Agenda, decisions and minutes

Any county councillor may, by giving notice to the Proper Officer by 9 am two working days before the meeting, ask a question on any matter in respect of the Cabinet Member’s delegated powers.

The number of questions which may be asked by any councillor at any one meeting is limited to two (or one question with notice and a supplementary question at the meeting) and the time for questions will be limited to 30 minutes in total. As with questions at Council, any questions which remain unanswered at the end of this item will receive a written response.

Questions submitted prior to the agenda being despatched are shown below and will be the subject of a response from the appropriate Cabinet Member or such other councillor or officer as is determined by the Cabinet Member, and shall not be the subject of further debate at this meeting. Questions received after the despatch of the agenda, but before the deadline, will be shown on the Schedule of Addenda circulated at the meeting, together with any written response which is available at that time.

Question from Councillor Nick Hards

“Would the Cabinet Member please confirm that the soil which is filling 5 drainage gullies on the B4493 between the Mendip Heights roundabout and the Foxhall Road roundabout, will be removed as a matter of urgency. Pedestrians who walk from Great Western Park and the Mendip Heights areas to the new Didcot Parkway transport hub are getting soaked when it rains heavily in the mornings as the photograph (circulated with the addenda sheet) shows.”

Reply from the Cabinet Member for Environment

“We are acutely aware of this problem and are very keen to get this problem fixed as soon as possible. We carried out some investigatory works a couple of months ago and found that the main highway carrier drain that runs parallel with the B4493 was blocked by a utility company service crossing. This is what is causing the gullies along the road to silt up as the drainage is only partially working and currently cannot cope with a heavy rain downpour. Works to carry out repairs will necessitate traffic signals to carry out the work safely. We are currently not able to put traffic signals up on the B4493 because there are major works taking place very nearby in Basil Hill Road where Network Rail are replacing a road bridge and our works are on the diversion route as well as being very close to the roundabout as shown on the photograph with the original query.

We hope to get on site in November to effect repairs to the highway drain and we will do so at the very earliest opportunity.”

Supplementary question from Councillor Hards

“Can you give me an assurance that work will start as soon as possible”

Reply from Cabinet Member fro Environment

As I explained a third party is involved and that is creating some problems but the County Council is keen to get the work done quickly.

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/136

Contact: Jim Daughton,  Service Manager, Delivery

Tel: 01865 812083

Report by Deputy Director for Environment  and Economy – Commercial & Delivery (CMDE4).

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE4) a report setting out objections and other comments received in response to re-consultation on a proposed new pelican crossing on Ock street and a re-located pelican crossing on the A415 Marcham Road, Abingdon arising from a proposed development of 159 dwellings on land adjacent to the B4017 Drayton road following an appeal decision granting planning permission by the Planning Inspectorate in 2013 which had included a condition that ‘no development should take place until the crossing proposals had been implemented or the highway authority had confirmed they would be implemented.

The Cabinet Member explained that following a legal challenge to the decision he had taken on this matter in March the County Council had reviewed the process and considered that as the reasons for that decision had not been made clear it had been decided to bring the proposals back to him for further and full consideration at this meeting.

Prior to hearing from the public speakers he then invited officers to set out the latest position since publication of the current report to include any additional papers which had been received. He also acknowledged additional emails which he and officers had received including a letter from the Abingdon Town Council.

Abingdon Town Councillor Alice Badcock stated that the already notorious traffic problems on Drayton Road would be exacerbated by these new crossings.  Safety issues would also be created as moving the crossings did not come with a guarantee that children would use them and it was wrong to put lives at risk for the sake of 159 houses. Utility vehicles entering the MG gardens also presented an additional risk by needing to manoeuvre on the highway to gain entry. The Town Council had realised there could be a major accident if these changes went ahead and the County Council needed to be prepared to take full responsibility if that happened.

Abingdon Town Councillor Angela Lawrence stated that nothing material had changed since the decision in March and she disagreed completely with the officer recommendation as set out in the current report. She considered the current layout at the Ock Street/Spring Road junction was perfectly adequate but adding another crossing would worsen an already bad situation and would not reflect natural desire lines. The AbITS programme had gone a long way to improving air quality but these proposals would inevitably negate any improvements by increasing queues and congestion as well as endangering school children and creating safety issues. 

Martin Bowes read out a statement on behalf of Anthea Norman-Taylor who had been unable to attend. Had the developers attended the meeting in March they would have heard first-hand the concerns expressed by local people and their elected representatives.  Furthermore it was quite clear from the appeal decision documents that the Inspector had wanted a full public consultation to decide this matter and not him.  The Inspector and developers had accepted there was already a serious traffic issue on the Drayton Road so it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53/14

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/065

Contact: Jim Daughton, Service Manager – Delivery Tel: (01865) 323364

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Commercial & Delivery (CMDE5).

The Cabinet Member for Environment (CMDE5) considered objections and other comments received to a statutory consultation on a proposed new puffin crossing on the A417, Main Street, East Challow.

Councillor Yvonne Constance confirmed that the Parish Council had been delighted to hear this scheme could now proceed although there were some concerns regarding lack of progress on the proposed layby.

Mr Turner confirmed that the Parish Council were now content with progress with regard to the proposals to provide alternative parking.

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him, the representations made to him by the local member and the further considerations set out above the Cabinet Member for Environment confirmed his decision as follows:

approve implementation of the proposed puffin crossing as advertised and as set out in the report CMDE5. 

……………………………………………………

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing…………………………………

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/094

Contact: Jim Daughton, Service Manager – Delivery Tel: (01865) 815083

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Commercial & Delivery (CMDE6).

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE6) responses received to a consultation for a proposed zebra crossing on Bridge Street, Witney and acknowledged receipt of additional emails from:

County Councillor Richard Langridge (Witney North & East) who had expressed a strong objection to the proposal on the grounds of disruption to traffic movement, increased congestion and worsening air pollution which was already at dangerous levels.  West Oxfordshire District Council and the Witney Traffic Advisory Committee had both objected and he suggested the high levels of support for the crossing had not come from people who actually lived in the immediate area.  Local residents had repeatedly voiced their opposition to the proposal and in the face of such local opposition it should not proceed.

Hannah Watson (local resident) had set out her concerns regarding the dangers of trying to cross Bridge Street. That was likely to worsen with new housing development.  The issue with shop deliveries applied to one business which had huge trucks delivering which needed to park on the pavement making the situation even more dangerous.  She considered that people’s safety came before concerns regarding noise and pollution which already existed.

Duncan Wood speaking as a Trustee of a Health Club off Bridge Street confirmed that many members had commented on the difficulties of crossing Bridge Street.  There was also a dance school on the old trading estate site and comments had also been made on the dangers for children crossing.  Consequently many visitors took the choice to drive which added to the high traffic levels.  Bridge Street was by and large residential with lots of new houses and one shop and support for a crossing was overwhelming with objections based on grounds of congestion and air quality although it seemed to him that a pedestrian crossing might for the reasons above encourage more people to walk to local facilities thereby help to reduce traffic.

Mr Tole confirmed that there would be some loss of parking but some parking would remain.  He undertook to investigate whether the length of zig-zags could be shortened.  He did not accept comments that the Witney Traffic Advisory Committee had objected to the scheme. Similarly comments from WODC as referred to in paragraph 10 indicated support for new and improved pedestrian facilities although they qualified that support by referring to traffic levels in this particular area.  With regard to those concerns traffic flow would depend on numbers using the crossing and as queuing was by and large at peak time it was expected that the effect on air quality would be minimal.

Addressing comments received regarding timing of this scheme in relation to other major projects in Witney such as Shores Green and the West End Link Odele Payne advised that as neither scheme had been confirmed delivery was therefore open ended. As a result the 30,000 vehicle daily flow on Bridge Street would remain suggesting a strong case for a scheme to come forward now rather than wait for major schemes to come forward.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55/14

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/154

Contact: Jim Daughton, Service Manager – Delivery Tel: (01865) 323364

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Commercial & Delivery (CMDE7).

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE7) responses received to a formal consultation on a proposal to remove a disabled persons parking place in The Playing Close, Charlbury.

David Moyes a local resident supported removal of the space in Playing Close. It was rarely used and removal would go some way to alleviating difficulties of parking close to his home largely due to commuter parking at the railway station and reduced parking following introduction of a space outside the Co-op. 

Debbie Reeves a local resident also supported removal and confirmed the space was rarely used. In her view it was not needed as there was ample parking at Beechcroft and there was no justification for those residents to lay claim to an additional space on the highway.

Mr Ruse endorsed what both speakers had said regarding levels of use.

The Cabinet Member confirmed he had visited the site on a number of occasions and had never seen the space used. Therefore having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him, the representations made to him and the further considerations set out above he confirmed his decision as follows:

to approve the removal of the existing disabled persons parking place in Playing Close (also referred to as Poole’s Lane) as set out in the report (CMDE7). 

……………………………………………………

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing…………………………………

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/145

Contact: Vicky Fletcher, Environment & Resource Efficiency Manager; Tel: (01865) 815420

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Strategy & Infrastructure Planning (CMDE8).

The Cabinet Member for Environment on behalf of the County Council had been requested to endorse the statutory Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan for 2014-19 in the light of an officer report (CMDE8).

The Cabinet Member confirmed he was the County Council’s representative on the Board and had been involved in various stages of the Plan’s preparation. It was important to endorse the Plan and so having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him, he confirmed his decision as follows:

to endorse the Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2014-2019.

Signed …………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing……………………………

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/144

Contact: Vicky Fletcher, Environment & Resource Efficiency Manager – Tel: (01865) 815420

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Strategy & Infrastructure Planning (CMDE9).

The Cabinet Member for Environment on behalf of the County Council had been requested to endorse the statutory North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan for 2014-19 in the light of an officer report (CMDE9).

Councillor Charles Mathew as the County Council’s representative on the Board (and also the Cotswolds AONB Board) referred to the value of these Plans and the work undertaken by the Areas and supported endorsement.  However, he highlighted the need for the County Council and District Councils to support the work of AONBs and help protect each one by ensuring that planning applications in a particular AONB area were necessary and he quoted a recent application to the Vale of White Horse in Harwell which affected the North Wessex Downs AONB.

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him, the representations made to him and the further considerations set out above the Cabinet Member for Environment confirmed his decision as follows:

to endorse the North Wessex Downs AONB Management Plan 2014-2019.

Signed …………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing……………………………

RESOLVED: that the public be excluded for the duration of items 10E and 11E since it was likely that if they were present during those items there would be disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and specified below in relation to each item and since it was considered that, in all circumstances of each case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/147

Contact: Vicky Fletcher – Environment & Resource Efficiency Manager

Tel: 01865 815420

Report by Director for Environment & Economy  (CMDE10E).

The information in the report CMDE11E is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed category:

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person

(Including the authority holding that information)

The Cabinet Member for Environment was being asked to agree an exemption from contract procedure rule 13.3 to extend the Community Action Group for a further 6 months to 30 June 2015 pending confirmation of budgets and a new OJEU procurement process to be completed.

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him the Cabinet Member for Environment confirmed his decision as follows:

to agree this exemption and authorise the Deputy Director for Environment & Economy (Strategy & Infrastructure Planning) to enter into a 6 month extension with Resource Futures for continued support of the CAG project.

Signed …………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing……………………………

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/153

Contact: Andrew Pau, Strategic Manager, Waste & Transport Tel: (01865) 815867/Mark Watson, Waste Contracts Officer Tel: (01865) 815747

Report by Deputy Director for Environment & Economy – Commercial & Delivery (CMDE11E).

The information in this report is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed

category:

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person

(Including the authority holding that information)

The information in this report is exempt in that it falls within the following prescribed category:

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person

(Including the authority holding that information)

The Cabinet Member for Environment was being asked to agree an exemption from contract procedure rules 13.2 and 13.3 in order to extend a service level agreement with Leicestershire County Council to continue the recycling of street sweepings and their diversion from landfill whilst the procurement of a County Council contract was completed.

Having regard to the arguments and options set out in the documentation before him the Cabinet Member for Environment confirmed his decision as follows:

to agree the exemption and authorise the Deputy Director for Environment & Economy (Commercial) to extend the Service Level Agreement with Leicestershire County Council for the recycling of street sweepings as detailed in the report CMDE12E. 

Signed …………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing……………………………