Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Travel & Development Strategy

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/054

Contact: Tom Shuttleworth, A40 Programme Lead Tel: 07908 059132

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA12).

*** Due to the size of the document, Appendix A is published separately as a Supplementary Document ***

To seek approval to pursue the implementation of statutory powers to enable the project; and issue Requisition for Information notices.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)            Note the progress in developing the A40 Access to Witney project specifically the recent public engagement event undertaken to inform the preferred scheme options.

b)           Approve Officer’s preferred option recommendation and for the formal adoption by the Council of the A40 Access to Witney as an approved scheme.

c)            Approve in principle the development of The Oxfordshire County Council (A40 Access to Witney) Compulsory Purchase Order 202[x] in parallel with negotiations for private acquisition, with such powers of compulsory purchase used only as a matter of last resort, in order to bring forward the timely development of the A40 Access to Witney project. Formal authority for the making of The Oxfordshire County Council (A40 Access to Witney) Compulsory Purchase Order 202[x] will be reported to Cabinet, and necessary approval sought, following public engagement on preferred options and submission of a planning application for the scheme.

d)           Approve the preparation and service of statutory notices for the Requisition of Information pursuant to Section 16 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (as amended) to assist with determining the interests in the land required for the delivery of the scheme.

e)            Approve the preparation of The Oxfordshire County Council (A40 Access to Witney) Compulsory Purchase Order 202[x] in draft , together with a draft Order Map, draft Order Schedule, draft Statement of Reasons and all necessary land referencing activity in advance of seeking formal authority to make the Order.

Recommendations agreed

Cabinet had been asked to approve the preferred option and in principle use of a compulsory purchase order for this scheme.

Councillor Duncan Enright summarised the report.  The scheme was making changes around the periphery of Witney designed to reduce traffic in the town and improve air quality as well as making walking and cycling more attractive.  He proposed the Recommendations.

Councillor Pete Sudbury referred to the predicted increases in traffic outlined in the report and noted that he and his Cabinet colleagues were working to turn that around.  He asked if this scheme would still be necessary if they were successful in that.

Councillor Enright responded that the need for a scheme similar to this one had been identified as long as thirty years ago so it was long awaited.

Councillor Sudbury seconded the Recommendations.

RESOLVED to:

a)            Note the progress in developing the A40 Access to Witney project specifically the recent public engagement event undertaken to inform the preferred scheme options.

b)           Approve Officer’s preferred option recommendation and for the formal adoption by the Council of the A40 Access to Witney as an approved scheme.

c)            Approve in principle the development of The Oxfordshire County Council (A40 Access to Witney) Compulsory Purchase Order 202[x] in parallel with negotiations for private acquisition, with such powers of compulsory purchase used only as a matter of last resort, in order to bring forward the timely development of the A40 Access to Witney project. Formal authority for the making of The Oxfordshire County Council (A40 Access to Witney) Compulsory Purchase Order 202[x] will be reported to Cabinet, and necessary approval sought, following public engagement on preferred options and submission of a planning application for the scheme.

d)           Approve the preparation and service of statutory notices for the Requisition of Information pursuant to Section 16 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (as amended) to assist with determining the interests in the land required for the delivery of the scheme.

e)            Approve the preparation of The Oxfordshire County Council (A40 Access to Witney) Compulsory Purchase Order 202[x] in draft , together with a draft Order Map, draft Order Schedule, draft Statement of Reasons and all necessary land referencing activity in advance of seeking formal authority to make the Order.