These minutes are yet to be adopted by the next full council meeting on 9th October 2006 and maybe subject to change
269. PRESENT
Councillors:
- Dr N Hards (Chair)
- Mrs M Davies
- Mrs A Service
- Mrs M Turner
- Capt J Flood
Officers:
- Mr A Tubb (Deputy Town Clerk)
270. APOLOGIES
Miss M Gordon (Sick), Mrs D McNulty (Personal).
271. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS
There were no declarations of interests.
272. MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting held on 20th September 2006 were approved and signed as a true and correct record.
UNANIMOUS
273. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
All agreed that Standing Orders be suspended for the following speaker to address the committee in accordance with Standing Order 13.
Ms S Crowther P06/W0973 32-34 Wantage Road
Standing Orders were formally reinstated.
UNANIMOUS
274. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
RESOLVED that the following decisions be notified to the appropriate authority in accordance with Standing Order 67, which gives delegated authority to consider and respond to planning applications:
Application Number: P06/W0973 32-34 Wantage Road
Amendment: No
Variation of conditions 4 and 5 of permission ref:P05/W1219 (Change of use from A1 - shop to A3 - fast food café) To extend opening hours from 07.00-19.00 to 07.00 - 23.00 and use of fan motor to run extraction unit up to 23.00 on any day
A recorded vote in accordance with Standing Order 8(a) was requested on whether the application should be approved. The proposition was NOT CARRIED on the casting vote of the Chair.
For:
- Capt J Flood
- Mrs M Turner
- Mrs A Service
Against:
- Dr N Hards
- Mrs M Davies
- Mr M McNulty
It was then proposed that the Council submit a response of No Strong Views.
No Strong Views
UNANIMOUS
Application Number: P06/W0783 128 Park Road
Amendment: Proposed
Front porch and dormer alterations
No Objection
UNANIMOUS
Application Number: P06/W0960 13 Blenheim Close
Amendment: No
Erection of two storey rear extension and front bay window
No Strong Views
UNANIMOUS
Application Number: P06/W0963 14 Calder Way
Amendment: No
Erection of a porch on front of house
No Strong Views
CARRIED
Application Number: P06/W0964 1 Usk Way
Amendment: No
Two storey extension to rear, and above existing garage
No Strong Views
UNANIMOUS
Application Number: P06/W0989 20 Tavy Close
Amendment: No
Garage conversion to study
No Strong Views
UNANIMOUS
Application Number: P06/W0993 8 Don Close
Amendment: No
Extension of existing dwelling
No Strong Views
UNANIMOUS
Application Number: P06/W1003 14 Loddon Drive
Amendment: No Erection of attached garage to side extension
Approved
UNANIMOUS
Application Number: P06/W1019 16 Green Close
Amendment: No Demolition of existing garage and erection of single dwelling
No Strong Views
UNANIMOUS
275. APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED
- P06/W0813 Unit 27, The Orchard Centre
- P06/W0818 166 Broadway
- P06/W0826/A 166 Broadway
- P06/W0850 18 Wessex Road
- P06/W0851 43 & 43A Craven Way
- P06/W0867 21,23,25 Weavercroft
- P06/W0883 9 Portway
- P06/W0904 32 Venners Water
NOTED
276. APPLICATIONS REFUSED
- P06/W0776 63 Park Road
- P06/W0838 33 Fairacres Road
- P06/W0876 39 Queensway
NOTED
277. Consultation-draft Planning Enforcement Policy
The draft response (Appendix A) was circulated to all members of the Council prior to the agenda being despatched.
Further to discussion it was:
RESOLVED that the draft response be approved and forwarded to South Oxfordshire District Council.
UNANIMOUS
278. Partial Review of South East Plan-Provision for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites
The draft response (Appendix B) was circulated to all members of the Council prior to the agenda being despatched.
Further to discussion it was:
RESOLVED that the draft response be approved and forwarded to the South East England Regional Assembly.
UNANIMOUS
279. CORRESPONDENCE
(a) South Oxfordshire District Council-Planning and Building Control
P06/W0907 1 Warner Crescent
Application has been withdrawn by the applicant(s)
NOTED
(b) South Oxfordshire District Council-Legal and Democratic Services
Request for Temporary Road Closure-Annual Town Fireworks, 4th November 2006
RESOLVED to write to South Oxfordshire District Council supporting the request for a temporary road closure for the annual town fireworks display on 4th November 2006.
UNANIMOUS
(c) Vale of White Horse District Council, Abbey House, Abingdon
MIL/6026/4-X Land adjacent to the Applecart, Milton Heights
Notification of planning approval
NOTED
(d) The Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, Bristol
P05/W1031 45 Wantage Road Harrisons Property Development
Appeal Ref: APP/Q3115/A/05/1195711
The appeal is dismissed
NOTED
(e) P06/W0973 32-34 Wantage Road
Letter of objection to the above from a local resident .
NOTED
(f) P06/W0973 32-34 Wantage Road
Letter of objection to the above from a local resident.
NOTED
The Meeting commenced at 7.30pm and closed at 8.30pm
Chair
Appendix A
Draft Response to South Oxfordshire District Council’s Consultation on their Draft Planning Enforcement Policy (Minute 219(f) refers)
The Introduction, including "The principles of good enforcement" is commendably clear and concise. It meets the objective "to provide information and advice in plain language on the rules".
We recognise that Planning Enforcement is a complex subject, but we do feel that some other parts of the document are less clear, and we trust that the following comments on specific sections of the policy are helpful.
The section "What is breach of planning control is also generally acceptable. However, near the foot of page 3 it says "For example, unauthorised work to listed buildings, or if the conditions attached to the consent are not properly complied with." This is not a proper sentence and should be rewritten.
"How you can report a potential breach" is clear.
"How we prioritise complaints" is also clear although we think a better example could be chosen to illustrate the first bullet of Priority 1:(high). Although constructing permanent residential accommodation in green belt is undoubtedly serious and contrary to policy, we would have thought that a more commonplace example which may cause more widespread harm to a greater number of people might have been chosen. In fact the specific example might equally well fit the first bullet of Priority 3:(low) where for example there is only one neighbour who might be affected.
"How we will investigate a complaint" is generally acceptable although it might be better to have separate subheadings for "No breach" and "No further action". We are also left wondering why , when there is a "clear breach of planning control" which is "more than just a minor or technical breach", it might be appropriate to take no further action rather than, say, requiring the submission of a retrospective planning application. We do not consider that the explanation given adequately deals with this point.
"Enforcement action we can use" explains each possible technical course of action. The explanations are a fair attempt at giving clarity to a layman but we are not convinced that they entirely succeed. Ideally after reading this section, it should at least be possible to understand why a particular course of action has been taken, even if the reader is unhappy with the outcome. Could some form of hierarchy be given, with the most common courses of action described first?
On the same section, under "Prosecution" it says "We can commence Court proceedings … ", but we are unsure how the 3rd bullet "no formal action" is consistent with that statement.
"What you can do if a complaint is made about your development" is clear and comprehensible. However, the paragraph two from the end of the section, on page 11, should come near the beginning. It would be better to tell them at the start that sometimes you can establish that there is no breach of planning control, and that you will not contact them. As it is they have to read about all the intrusive (but justifiable) actions which you might take, before they discover that none of that may be necessary.
In Appendix 1, the statement "Any proceedings for these offences must be brought within six months of the date of the offence being committed" seems to refer to both bullets and should therefore be in a new paragraph. Otherwise the two appendices appear to be acceptable.
Appendix B
PARTIAL REVIEW OF DRAFT SOUTH EAST PLAN PROVISION FOR GYPSY AND TRAVELLER CARAVAN SITES
1. DRAFT PROJECT PLAN AND STATEMENT OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
2. SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL SCOPING REPORT
Introduction
Didcot Town Council is consulted on the two brief documents above that mark the beginning of a review to identify the number of caravan pitches required (but not their location). The intention is to address the shortfall in the delivery of adequate sites over the past 10 years, and reduce the number of unauthorised encampments and the conflict they cause.
The full documents are available on www.southeast-ra.gov.uk or in the Town Council office.
Section B - Questions
Do you agree with the objectives of the partial review? YES
Does the draft project plan identify all the key stakeholders? YES
Do you support the proposed methods for enabling public and stakeholder participation during the review process? YES – We welcome the inclusion of Parish and Town Councils as Statutory Consultees and new ways of consulting with hard to reach groups.
Do you consider the proposed timetable and work programme to be realistic? YES – given the thorough work required for needs assessment.
Do you have any specific comments on the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report? YES. We agree with the scope of the Sustainability Appraisal and in particular the issues of access to education and social exclusion.
Section C
No further comment
