Agenda and minutes
PDF 144 KBVenue: County Hall
Contact: Graham Warrington Tel: (01865) 815321; E-Mail: graham.warrington@oxfordshire.gov.uk
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Apologies for Absence and Temporary Appointments Minutes:
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To approve the minutes of the
meeting held on 12 July 2010 and to receive for information any matters arising
therefrom. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2010 were approved and signed. |
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Petitions and Public Address Minutes: The following requests to address the meeting had been agreed:
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Report by Head of Sustainable Development (PN5) In February 2010 the Planning & Regulation Committee approved an application for the erection of a detached single storey building to provide a children’s centre on the school site together with three extensions to the existing school. That approval was subject to the usual conditions regarding development but also to the applicant first (before a planning permission was issued) securing and if necessary obtaining planning permission for suitable alternative temporary arrangements for parking for use by the school (8 displaced parking places) during the period of construction. That search culminated in an application which was considered by the Committee on 12 July to change the use of an area of pasture at Coombe Farm, Great Milton to a temporary car parking area for the use of Great Milton Primary School during building work for the new Children's Centre and extensions at the school for a temporary period only until 31 January 2012. As with the earlier application for the Children's Centre and school extensions this application generated much interest locally. The owner of the proposed site at Coombe Farm then indicated that he was unwilling to release the land for car park use but was content for the application as submitted to proceed to a decision. The Committee on 12 July accordingly approved that application but mindful that as things stood the permission given in February for the children’s centre and other developments at the school could not be issued until the parking issue had been resolved agreed to convene a special meeting of the Planning & Regulation Committee to reconsider Application R3.0188/09 (approved in February 2010) in the light of the difficulties experienced in resolving the parking pre-condition to the original approval. The Head of Transport Development Control’s
view is that the additional on street parking that might take place would not
significantly increase risk to the safety of users of the public highway and,
therefore, the limited extent of disadvantage to the amenity of local people
that would be caused by potentially 8 extra cars being parked on the street
near to the school during the 12 month construction period, is not of
sufficient magnitude that it should outweigh the benefits of this development
taking place. The conclusion therefore is that permission
for this development should be granted on the same terms, and subject to the
same conditions, as agreed by Planning & Regulation Committee on 15
February 2010, save for the deletion of the requirement for alternative
temporary parking during the construction period. The Committee is RECOMMENDED to grant permission for Application No. R3.0188/09 (for the demolition of a temporary classroom/ community resources building and brick built store and the erection of a single storey building to provide a children’s centre, and the erection of extensions to provide replacement classroom and community resources facility, reading room and replacement store, along with associated external works; at Great Milton C of E School) subject to conditions to be determined by the Head of ... view the full agenda text for item 11/10 Additional documents:
Minutes: In February 2010 the Planning & Regulation resolved to grant planning permission for a development at Great Milton Primary School for a Children’s Centre and extensions to the existing school subject to before granting permission the applicant securing suitable alternative temporary parking arrangements for use by the school during the construction period. The Committee were now reviewing that decision in the light of difficulties experienced in resolving that pre-condition and further advice from the Head of Transport Development Control that additional on-street parking that might take place would not significantly increase risk to the safety of users of the public highway. Mr Belcher reinforced the Parish Council’s support for the principle of Children Centres but in the right location and supported by suitable infrastructure. This one was not and showed a disregard for sustainable development and the green belt. He was not a member of the Parish Council but had been a resident of Great Milton for 26 years and had witnessed the gradual changes in the village through increased traffic and the impact of large building projects. The County Council now appeared to be taking a completely opposite view with regard to the parking pre-condition to the one taken in February when a clear statement had been made at that time that such provision was required. Parking at the school was unlikely to be restricted to 8 cars. The objection for many local residents was based on suitable location for the Centre and there was a willingness on their part to work with the County Council to find a more suitable alternative site. Responding to Councillor Sanders Mr Belcher confirmed that not all residents of Great Milton were opposed to the development of a Children’s Centre but that he was speaking on behalf of those that did. Endorsing the comments made by Mr Belcher Mr Tyce supported the view that the proposed Children’s Centre would be better placed nearer larger centres of population. The current proposal to site it at Great Milton was unsustainable on transport grounds and contrary to green belt policy and he was at a loss to explain why County officers had now formed a view contrary to the one taken in February when provision for alternative parking was clearly required. Great Milton had been the only site to offer itself for this development but that was no reason to blindly accept the proposal when the site was obviously not suitable. The government were sponsoring localism insofar as local people were the best custodians and in the light of local opposition he urged the Committee to reject the application. Amanda Powell reiterated the support of the County Council’s Children, Young People & Families Directorate for the proposed development at Great Milton which would enable the school to deliver improved services for families throughout the catchment area. School governors in spite of the disruption that the building project would bring to school life and the continuing opposition of some villagers remained fully supportive of the joint solution. Since February ... view the full minutes text for item 11/10 |