase in cycle parking provision as part of the car park refurbishment.

 

1964 – 10 High Street

Installation of fascia signage to front elevation, installation of a projecting sign to front elevation, vinyl signage to front elevation glazing and door, installation of a fascia sign to rear elevation and vinyl signage to rear door.
P25/S0823/A

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: GDR2, CPQ1, CPQ2, CPQ3
SODC Local Plan Policies:  DES1, DES2, DES3, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8, TC5

RESOLVED:

  1. To object to planning application P25/S0823/A on the following grounds:
    1. Illumination should not be used in the Conservation Area.
    2. The continued use of vinyl lettering is regrettable.

 

1965 – 10 High Street

Installation of fascia signage to front elevation, installation of a projecting sign to front elevation, vinyl signage to front elevation glazing and door, installation of a fascia sign to rear elevation and vinyl signage to rear door.
P25/S0831/LB

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: GDR2, CPQ1, CPQ2, CPQ3
SODC Local Plan Policies:  DES1, DES2, DES3, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8, TC5

RESOLVED:

  1. To object to planning application P25/S0831/LB on the following grounds:
    1. Illumination should not be used in the Conservation Area.
    2. The continued use of vinyl lettering is regrettable.

 

1966 – Spencer Cottage, Moreton

Removal of existing conservatory and colonnade. Replace with open fronted colonnade. New first floor room above existing extension with glazed room to rear and additional dormers.
P25/S0707/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: CPQ1, CPQ5, CPQ7, NEB1
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES3, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8, H20

RESOLVED:

  1. To support planning application P25/S0707/HH with comments:
    1. Subject to no objection from the Heritage Officer
    2. The depth of the rear element appears somewhat out of character with the original dwelling.

 

1967 – Spencer Cottage, Moreton

Removal of existing conservatory and colonnade. Replace with open fronted colonnade. New first floor room above existing extension with glazed room to rear and additional dormers.
P25/S0708/LB

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: CPQ1, CPQ5, CPQ7, NEB1
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES3, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8, H20

RESOLVED:

  1. To support planning application P25/S0708/LB with comments:
    1. Subject to no objection from the Heritage Officer
    2. The depth of the rear element appears somewhat out of character with the original dwelling.

 

1968 – Waitrose Ltd, Greyhound Lane

Alterations to existing plant at roof level and in the service yard.
P25/S0822/FUL

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: GDR2, CPQ1, CPQ2, CPQ3, CPQ4
SODC Local Plan Policies:  DES1, DES2, DES3, DES6, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV8, ENV12, TC5

RESOLVED:

  1. To support planning application P25/S0822/FUL with comments:
    1. Subject to no objection from Environmental Protection.

 

1972 – M Newitt & Sons, 10 High Street

Installation of three 5kW condenser units on the north-west elevation. Installation of two 3.5kW condenser units on the south-east elevation.
P25/S0889/FUL

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: GDR2, CPQ1, CPQ2, CPQ3
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES3, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8, ENV12, TC5

It was noted that there is extant planning permission to the rear of the Newitts site for residential development, and there is a live application nearby (6-8 High Street) which includes new residential development. Both of these, if developed, could be impacted by the noise from the condenser units. It was considered that the noise impact would be low, and that building control will monitor this.

RESOLVED:

  1. To support planning application P25/S0889/FUL with comments:
    1. Subject to no objection from Environmental Protection.
    2. Subject to no objection from the Heritage Officer.

 

1973 – M Newitt & Sons, 10 High Street

Installation of three 5kW condenser units on the north-west elevation. Installation of two 3.5kW condenser units on the south-east elevation.
P25/S0890/LB

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: GDR2, CPQ1, CPQ2, CPQ3
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES3, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8, ENV12, TC5

RESOLVED:

  1. To support planning application P25/S0889/FUL with comments:
    1. Subject to no objection from Environmental Protection.
    2. Subject to no objection from the Heritage Officer.

 

b) Members were asked to receive and comment on the Officer’s recommendations for the following planning applications:

1957 – 5 Augustine Way

Single storey rear extension with new kitchen window to rear elevation.
P25/S0598/HH

Agreed response: Supports

 

1958 – H & C Pearce & Sons Ltd, Aylesbury Road

Variation of condition 2 (Approved plans) and Condition 24 (Carbon reduction energy efficiency measures) on planning permission P22/S4155/FUL (Full planning permission for the erection of 21 dwellings with associated parking, landscaping and open space) – to reflect amendments to garages / car ports on the development replacing the existing site layout plan with an updated one, and to remove the sustainability and energy statement and replace with an updated version.
P25/S0729/S73

RESOLVED:

  1. To make comment on planning application P25/S0729/S73:
    1. The Town Council supports the improvements offered by this planning application, however overall it is reflective of the scheme trying to accommodate too many dwellings. Therefore the variation of condition application does not address the Town Council’s original concern regarding too many dwellings.

 

1960 – 16 Griffin Road

Convert garage to habitable accommodation to accommodate disabled user lift and construct new detached double garage.
P25/S0701/HH

Agreed response: Supports subject to no objection from the Highways Officer.

 

1963 – 43 Park Street

Replacement of five windows on front elevation.
P25/S0787/HH

RESOLVED:

  1. To object to planning application P25/S0787/HH:
    1. The materials are not appropriate in the Conservation Area.

 

6) Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) Working Group

The report was noted.

Some inaccuracies on the map were noted, such as Cycle Route 57 not showing as passing through Lord Williams’s Upper School. As a result, the committee felt unable to support the findings and requested further information.

RESOLVED:

  1. To request that a representative from the Oxfordshire County Council LCWIP Steering Committee and/or the Town Council’s LCWIP Working Group present the latest report to the next available Planning Committee.

 

7) Community Bus Working Group

The report was noted. The Community Bus Working Group’s focus is on encouraging people to use the 121 service.

 

8) For Information

The items for information were noted.

The comments made by the Conservation Area Advisory Committee (CAAC) were noted. Officers do respond to the queries made and raised with enforcement where necessary. The committee appreciated CAAC for being the ‘eyes on the ground’ to maintain standards within the conservation area.

 

The meeting concluded at 7:16pm.

 

Signed ……………………..

Chairman, 6 May 2025