Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2018/004

Contact: Hugh Potter, Team Leader, Area Operations Hub Tel: (01865) 810228

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE4).

At the Cabinet Member for Environment’s Delegated Decision meeting on 12 October 2017 a report was considered on the proposed restoration of parking permits for Wingfield House, a development of six flats at 2A Gathorne Road. Following consideration of the officer’s report to that meeting and representations made both in support of the proposal by the representative of the owner of the property and also those against made by local residents, the local member and the Opposition spokesman for Environment, the Cabinet Member for Environment decided not to approve the proposed restoration of parking permitsion.

On 18 December the County Council received a letter from the legal representatives of the owner of the property citing grounds on which they considered the decision by the Cabinet Member for Environment were not valid. A response was sent by the County Council on 4 January rebutting the cited grounds, but acknowledging that in the Minute of the decision, the reasons could be better expressed and that on this basis alone it would be recommended to the Cabinet Member for the Environment that the decision should be rescinded. A fresh decision would then be required following a comprehensive review of the representations which have been made including an up-to-date survey of parking[JT (OCC)1] [WG-DS2] .in the area.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to rescind the decision taken on 12 October 2017 not to approve restoration of parking permits for Wingfield House, 2A Gathorne Road, Oxford and require a further report on the proposal to include a comprehensive review of the representations made together with an up-to-date parking survey for consideration of the matter to a future meeting.

Approved

On 12 October 2017 the Cabinet Member for Environment at her Delegated Decision meeting decided not to approve the proposed restoration of parking permits for Wingfield House, a development of six flats at 2A Gathorne Road. She had reached that decision following consideration of an officer report to that meeting and representations made both in support of the proposal by the representative of the owner of the property and those against made by local residents, the local member and the Opposition Spokesman for Environment,

On 18 December the County Council had received a letter from the legal representatives of the owner of the property citing grounds on which they considered the decision by the Cabinet Member for Environment not valid. A response to that letter was sent by the County Council on 4 January rebutting the cited grounds, but acknowledging that in the Minute of the decision, the reasons for her decision could have been better expressed and that on that basis alone it would be recommended to the Cabinet Member for the Environment that the decision should be rescinded. A fresh decision would then be required following a comprehensive review of the representations which had been made including an up-to-date survey of parking.in the area.

Oouncillor John Sanders accepted the reasoning for this course of action but reiterated his full support for the original decision citing the cumulative effect that a decision to restore permits to what had been agreed should be a car free development would have on all controlled parking in the Oxford.

Councillor Roz Smith endorsed those comments citing once again the pressures on parking in that area. She queried the accuracy of a statement saying restoration of permits as that facility had not existed in the first place. She supported the process and looked forward to a comprehensive and robust review being carried out.

Having regard to the information set out in the report and the representations made to her at the meeting the Cabinet Member for Environment confirmed her decision as follows:

to rescind the decision taken on 12 October 2017 not to approve restoration of parking permits for Wingfield House, 2A Gathorne Road, Oxford and require a further report on the proposal to include a comprehensive review of the representations made together with an up-to-date parking survey for consideration of the matter at a future meeting.

Signed………………………………………

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing……………………………..