26 April 2016 – Minutes

THAME TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning & Environment Committee held on 26 April 2016 at 6.30pm in the Upper Chamber, Thame Town Hall.

Present: Cllrs B Austin, D Bretherton (Deputy Chairman), P Cowell, N Dixon (Town Mayor), D Dodds, L Emery (Deputy Mayor), H Fickling (Chairman), M Stiles and T Wyse
Officers
G Hunt, Town Clerk
L Spokes, Community Project Officer

1 Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Deacock (Business) and Midwinter (Holiday).

2 Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

A general dispensation had been granted to all Members allowing them to vote on planning applications relating to Thame Town Council property. Cllr Emery declared an interest in planning application P16/S1145/HH as a resident of Chiltern Vale estate.

3 Public Participation and Public Questions

A question submitted to the Committee by Ms Fisher was read out to Members which expressed concern about the proposed extension to parking restrictions on Elms Road. Ms Fisher felt the proposal would cause safety issues for pedestrians and would reduce essential parking provision for nearby residents and their visitors. Ms Fisher asked the Council for its support in championing her concerns and appealed for help in contacting and obtaining a response from the relevant Oxfordshire County Councillor.

Ms Lister’s question was noted and the Council iterated that it would continue to make its own representations as appropriate and that further community input would support this.

Members empathised with Ms Fisher and the difficulty she was experiencing in establishing communication with the town’s County Councillors. It was proposed that an official letter be sent to Councillors Nick Carter and David Wilmshurst petitioning for improved communication.

4 Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 April 2016 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

5 Planning Applications

9628
P16/S1048/FUL THAME CRICKET CLUB, CHURCH ROAD
Demolition of existing cricket pavilion and replacement with new cricket pavilion.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ1, ESDQ11, ESDQ12, ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ17, ESDQ18, ESDQ20, ESDQ26, ESDQ27, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, CON5, CON6, CON7, EP2, D1, D2, D4, D10, R2, T1, T2
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ2, CSQ3, CSEN3

Comment: The impact social events would have on neighbouring properties was considered a matter for the SODC Licensing Department. Comment was made that the proposed cricket nets could be relocated to accommodate more parking space.

9630
P16/S0780/FUL THE NURSERY, THE MOBILE HOME, MOOREND LANE
To retain an existing static caravan in its current location with connections for office facility connected to the existing business washing and welfare facilities and accommodation for security purposes. Permanent permission for mobile home / static caravan.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

With the condition that the mobile home/static caravan only be used as accommodation for security personnel and would not become a permanent residence.

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: WS12, WS13, ESDQ16, ESDQ21, ESDQ22
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, EP2, D1, H13, T2, AD1
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3, CSEN1, CSEN4

9631
P16/S1180/HH 100 WELLINGTON STREET
Two storey rear extension.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16, ESDQ19, ESDQ28, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: D1, D2, D4, H13, T2
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

9632
P16/S1145/HH 40 CEDAR CRESCENT
Single storey rear extension and alterations to bungalow including new windows and render front elevation. Extension to existing garage.
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16, ESDQ19, ESDQ21, ESDQ22, ESDQ28, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: G6, D1, D2, D4, H13, T2
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

9634
P14/S0620/FUL PRIEST END ALLOTMENTS
Change the land use of the existing disused allotments to burial space to extend the existing graveyard at St Mary’s church. (As clarified by additional information submitted on 18 January 2016 in respect of archaeology, provision of allotments and comments from the Environment Agency).
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ20
SODC Local Plan Policies: CON5, CON7, D1
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3, CSEN3

9635
P16/S1206/HH 2 FANSHAWE ROAD
Front Porch
RECOMMEND APPROVAL

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ16
SODC Local Plan Policies: D1, H13
Core Strategy Policies: CSQ3

6 P15/S4328/FUL – Rear of 1 & 2 MOATS CRESCENT
RECOMMEND NO STRONG VIEWS

Further amendments to the planning application were circulated to Members. It was discussed that the Council should take a more pragmatic approach to the application following the successful appeal by the applicants. Recommending refusal would lead to the application being taken to Committee at SODC, potentially wasting both officer time and public money. Members remained divided on whether to retain their position against the proposal. It was resolved that a response of no strong views be sent to SODC.

7 Elms Road – Proposed Extension of Parking Restrictions

The Town Clerk appealed for a Council representative to attend the relevant meeting of Oxfordshire County Council. Cllr Stiles agreed to attend in her role as transport representative.

Members expressed their concern that the Elms Road area had not be sufficiently surveyed. It was recommended that a new survey be requested and that a thorough public consultation take place to establish the best solution.

Following on from Item 3, Members reiterated their proposal to write a formal letter to County Councillors Carter and Wilmshurst expressing the Council’s disdain about the poor communication both it and residents had received. Members approved that the Town Clerk draft a letter, to include a deadline for a response, highlighting that the matter was of such magnitude that a resident had felt compelled to raise it at a public meeting.

8 Reports from Town Council Representatives

a) Transport Representative – Cllr Stiles reported that Oxfordshire County Council bus subsidies would continue until 20 July 2016. There was a possibility that Vale Travel could integrate its current services with those already provided to Lord Williams’s School; a meeting had been requested with the organisation to further explore this possibility.

Cllr Dodds added that South Oxfordshire District Council was investigating what action they could take to address the bus subsidy cuts as part of its Corporate Plan.

9 For Information

The items for information were noted.

The meeting concluded at 7.17pm

Signed ……………………..
Chairman, 17 May 2016