Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2019/011

Contact: Dawn Pettis, Strategic Planning Team Leader Tel: 07771 983395

Report by Director for Planning & Place (CA11).

On 11 February the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 (Vision, Aspirations and Objectives) was published for public consultation for a period of six weeks to 25 March. This report sets out the County Council’s draft response to this consultation, together with a draft response on the accompanying Sustsinability Appriasal Scoping Report.

The Oxfordshire Plan 2050 contains a draft Vison, five Aspirations and a number of Objectives aligned to the Aspirations. It also outlines a range of potential spatial options for growth up to 2050.

The County Council strongly supports the Vision, Aspirations and Objectives of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050. The key themes in the draft response include:

•        Overall support for the draft Objectives but further strengthening key messages about the need for an increase in sustainable modes of travel, and to enhancing messages around public health and the environment;

•        Highlighting concepts such as the need for charging points for Electric Vehicles into all premises together with full fibre broadband;

•        A real focus on the need to ensure that cycling and walking levels and traffic reduction are radically improved;

•        The aspiration to retain Oxfordshire’s status as being amongst one of the best areas in the country for recycling and waste prevention;

•           A recognition that Oxfordshire is part of a wider region.

The comments on the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report relate to in particular the need to further strengthen and reinforce the importance of the public health agenda throughout the document in line with the emerging Joint Health and Well Being Strategy, which has specific proposals around healthy place-shaping.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)      note and endorse the draft response to the consultation of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 (Vision, Aspirations and Objectives) contained in Annex 2, taking into account any changes agreed at Cabinet;

(b)      note and endorse the draft response to the consultation of the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Document, contained in Annex 3, taking into account any changes agreed at Cabinet.

Recommendations agreed.

On 11 February the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 (Vision, Aspirations and Objectives) was published for public consultation for a period of six weeks to 25 March. Cabinet considered a report that set out the County Council’s draft response to the consultation, together with a draft response on the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report.

Councillor John Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment, in supporting the Plan drew attention to the following: major highway projects needed to include a dedicated cycle path; parking and traffic congestion were worsening and there was a need for a vision for traffic in 2050; rail infrastructure should include plans for combined bus and rail. He drew attention to the need for the Cowley line. Councillor Sanders commented that it was essential for the Plan to have a timetable for delivery of the vision. He suggested target milestones set over a 30-year rolling programme.

Councillor Hudspeth, Leader of the Council, referred to the £218m funding for infrastructure projects in the Didcot area and that cycle paths would be an integral part of those plans. It was more difficult with existing infrastructure and it was about making best use of available funding. The bid for the A40 would also include cycle paths. On the Cowley Branch line he was pressing but this project was reliant on Network Rail.

Councillor Yvonne Constance, Cabinet Member for Environment introduced the contents of the report. The Plan was intended to encourage co-operation between the County, District and City Councils. Councillor Constance thanked Councillor Pressel for a very good contribution and following her earlier question there would be comment on the need to combat climate change in the Council’s response. In commending the Vision Councillor Constance drew attention to the focus on public health. The Plan was building for a future of motor transport that will be post zero emissions and to address congestion. There was a significant commitment to congestion management.

During discussion Cabinet:

·           *Councillor Bartholomew highlighted the need for a clear definition of ‘sustainable’ and also of ‘affordable housing’.

·           *Explored the extent of housing growth and concerns raised with them by the public, through parish meetings and specifically by the CPRE to Councillor Bartholomew that the scale of housing would undermine the rural nature of some areas and put a strain on services. Bev Hindle clarified that the figure of 300,000 houses that had appeared in some places was not an official number although there would be a large number of houses. He was pleased that the CPRE was taking an active role and the Council and partners needed to find a better way to engage such groups to ensure the information they had was accurate. This was a real opportunity to shape and guide the vision.

·           Noted that more detail would be part of the next stage of the plan.

·           Raised the issue of key worker housing and it was agreed that this be included in the response.

·           Drew attention to paragraph 75 relating to the provision of schools as part  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27