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ITEM CA14

CABINET – 20 DECEMBER 2005

OXFORDSHIRE MINERALS AND WASTE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Report by Head of Sustainable Development

Introduction

  1. On 6 September the Cabinet considered a report on the programme for the preparation of the Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework and a draft Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). The Cabinet approved the draft SCI in principle and authorised the Head of Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, to finalise the draft SCI for publication and consultation. Consultation on the draft statement took place between 30 September and 11 November. This report outlines responses to the consultation and proposed changes to the draft SCI and invites the Cabinet to recommend to Council a revised SCI and statement of consultation for submission to the Secretary of State.

  2. The Annexes to this report, comprising a summary of the consultees’ comments with a proposed County response (Annex 1) (download as .doc file) and the draft revised SCI submission (Annex 2) (download as .doc file), are circulated as a separate document to Cabinet Members only and are available in the Members’ Resource Centre and for public inspection. Subject to the Cabinet’s approval of the changes to the SCI it will be reproduced for the Council on 10 January (it being one of the plans and strategies for which the relevant regulations require full Council approval.)

    3. Consultation Responses

  3. The SCI should be a clear public statement of how and when the Council will involve the community in the preparation and review of local development documents and will consult people on planning applications that are determined by the County Council.

  4. Consultation took place during October and ended on 11 November. 56 responses were received including from GOSE, Oxford City Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Highways Agency, the Countryside Agency and Thames Water, parish/town councils (22, including 6 parishes who have submitted comments echoing those of PAGE – Parishes Against Gravel Extraction), mineral operators (2) and members of the public (6).The responses are summarised in Annex 1.

  5. There was a wide measure of general support for the document both from local council and community representatives and those representing the industry. There were a number of detailed comments and suggestions. Groups and organisations want, in particular, to make sure that they will be consulted and will have the opportunity for early involvement in the process. A number of respondents also emphasise the need to ensure feedback to show how consultations have influenced the preparation of the local development documents. Responses to the representations are shown in Annex 1 (download as .doc file) . A revised SCI taking into account some of the comments received is attached at Annex 2 (download as .doc file).

    6. Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee Comments

  6. On 9 November the Committee appointed two of its members (Councillors Norman Bolster and Anne Purse) to consider the Statement of Community Involvement and advise the Cabinet on the Committee’s behalf. Arrangements are in hand for a meeting with the two members and their comments will be reported to the Cabinet.

    7. Next steps

  7. Subject to the Council’s agreement the SCI will be submitted to the Secretary of State. The submitted SCI will be subject to formal consultation in February 2006 and independent examination.

    8. RECOMMENDATION

  8. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED, subject to consideration of any comments on behalf of the Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee, to RECOMMEND Council to:

          1. endorse the responses to the representations on the consultation draft Oxfordshire Statement of Community Involvement in Annex 1 to this report;

          2. approve the Oxfordshire Statement of Community Involvement, incorporating changes proposed in Annex 2, and authorise the Head of Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, to finalise the SCI for submission to the Secretary of State; and

          3. authorise the Head of Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, to prepare a pre-submission consultation statement and representations statement (to include the responses referred to in R(a) above) for submission to the Secretary of State as required by the Regulations.

CHRIS COUSINS
Head of Sustainable Development

Background papers Consultation Responses

Contact officer: Ian Walker, tel 01865 815588

December 2005

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