14 July 2020 – Minutes

THAME TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of a Virtual Meeting of the Planning & Environment Committee held on 14 July 2020 at 6:30pm by Zoom Conference Call.

Present:

Cllrs B Austin, P Cowell, M Deacock, A Dite (Deputy Chairman), D Dodds, L Emery, H Fickling (Chairman), S Francis, K Gregory, A Midwinter and T Wyse

Officers

J Cole, Town Clerk
G Markland, Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer
L Fuller, Committee Services Officer

1 Apologies for Absence

There were no apologies for absence.

2 Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

Cllr Fickling declared a pecuniary interest in planning application P20/S2042/HH as the architect and agreed to leave the meeting during this item and Cllr Dite, as Deputy Chairman, would chair the meeting. Cllrs Deacock and Dodds declared an interest in planning applications P20/S1852/FUL and P20/S2081/HH respectively, and abstained from voting on these items.

3 Public Participation and Public Questions

Mr Bob Denton spoke against planning application P20/S1888/A and gave five reasons why the Town Council should recommend objection. Firstly, the sign does not have the required advertisement permission but has been in position for over seven months. Secondly, the sign is advertising for employment on land that has not been allocated in the Thame Neighbourhood Plan (TNP). Mr Denton felt that Stoford (the Applicant / Agent) should not be rewarded for their speculative pressure which was against the spirit of the TNP. Thirdly, ten residents of Pickenfield had written to South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) expressing that the excessively large sign was distracting to drivers and intruding on their views of the countryside. Fourthly, it was felt that the sign was misleading and misrepresentative as it implied that the necessary permissions for employment use had been obtained. Finally, the positioning of the sign was impractical due to its angle, which meant it could not be safely read by drivers and there was no facility for drivers to safely pull over to read the sign. The sign is positioned opposite the junction to Pickenfield and a pedestrian crossing, as well as being on a 40mph road where the speed limit is often not observed, which presented further safety concerns. It was suggested that if the sign needed to be displayed, it should be re-sited at the northern edge of the site closer to Towersey Road and at a 45 degree angle to the road.

Members then discussed and made a recommendation regarding P20/S1888/A.

4 Planning Applications

1274
P20/S1888/A – FIELD OPPOSITE PICKENFIELD JUNCTION, HOWLAND ROAD
Erection of a new hoarding sign.
OBJECTS

Impact on visual amenity
Impact on public safety

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, D1, AD1
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

1275
P20/S1914/HH – 2 THAME PARK ROAD
Single storey side extension (approved but not yet built). First floor to side.
SUPPORTS and has a RESPONSE:

Subject to the parking arrangements complying with SODC’s parking standards.
Subject to appropriate mitigation to prevent overlooking of neighbouring properties from the rear of the proposed extension.

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16, ESDQ20, ESDQ27
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, CON7, D1, D2, D4, H13, T2
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3, CSEN3

1276
P20/S1852/FUL – DAF TRUCKS LTD EASTERN BYPASS
Application under S73 of the Town and County Planning Act 1990 for variation of Condition 2 – amended plans and 5 – amendment to means of access for the full application and Condition 4 – amended plans for the outline application of P18/S3143/O. “Hybrid planning application with: Outline permission (all matters reserved except for access) sought for demolition of existing buildings and development of 1511 sqm (gross) of offices within Class B1 and up to 129 dwellings within Class C3 and associated works. Full planning permission sought for erection of a 68 bed care home within Class C2 and associated access, vehicular parking, landscaping, ancillary infrastructure and other works.”
OBJECTS

Poor highways access for flexible bodied HGVs.

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, H7, H9, H10, WS12, GA1, GA2, GA3, GA6, CLW4, ESDQ10, ESDQ11, ESDQ12, ESDQ13, ESDQ14, ESDQ16, ESDQ19, ESDQ21, ESDQ22, ESDQ23, ESDQ24, ESDQ28, ESDQ29, D1
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, EP1, EP2, EP8, D1, D2, D4, D10, D11, R2, T1, T2
Core Strategy Policies: CS1, CSTHA1, CSH2, CSQ3, CSH3, CSH4, CSI1

1277
P20/S1360/FUL – 1 NASEBY CLOSE
Demolition of damaged garden wall and replacing with a new fence approximately 2m high. The new fence will enclose part of open land registered on the property deeds as being part of the property and includes a change of use from open land to residential garden.
OBJECTS

Impact on public amenity
Impact on character of local area
Impact on visibility splay

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ1, ESDQ8, ESDQ16, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, C1, D1, D3, D4
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3, CSEN1

1278
P20/S2042/HH – 13 OVERTON DRIVE
Reconfigure roof of front (former garage) extension, remove redundant garage door. Part single storey part two storey extension to rear of the house. Front door canopy.
SUPPORTS and has a RESPONSE

The committee regret the loss of the garage for its original purpose.

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16, ESDQ19, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, D1, D2, D4, H13, T2
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

1279
P20/S2081/HH – 7 GADGE CLOSE
Single storey rear and side extensions, garage conversion and first floor extension.
SUPPORTS and has a RESPONSE

The committee regret the loss of the garage for its original purpose.

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, CON7, D1, D4, H13, T2
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

5 Reports from Town Council Representatives

a) Transport Representative – The report was noted.

Cllr Francis highlighted some of the report to Members. Local bus and train companies have published their various measures in response to Covid-19 including seating arrangements and face covering requirements. The consultation on the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan had closed with results due in September.

The Town Council’s Transport Working Group (TWG) had met with the Town Centre Working Group and submitted plans for the Town Centre Recovery Plan to Oxfordshire County Council (OCC). The TWG were awaiting a response.

The Parish Transport Representatives Meeting had been cancelled due to Covid-19 however a written update was provided in the report, along with updates from the Rural Mobility Transport Fund, Community First Oxfordshire and OCC’s Community Transport Team. It was reported that the Thame Community Car had continued during lockdown at a reduced service and capacity, but with people being able to leave the house more under Government guidelines the service was starting to see an increase in requests.

6 For Information

The items for information were noted.

The meeting concluded at 7:02pm.

Signed …………………….. Date………………..

Chairman