Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Atkins and from Councillor Constance (Councillor Waine substituting).

Councillor Harrod declared an interest as a member of the South Oxfordshire District Council and noted that he had taken no part in the planning process or decision of that Council. He also declared an interest as a Director of Cornerstone in his role as a councillor.

The Chairman had agreed the following requests to speak to the Committee:

Mr Mark Beddow

Ms Jenny Wilson

Mr Roy Burton

Councillor Nick Hards

Councillor Patrick Greene

Written notice has been given in accordance with the Council’s Scrutiny procedure Rules requiring the decision of the Cabinet Member for Environment on 14 January 2016 to be called in for review by this Committee.

The following documents are attached or to be circulated separately:

(a) A report (PSC5(a)) setting out the names of the Councillors who have required the call in and the reasons given for the Call in.

(b) The report considered by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Hudspeth (substituting for the Cabinet Member for Environment) (CMDE5) together with an extract of the minutes of the delegated decision session. (PSC5(b) to be circulated separately).

(c) Additional information provided in response to the call in (PSC5(c) to be circulated separately).

Written notice has been given in accordance with the Council’s Scrutiny procedure Rules requiring the decision of the Cabinet Member for Environment on 14 January 2016 to be called in for review by this Committee.

The Committee had the following documents before them:

(a) A report (PSC5(a)) setting out the names of the Councillors who have required the call in and the reasons given for the Call in.

(b) The report considered by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Hudspeth (substituting for the Cabinet Member for Environment) (CMDE5) together with an extract of the minutes of the delegated decision session. (PSC5(b) to be circulated separately).

(c) Additional information provided in response to the call in (PSC5(c))

Mr Mark Beddows spoke in support of the call in commenting on ground 2 that the proposals were made in March 2015 and not 2013. He also commented that in taking the decision there had been a failure to take into account the impact of the loss of a purpose built bus station and the reduction in pedestrian safety which he illustrated by reference to photographs supplied to members. Responding to questions he stated that Cornerstone was a council hub and the proposals would detract from the attractiveness of their area. Councillor Hudspeth, on a point of clarification stated that in his former role as cabinet member for Transport he had been involved in informal meetings in the early stages of development. The Chairman noted that this was privileged information that had not previously been in the public domain.

Ms Jenny Wilson spoke in support of the Call in, and indicated that she had been the originator of the petition referred to at ground 2. She was still awaiting a response to her objections. She explained why the proposals were not acceptable including that they contained only flag and pole bus stops, the survey had not been published and the detrimental impact on the town centre. It reduced permeability of Didcot, there was no consideration of linkages or  the wider development. Safety of pedestrians would be reduced and she challenged reference to a 2 way bus route as factually incorrect. Responding to questions she stated that bus frequency was 7-9 an hour but would increase and could be every 30 seconds.

Mr Roy Burton spoke in support of the call in, putting forward an alternative solution and asking that any decision be deferred to allow it to be considered.

Councillor Hards, speaking as the originator of the call in and as a local councillor spoke in support of the concerns set out in the call in request. He stated that this was the last chance to ensure that the developers and the South Oxfordshire district Council thought through all the issues. He referred to Ground 2 and pointed out that no mention had been made of any alternative route for buses during consultation on earlier works. On ground 4 he referred to the new information provided  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13/15