Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Snowdon, Bloomfield, and Bennett.

The Chair noted that, regarding the role of Councillors as Corporate Parents responsible for Looked after Children (LAC) and children in care homes, it was appropriate for Members of the Committee to register a non-pecuniary and non-prejudicial interest. In so doing, the Chair noted that it was a requirement that Planning Committee Members, when considering the application that was before the Committee, to restrict their consideration to the Planning merits of the application.

NOTED

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 25 April 2022 and to receive information arising from them.

There was one amendment to the minutes, as follows –

Item 22/22 Apologies for Absence and Temporary Appointments

Councillor Sibley asked that, having sent his apologies for absence for the meeting on 25 April, that this be recorded in the minutes.

Subject to that amendment, the Committee approved the minutes of the meeting of 25 April 2022 and authorised the Chair to sign them as a correct record.

For hybrid meetings:

Members of the public who wish to speak at this meeting can attend the meeting in person or “virtually” through an online connection.  In line with current Government advice, those attending the meeting in person are asked to consider wearing a face-covering.

Normally requests to speak at this public meeting are required by 9.00 am on the day preceding the published date of the meeting. However, during the current situation and to facilitate “hybrid” meetings we are asking that requests to speak are submitted by no later than 9.00 am four working days before the meeting i.e., 9.00 am on 26 May 2022.  Requests to speak should be sent to:

cameron.maclean@oxfordshire.gov.uk

If you are speaking “virtually”, you may submit a written statement of your presentation to ensure that if the technology fails, then your views can still be considered. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9 am 2 working days before the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.

Representations had been received from the applicant and Councillor Dan Levy, Divisional Member for Eynsham, in respect of Item 5 on the agenda.

Report by Director for Planning, Environment and Climate Change

It is RECOMMENDED that planning permission for R3.0149/21 be approved, subject to conditions to be determined by the Director for Planning, Environment and Climate Change to include those set out in Annex 1.

The Committee considered a report by the Assistant Director for Strategic Infrastructure and Planning regarding proposals to construct a new six-bedroom single story dwelling to be used as a children’s home providing supported accommodation for four children of secondary school age and two members of staff who would stay on site overnight.

Councillor Webber, Deputy Chair, noted that Oxfordshire County Council (“the Council”), as the Planning Authority, was being asked to grant planning permission in respect of an application by the Council. For the benefit of Members of the Committee and Members of the Public, he asked if the Council’s Legal Officer could provide clarification on the role of the Committee in determining this application.

Mr David Mytton, Legal Officer, stated that the relevant statutory provisions allowed the Council, along with District Councils, to decide planning applications submitted in their name. Accordingly, when considering such applications, it was incumbent upon Members of the Planning Committee to restrict their consideration of the application to the Planning merits of the application.

Mary Hudson, Principal Planning Officer, Strategic Infrastructure and Planning, presented the report that was before the Committee.

In response to Member’s questions, officers provided the following information.

(a)  Regarding an objection to the application by Thames Valley Police (TVP) on the grounds of security, a proposal to increase the height of a section of fencing had resulted in TVP withdrawing the objection.

(b)  Referring to Paragraph 11 of the report regarding construction materials, it was standard practice with new buildings to include a planning condition requiring samples of the materials to be used to be provided for approval.

(c)   Children resident at the home would travel to and from school on a school coach. Paragraph 77 of the report noted that there was a bus service from Aston to Witney and Carterton, and a school coach taking children from the village to the school in Witney. It was officers’ understanding that the children, under the supervision of the on-site staff, would walk from the home to a pickup and drop-off point for the school coach.

(d)  Regarding direction signs for drivers visiting the home, notably the number of specialists required to visit the home, officers stated that signage was not an issue that had been raised during consultations on the proposals.

Officers stated that, if the Committee was minded to approve the Planning application, the requirement for appropriate signage could be added as an informative to the conditions of the Planning approval.

(e)  Officers did not have the results of the tree survey immediately to hand. However, from the Plans on display, it appeared that the tree on the left of the proposed driveway entrance to the home was to be retained in which case it could be made a condition of the Planning approval that the tree be the subject of an appropriate Preservation Order.

(f)    In response to a question about whether the construction of the home was to the highest environmental standards, it was noted that Paragraph 91  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33/21

The Paper sets out policies in relation to Item 5 and should be regarded as an Annex to the report.

NOTED

Chair: ………………………………………………………………………………

Councillor Geoff Saul

Date: ………………………………………………………………………………