Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Godden (Councillor Johnston substituting), Councillors Hoare (Councillor Harrod substituting) and Councillor Stratford (Councillor Wilmshurst substituting).

Councillor Brighouse referred to written representations which the Committee had received from Councillor Waine and members of the public.

The following requests to speak had been agreed:

Councillor Sibley,

Councillor Mrs Catherine Fulljames,

Councillor Stratford.

Written notice has been given in accordance with the Council’s Scrutiny procedure Rules requiring the decision of the Cabinet Member for Environment on 15 May 2014 to be called in for review by this Committee.

The following documents are attached:

(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 Cabinet Member for Environment together with an extract of the minutes of the delegated decision session. (PSC5(b)).

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

(i)              a copy of the SW Bicester Planning Statement

(ii)       a summary of the consultation requirements for highways works

Written notice had been given in accordance with the Council’s Scrutiny Procedure Rules requiring the decision of the Cabinet Member for Environment on 15 May 2014 to be called in for review by this Committee.

The Performance Scrutiny Committee had before them:

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

(2)            The report considered by the Cabinet Member for Environment together with an extract of the minutes of the delegated decision session.

(3)            Additional information provided in response to the call in :

(i)              a copy of the SW Bicester Planning Statement

(ii)       a summary of the consultation requirements for highways works

Councillor Sibley, 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.

With regard to reason 1 Councillor Sibley highlighted the lack of a properly constructed footpath and cycle ways and referred to the planning statement for South West Bicester which supported such provision. In particular he was concerned at the lack of a footpath on the South side of Middleton Stoney Road and the position of the bus stop which put pedestrians at risk.

With regard to reason 2 on the lack of proper consultation with local Bicester County Councillors he stressed that these proposals resulted in a major impact from an agreed development and consultation with local councillors was vital.

With regard to reason 3 Councillor Sibley detailed his concerns over the use of road humps including increased traffic noise, vehicle damage, increased vehicle emissions and emergency vehicles being impeded.

With regard to reason 4 he noted that the use of build outs with priority traffic signs to control the speed of traffic was the preferred traffic calming measure.

Councillor Sibley referred to reason 5 noting that the characteristics of Middleton Stoney Road with no houses fronting on either side of the road lent itself to a speed limit of 40mph. He suggested that the new 30mph speed limit was to accommodate the speed humps. He considered that had consultation been sufficient the Cabinet member would have had information on this from the Town Council and the local Traffic Advisory Committee.

Councillor Mrs Catherine Fulljames, speaking as a signatory to the call in and as a local councillor indicated that she was not a Bicester councillor but that she represented part of this area and that a number of villages in her Division would use this road to get to Bicester. She commented that the current proposals for 16 road cushions was madness and noted that in her area cushions had been put in and then removed because of noise. The cushions would have a detrimental impact on the ambulances using that road to access the hospital. She considered that the cushions would result in rat running in the surrounding roads. She referred to the lack of consultation although noting that she was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16/14