Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Constance, Rouane and Snowdon.

Declarations of Interest were received from Councillor Judy Roberts as she is the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure & Development Strategy which covered the HIF1 Scheme.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2023 and the Extraordinary meeting on 27 September 2023 (PN3) and to receive information arising from them.

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th September 2023 be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

Resolved: that the minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 27^th September 2023 be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair, subject to the amendment on page 15 to Milton Park.

There had been no requests to address the Committee.

To receive any updates from Officers through the Chair.

The Chair had no updates for the Committee.

At the meeting of the Planning and Regulation Committee on 27th September 2023, members considered an officer report advising the committee of the Secretary of State’s call in and specific matters they wish to be informed about in order to reach a decision on the case the LPA will put forward at the Inquiry with regard to planning application R3.0138/21, which seeks planning permission for four interlinked pieces of strategic highway infrastructure as a single development: The dualling of a section of the A4130 to the east of Milton Gate, the Didcot Science Bridge, the Didcot-Culham River Thames Crossing, and the Clifton Hampden Bypass (HIF 1).

The report seeks to update the committee on requirements and requests made by the Inquiry inspector for more information and submissions made in response to them since the 27^th September 2023 meeting of this committee.

It is recommended that the Committee notes the report.

The Committee received an update on the requirements and requests made by the inquiry inspector for further information and submissions made in response to them since the 27^th September 2023 meeting of this Committee.

Members of the Committee discussed the date of the inquiry and raised that it was also the date of the Budget Full Council meeting on 20 February 2024. Members required legal and impartial advice on how the clash should be managed. The Committee were advised that Members had a priority to attend the Budget Full Council. The first day of the inquiry would mainly be opening statements, there would be no cross-examination. Members felt that a statement should be made at the inquiry explaining the absence of the Councillors and an email to the Inspector and the Case Officer.

It was agreed that advice would be taken of the Monitoring Officer, the case officer would be informed, and individual Member could contact the Inspector alerting them of the clash and registering if they wanted to address the inquiry.

ACTION: Advice sought of Monitoring Officer

ACTION: Circulate Case Officers contact details.

Councillor Bennett commented that on page 33, paragraph 8i, it read that there were no impacts at the Golden Balls Roundabout, but work was being carried out on any impacts, this seemed contradictory. It was clarified that that this would be looked at, as part of the local strategic work that was being carried out. This was not part of the scheme but if any impacts were identified as part of HIF 1 and other wider work, then they would be dealt with by other streams of work.

RESOLVED: that the Committee noted the update report

This report seeks a decision to approve an updated scheme of delegation to officers on Town and Country Planning matters outside of those decisions taken by the Planning and Regulation Committee.

It is RECOMMENDED that the members of Planning and Regulation Committee note and approve the updated scheme of delegation to the Corporate Director of Environment and Place under the provisions within the Oxfordshire County Council constitution for the discharge of Town & Country Planning development management and planning enforcement functions as set out in Annex 1 to this report.

The Committee were presented a report to seek a decision to approve an updated scheme of delegation to Officers on Town and Country Planning matters outside those decisions taken by the Planning and Regulation Committee.

The Committee were informed about an email that had been received from Greg O’Broin of Appleford-on-Thames Parish Council. It was requested that the Committee note and approve the updated scheme of delegation to the Corporate Director of Environment and Place under the provisions within the Oxfordshire County Council constitution for the discharge of Town and Country Planning development management and planning enforcement functions as set out in Annex 1 of the report. The Planning Officers committed to look at the scheme of delegation in the light of the comments made and if officers were minded to change anything they would report back. The Chair reminded the Committee that he could request items to be presented at Committee.

Resolved: that the Committee noted and approved the updated scheme of delegation to the Corporate Director of Environment and Place under the provisions within the Oxfordshire County Council constitution for the discharge of Town and Country Planning development management and planning enforcement functions as set out in Annex 1 of the report.

This was proposed by Councillor Gawrysiak and seconded by Councillor Fenton.