______________________________________

________________________________

To Members of the Environment Scrutiny Committee

Notice of Meeting

Chris Impey
Assistant Chief Executive

28 April 2003

Membership

Chair – Councillor Biddy Hudson

Councillors:

AGENDA

Addenda

1. Election to Chair for the Current Council Year
   
   
2. Election to Deputy Chair for the current Council Year
   
   
3. Apologies for Absence and Temporary Appointments
   
   
4. Declarations of Interest
   
   
5. Minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2003 (EN5) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.

6. Petitions and Public Address
   
   See Addenda
   

7. Evaluation of Scrutiny Work Programme
   
   See also Addenda
   

10:10 At their meeting on 11 April 2003, the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group were asked to consider a timetable (attached at EN7(a)) to implement development of the Scrutiny Programme in relation to work programmes. The Group agreed the timetable and that each Scrutiny Committee should evaluate their work programmes thus far, with particular emphasis on balance of work; percentage of time spent on policy development; relevance to the Oxfordshire Plan and whether their Work Programmes have been cross cutting.

The Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group were also asked to consider a checklist to help Scrutiny Committees to focus on their work programmes and to determine why items should be included in their programmes. The group agreed that the checklist should be considered by all Scrutiny Committees during their May meetings and that their comments should be brought to the next meeting of the Group on 9 June 2003. The checklist is attached for consideration at EN7(b).

The Committee is asked to:

1. consider the attached checklist at (EN5(b)) and agree a suggested criteria for assessing possible future items in the work programme; and
2. evaluate its work programme thus far, with particular emphasis on balance of work; percentage of time spent on policy development, relevance to the Oxfordshire Plan and whether the o(ng and Culture Scrutiny Committee considered the attached paper ‘Scrutiny and the Budget’ (EN8) (download as .doc file) which was produced by Councillor Andrew Brown. The Scrutiny Committee agreed the recommendations set out in the paper, which was forwarded to the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group as part of its ongoing consideration of budget scrutiny.

At their meeting on 11 April 2003 the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group endorsed the general principles within the paper and agreed that:

1. the paper should be considered by all Scrutiny Committees at their next meetings;
2. the Scrutiny Committees should consider how the principles outlined in the paper could be adopted within their own work programmes for the next year; and
3. it would be beneficial for Committees to approach service areas as outlined in the paper.

The Committee is asked to consider how the principles outlined in the attached paper could be adopted within their own work programmes for the next year.

8. Scrutiny and the Budget

See also Addenda

10:50

At their meeting on 11 March 2003 the Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee considered the attached paper 'Scrutiny and the Budget' (EN8) (download as .doc file) which was produced by Councillor Andrew Brown. The Scrutiny Committee agreed the recommendations set out in the paper, which was forwarded to the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group as part of its ongoing consideration of budget scrutiny.

At their meeting on 11 April 2003 the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group endorsed the general principles within the paper and agreed that:

a. the paper should be considered by all Scrutiny Committees at their next meetings;

b. the Scrutiny Committees should consider how the principles outlined in the paper could be adopted within their own work programmes for the next year; and

c. it would be beneficial for Committees to approach service areas as outlined in the paper.

The Committee is asked to consider how the principles outlined in the attached paper could be adopted within their own work programmes for the next year.

9. Call In of Planning Regulation Decision: Construction of Nine-Hole Golf Course Using Already Deposited Material at Waterstock Golf Course, Planning Application: P02/N0837/CM
   
   See also Addenda
   

11:00 On 7 April 2003 the Planning and Regulation Committee considered a report by the Director of Environmental Services (a copy of which is attached at EN9) which outlined a planning application to reshape the waste at Waterstock Golf Course and build a new nine hole course.

The Planning & Regulation Committee resolved to that planning permission be refused for the construction of a nine-hole golf course using already deposited material at Waterstock Golf Course (Application No. P02/N0837/CM) for the following reasons:

1. it is contrary to Structure Plan waste disposal policies WD4 and WD5;
2. it is inappropriate development in the Oxford Green Belt contrary to Structure Plan policy G4 Minerals and Waste Local Plan policy W7 g) and South Oxfordshire Local Plan policy GB3;
3. it would unacceptably harm local landscape character and the area of open countryside contrary to Structure Plan policies EN4 and G5, Minerals and Waste Local Plan policy W7 h) and South Oxfordshire Local Plan policies G1, C1, C3, C6 and R5,
4. it does not demonstrate that there would be adequate water resources contrary to Structure Plan policy EN13;
5. it would be an unacceptable expansion of an existing facility without redressing the adverse environmental effects caused by light pollution from the driving range lights contrary to South Oxfordshire Local Plan policy G7;
6. it conflicts with the general strategy to protect the environment, character and natural resources of the County and to resist development which would damage the environment contrary to Structure Plan policies G1, G2 and EN2.

The Proper officer received on 14 April 2003 a request by ten members of the Council in accordance with the Council’s Scrutiny Procedure Rules in the Constitution in the following terms:-

"We request that the Proper Officer of the Council calls in the decision of the Planning & Regulation Committee taken on 7 April 2003 and listed at Item 8 of the list of decisions – to refuse planning permission for the construction of a nine-hole golf course using already deposited material at Waterstock Golf course. Our concerns are as follows:-

1. An appeal is pending and we feel that established case law in this area will make it very difficult for the Council to win this appeal.

2. Six reasons for refusal are given. We believe that two of those are so weak that they do not stand up to any critical analysis and, in any case, do not appear to be in conflict with any existing council policy.

3. Both the applicants and South Oxfordshire District Council have given written notice of their intent to hold more meetings, with a view to reaching an amicable resolution of the remaining issues that divide them.

4. It was admitted by officers that there were some errors of fact in the report.


Roy Mold	Sandra Mold
John Power	Margaret MacKenzie
Les Sibley	Barbara Gatehouse
Ken Harper	Betty Standingford
Olive McIntosh-Stedman	Sam Segaran

Members of the Council."

If, having considered the decision, the Scrutiny Committee has material concerns about it, then it may refer it back to the Executive for reconsideration, setting out in writing the nature of its concerns. If referred to the Executive the views of the Scrutiny Committee will be considered by that body within a further 10 working days, and the decision will then be amended or otherwise and take immediate effect. It is not referred back to the Executive then the decision is effective from the date of this meeting.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to decide whether to:

1. refer the issue back to the Executive with comments; or
2. accept the Executive’s decision.
   
   

10. Scrutiny Reviews

12:10 (a) To receive updates on the following reviews:

1. Highway Quality of Repairs and Drainage:
   (Lead Members: Councillors Alan Bryden and Roy Mold)
   
   
2. Corporate Environmental Policy and Energy Saving Scrutiny Review

(Lead Members: Councillors Biddy Hudson, Terry Joslin, Jean Fooks and Patrick Greene)

12:20 (b) Draft Review Report – Highway Consultations on Planning Applications

(Lead Members: Councillors Roy Mold and Terry Joslin)

On 13 March 2002, the Committee appointed a Lead Member Review Group to lead this review on its behalf. Having collected a wide variety of evidence the review panel now presents its provisional draft report for consideration by the Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is RECOMMENDED by the review panel to offer any advice on how to improve the draft report before them, in order to assist with the production of the final report.

11. Tracking Scrutiny Outcomes
    
    See also Addenda
    

1:00 Standard Item to inform the Committee of the outcomes of their advice and recommendations to the Executive/Council.

12. Forward Plan

1:10 (a) The Scrutiny Committee has identified for scrutiny the following Forward Plan topics:

• Didcot Transport Issue Study
• Parking Standards for New Development

ADDENDA

Item

6. Petitions and Public Address

7. Evaluation of Scrutiny Work Programmes

Members are asked to note that the checklist referred to as (EN5(b)) at recommendation (a) on the face of the Agenda should read (ENV7(b)).

Please find attached EV7(a) Supplement and EN7(b) Supplement which were not available for circulation with the Agenda.

8. Scrutiny and the Budget

Improving Member Access to Financial Information is attached for information

9. Call In of Planning Regulation Decision: Construction of Nine-Hole Golf Course Using Already Deposited Material at Waterstock Golf Course, Planning Application: P02/N0837/CM

11. Tracking Scrutiny Outcomes
    
    

• Biodiversity Review in Oxfordshire

Biodiversity in Oxfordshire To consider a request by the Environment Scrutiny Committee for an assurance that biodiversity is properly taken into account in the relevant policies and plans which the Executive determines

Strategic Planning & Waste Management

24 June 2003

• Speed Management Policy

1. welcome the submissions of the Community Safety and Environment Scrutiny Committees;
2. endorse the inclusion in the remit of the Task Force (recommended in the Community Safety Scrutiny Review) of responsibility for overseeing the development of the Speed Management Strategy and a review of selected speed limits in South Oxfordshire;
3. approve the promotion of 50mph speed limit orders on the lengths of road in Annex 2 to EX10 for inclusion in the pilot programme for 2003/04 with appropriate supporting engineering measures, subject to funding being included in the 2003/04 capital programme and to any representation or objections being considered by the Transport Implementation Committee;
4. approve the promotion of 20mph speed limit zones on the lengths of road in Thame and Oxford shown on Plans 1 and 2 accompanying EX10 with appropriate supporting engineering measures, subject to funding being included in the 2003/04 capital programme and any representation or objections being considered by the Transport Implementation Committee.

• Carterton, Witney and Oxford – Transport Links

1. in the light of this support and the Environment Scrutiny Committee's comments, approve the proposed strategy, subject at this stage to the exclusion of the bus priority measures on the B4044;
2. in recognition of the inclusion of the B4044 in the Premium Routes Strategy, ask the Head of Roads & Transport to carry out further feasibility work on the traffic and environmental impacts of possible bus priority measures on the B4044 and report back to a later meeting of the Executive;
3. approve the commencement of design work on individual elements of the strategy including appropriate consultation in accordance with normal highway and planning procedures; and