Agenda, decisions and minutes

Any county councillor may, by giving notice to the Proper Officer by 9 am two working days before the meeting, ask a question on any matter in respect of the Cabinet Member’s delegated powers.

The number of questions which may be asked by any councillor at any one meeting is limited to two (or one question with notice and a supplementary question at the meeting) and the time for questions will be limited to 30 minutes in total. As with questions at Council, any questions which remain unanswered at the end of this item will receive a written response.

Questions submitted prior to the agenda being despatched are shown below and will be the subject of a response from the appropriate Cabinet Member or such other councillor or officer as is determined by the Cabinet Member, and shall not be the subject of further debate at this meeting. Questions received after the despatch of the agenda, but before the deadline, will be shown on the Schedule of Addenda circulated at the meeting, together with any written response which is available at that time.

From Councillor John Howson

Will the Cabinet Member for Environment investigate the effect of Network Rail’s alteration of the sidings north of Oxford Station on the residents of William Lucy Way and discuss the need for appropriate mitigation measures.

Response from the Cabinet Member for Environment

We have contacted colleagues at Network Rail to get the latest position and proposals on this. Network Rail are carrying out vital work to increase capacity of the sidings north of Oxford station by lengthening the existing four sidings and adding an extra siding so they can accommodate more of the new longer trains that will start serving Oxford from next year. This work has to be completed before re-signalling can happen.

The county council welcomes the investment being made in the local rail network to boost capacity as that will support our thriving economy and a growing population, and should encourage more people to use public transport rather than cars, helping to reduce congestion and improve air quality.

Network Rail does not need to apply for planning permission to alter infrastructure as it has permitted development rights and these alterations are taking place within their boundary.  Oxford City Council, who are responsible for environmental health, which includes noise, has agreed the hours that Network Rail can work in the area.

I understand that the existing high level lighting in the sidings is being replaced with low level bollard lighting to reduce light pollution, and the retention of all but six trees and the additional planting now proposed which was suggested by nearby residents provides a natural noise barrier. Any discussion about further mitigation measures is a matter for the local planning authority, which is the responsibility of the city council.

Network Rail engaged with residents of William Lucy Way in advance of the works starting, and has kept them updated about forthcoming construction work. I believe you recently met Network Rail yourself, and it would be helpful to know the outcome of that meeting.

As the points you raised are planning matters they are not within the remit of the county council and should be raised with the city council.

Supplementary Question from Councillor Howson

Thank you for the response. There are concerns regarding engagement by Network Rail although there were moves to improve that  by providing drop in sessions fro residents and discussion with local churches regarding the Christmas period. However, did the Cabinet Member as part of the east – West rail partnership discussions know what proposals were being made for diesel rolling stock to sit and whether the intention was for that to happen at the sidings north of Oxford or Banbury?

Response by the Cabinet Member

As I attend meetings of the partnership I will enquire regarding future use of the sidings and ask for the matter to be considered.  

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/089

Contact: Hugh Potter, Team Leader – Area Operations Hub Tel: (01865) 810028

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE4).

Measures to extend the 30mph speed limit on Denchworth Road, provide calming measures on Newlands Drive and prohibit use by motor vehicles of parts of Cane Lane and Denchworth Road, which are being superseded by the proposed new road layout at Grove have been proposed in conjunction with a major new residential development to the west of Denchworth Road and Newlands Drive at Grove. The report presents responses received in the course of a statutory consultation on the proposals.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve proposals to extend the 30mph speed limit on Denchworth Road, provide calming measures on Newlands Drive and prohibit use by motor vehicles of parts of Cane Lane and Denchworth Road which are superseded by the proposed new road layout at Grove as advertised.

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The Cabinet Member for Environment considered responses received to a consultation on measures to extend the 30 mph speed limit on Denchworth Road, provide traffic calming measures on Newlands Drive and prohibit use by motor vehicles of parts of Cane Lane and Denchworth Road in conjunction with a major new development.

Mr Parnell advised that Grove parish council, while supporting the two elements of the proposal relating to the speed limit and stopping up objected strongly to the traffic calming scheme which they considered excessive.  They felt other viable alternatives should be thoroughly investigated before proceeding.

Mr Kirkwood advised that the objections received to the stopping up proposals centred mainly on the loss of public recreational space and not controversial insofar as the proposed prohibition was considered necessary in the interests of safety for users of the superseded highway.  The objection by Thames valley Police to the speed limit proposals, insofar as that related to current levels of development along this road was, given those current levels of development, judged to be correct. However, the proposal to introduce a 30 limit was consistent with Department of Transport guidance given planned development over the next year.  The traffic calming scheme would have a positive impact on speeding traffic but had also been designed to mitigate against any severe impact and to be bus friendly.

Recognising the representations made on behalf of Grove Parish Council that there were other viable alternative measures with regard to traffic calming the Cabinet Member for Environment agreed as follows:

(a)          to instruct officers to hold further discussions with Grove Parish Council regarding proposals for traffic calming including consideration of alternative measures;

(b)          in the meantime to provisionally approve proposals to:

·           extend the 30 mph speed limit on Denchworth Road;

·           prohibit use by motor vehicles of parts of Cane Lane and Denchworth Road superseded by the proposed new road layout at Grove

and pending the outcome of the discussions at (a) and agreement on further traffic calming all three elements be implemented simultaneously.

Signed………………………………………

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing…………………………….

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/120

Contact: Hugh Potter, Team Leader, Area Stewardship Hub Tel: (01865) 810228

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE5).

As a result of development of land for residential use at Springfield Oval (off the northern side of the Burford Road), which is anticipated to lead to additional pedestrian crossing movements to local amenities, including Tower Hill Primary School consultation has been carried out on a proposal to install a kerb build-out in the layby on the north side of the A4095 Burford Road at Witney approximately 20 metres west of its junction with Moor Avenue in order to improve the safety and amenity for pedestrians using the existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossing point at this location. The report condisers the responses received.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve proposals to install a kerb build-out in the layby on the north side of the A4095 Burford Road at Witney approximately 20 metres west of its junction with Moor Avenue to improve the safety and amenity for pedestrians using the existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossing point at this location as advertised.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered responses received to a consultation to install a kerb build-out in the layby on the north side of the A4095 Burford Road at Witney approximately 20 metres west of its junction with Moor Avenue.   The build out, proposed to improve the safety and amenity for pedestrians using the existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossing point at this location had resulted from development of land for residential use at Springfield Oval (off the northern side of the Burford Road), which it had been anticipated would lead to additional pedestrian crossing movements to local amenities, including Tower Hill Primary School.

County Councillor Laura Price reiterated her objection to the scheme on the grounds that it would not provide a safe and convenient crossing point favouring a fully controlled crossing which she said had been supported by the police in 2014. This scheme was not what anyone wanted least of all the school and she suggested that perversely it might be better to have nothing at all.  She confirmed that there was money to recruit a school crossing patrol but efforts to fill that post had failed. There had obviously been a breakdown in communication between the district and county councils and in her opinion this proposed scheme was not the way to proceed.

Mr Kirkwood confirmed that the developers had queried an earlier request by the County Council for provision of a signalled crossing on the grounds that such a facility was not justified because of an existing crossing nearby and projected levels of use.  On that basis and the absence of any recorded accidents in the vicinity it had not been considered that a request for a signalled crossing would pass the legal tests for S106 funding. However, it had been agreed that the developer would contribute towards the construction of the build out and although he accepted there were concerns regarding the adequacy of a build out in providing a safe crossing point there would be several benefits including a reduction in the crossing distance and improved visibility in the layby.  Provision of a crossing would need to be subject to further consultation and whilst the build out meant the loss of some parking in the layby provision of a crossing would, however, lead to a more significant loss of possibly 5,6 or 7 spaces where vehicles would not be allowed to park due to a need for zig zag lines.  Also a disabled bay would need to be resited.  

The Cabinet Member for Environment expressed some reservations regarding a build out but wondered whether recruitment concurrently of a school crossing patrol could offset some of those concerns.  She also accepted that provision of a crossing might not be problem free but that provision of a build out also seemed to be counter intuitive bearing in mind the concerns raised locally and a decision needed to be made as to whether a build out would offer any help at all.  Therefore having regard to the information  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32/17

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/114

Contact: Hugh Potter, Team Leader - Area Stewardship Hub Tel: (01865) 810228

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE6).

Murcott Road is long and straight with good visibility approaching the village which means that traffic has a tendency to exceed the existing speed limit of 30mph as it approaches the residential part of the village. With new development extending the village along the Murcott Road it was felt that some traffic calming measures would be appropriate to extend the already existing series of buildouts. The report considers responses received to a statutory consultation on proposals to install a traffic calming build-out on the Murcott Road at Arncott, approximately 20 metres south-west of its junction with The Village Close.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve proposals to install a traffic calming build-out on the Murcott Road at Arncott, approximately 20 metres south-west of its junction with The Village Close as advertised.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered responses received on a proposal to install an additional traffic calming build-out on the Murcott Road at Arncott, approximately 20 metres south-west of its junction with The Village Close.  Murcott Road is long and straight with good visibility approaching the village and so traffic can exceed the existing speed limit of 30mph as it approached the residential part of the village. That, along with new development extending the village along the Murcott Road, prompted this further installation which extends the already existing series of buildouts.

Referring to the 2 objections received Mr Wasley advised that moving the installation would merely mean that it would then go outside other properties, add significantly to the cost and make it less satisfactory from a road safety point of view due to lighting issues and proximity to roadside junctions.

Having regard to the information set out in the report before her and  the submissions made to her by officers at the meeting with regard to lighting and side road issues the Cabinet Member for Environment confirmed her decision as follows:

to approve proposals to install a traffic calming build-out on the Murcott Road at Arncott, approximately 20 metres south-west of its junction with The Village Close as advertised.

Signed…………………………………

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing………………………..

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/124

Contact: Hugh Potter, Team Leader, Area Stewardship Hub Tel: (01865) 810228

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE7).

Proposals have been put forward to improve safety of all road users and amenity of pedestrians and cyclists crossing the B4100 Warwick Road in the vicinity of a new access road serving residential development on the west side of the road. The proposals involve extending northwards the 30mph speed limit on the B4100 Warwick Road from its current terminal position just north of its junction with the A422 Stratford Road northwards to just north of its roundabout junction with Dukes Meadow Drive, replacing the current 40mph speed limit and installing a toucan crossing on the B4100 Warwick Road approximately 30 metres north of its junction with Firtree Close.

The report presents responses received in the course of a statutory consultation.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve proposals to extend northwards the 30mph speed limit on the B4100 Warwick Road from its current terminal position just north of its junction with the A422 Stratford Road northwards to just north of its roundabout junction with Dukes Meadow Drive, replacing the current 40mph speed limit and to install a toucan crossing on the B4100 Warwick Road approximately 30 metres north of its junction with Firtree Close as advertised.

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The Cabinet Member for Environment considered responses received to a statutory consultation to extend the 30mph speed limit on the B4100 Warwick Road from its current terminal position just north of its junction with the A422 Stratford Road northwards to just north of its roundabout junction with Dukes Meadow Drive, replace the current 40mph speed limit and install a toucan crossing on the B4100 Warwick Road approximately 30 metres north of its junction with Firtree Close. The proposals had been promoted to improve safety of all road users and amenity of pedestrians and cyclists crossing the B4100 Warwick Road in the vicinity of a new access road serving residential development on the west side of the road. 

Referring to the objections Mr Kirkwood advised that officers were confident that the new development would change conditions on the stretch of road to such an extent that both the revised speed limit and toucan crossing would be necessary.  Furthermore it would not be possible to spend the money elsewhere as had been suggested as funding had been provided from a S106 contribution as a result of the adjacent development.

Having regard to the information contained in the report before her together with advice from officers provided at the meeting the Cabinet Member for Environment confirmed her decision as follows:  

to approve proposals to extend the 30mph speed limit on the B4100 Warwick Road from its current terminal position just north of its junction with the A422 Stratford Road northwards to just north of its roundabout junction with Dukes Meadow Drive, replace the current 40mph speed limit and install a toucan crossing on the B4100 Warwick Road approximately 30 metres north of its junction with Firtree Close as advertised.

Signed…………………………………….

Cabinet member for Environment

Date of signing…………………………..

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/125

Contact: Hugh Potter, Team Leader, Area Stewardship Hub Tel: (01865) 810228

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE8).

As a key radial route into Banbury Warwick Road carries over 10,000 vehicles in an average 12 hour period.  This causes problems for residents trying to cross the road, including school children.  The need for a pedestrian crossing was included in our National Productivity Investment Fund and was accepted as a suitable scheme for the 2017/18 allocation. The report presents responses received in the course of a statutory consultation to install a zebra crossing on the A422 Warwick Road at Banbury approximately 90 metres south east of its junction with Ferndale Road.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve proposals to install a zebra crossing on the A422 Warwick Road at Banbury approximately 90 metres south east of its junction with Ferndale Road as advertised.

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As a key radial route into Banbury, Warwick Road carried over 10,000 vehicles over an average 12 hour period which caused problems for residents including school child trying to cross the road and to obviate that proposals had been put forward for a zebra crossing approximately 90 metres south east of the junction with Ferndale Road. The need for a pedestrian crossing had been included in the Council’s National Productivity Investment Fund and accepted as a suitable scheme for the 2017/18 allocation.  The Cabinet Member for Environment considered responses to a consultation on the scheme.

Noting the support from the local member County Councillor Mark Cherry the Cabinet Member for Environment having regard to the information set out in the report before her and the representations made to her at the meeting confirmed her decision as follows:

approve proposals to install a zebra crossing on the A422 Warwick Road at Banbury approximately 90 metres south east of its junction with Ferndale Road as advertised.

Signed…………………………………..

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing…………………………

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/025

Contact: Hugh Potter, Team Leader – Area Operations Hub Tel: (01865) 810028

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE9).

These proposals have been put forward by a retail business with premises in the shopping centre to facilitate safe and convenient loading of goods vehicles servicing the shopping centre. The proposal, if approved, would be funded by this business but would be available to any goods vehicle (irrespective of the business being served) during the times of the proposed restriction and to any vehicle outside these times.  The report presents responses received in the course of a statutory consultation to restrict the use of a layby on the south side of School Lane adjacent to the local shopping centre to goods vehicles for the purposes of loading and unloading between 7am and 7pm on all days of the week.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve proposals to restrict the use of a layby on the south side of School Lane adjacent to the local shopping centre to goods vehicles for the purposes of loading and unloading between 7am and 7pm on all days of the weekas advertised.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered responses received to a statutory consultation restricting the use of a layby on the south side of School Lane adjacent to the local shopping centre to goods vehicles for the purposes of loading and unloading between 7am and 7pm on all days of the week. The proposals had been put forward by a retail business with premises in the shopping centre in order to facilitate safe and convenient loading of goods vehicles servicing the shopping centre. They were also funding the proposal and making it available to any goods vehicle (irrespective of the business being served) during the times of the proposed restriction and to any vehicle outside these times. 

Accepting that the impact of the proposal on parents dropping off and collecting children would be minimal and that in any event that was a practice that shouldn’t be encouraged the Cabinet Member for Environment, having regard to the information set out in the report before her confirmed her decision as follows:

approve proposals to restrict the use of a layby on the south side of School Lane adjacent to the local shopping centre to goods vehicles for the purposes of loading and unloading between 7am and 7pm on all days of the week as advertised.

Signed …………………………………..

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date fo signing………………………….

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/132

Contact: Hugh Potter, Team Leader – Area Operations Hub Tel: (01865) 810028

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE10).

The report presents responses received in the course of a statutory consultation on a proposal to extend the 30mph speed limit on the A4095 Witney Road westwards by approximately 75 metres in place of the current 40mph speed limit put forward to improve safety of all road users in the vicinity of a new access road serving residential development on the south side of the road.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve proposals to extend the 30mph speed limit on the A4095 Witney Road westwards by approximately 75 metres in place of the current 40mph speed limit as advertised.

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The Cabinet Member for Environment considered responses to a proposal to extend the 30mph speed limit on the A4095 Witney Road westwards by approximately 75 metres in place of the current 40mph speed limit.  The proposals had been put forward to improve safety of all road users in the vicinity of a new access road serving residential development on the south side of the road. 

Having regard to the information set out in the report which had included the comments of the local county councillor the Cabinet Member for Environment considered that the proposal addressed the impact of the proposed new development and confirmed her decision as follows:

approve proposals to extend the 30mph speed limit on the A4095 Witney Road westwards by approximately 75 metres in place of the current 40mph speed limit as advertised.

Signed……………………………………

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing………………………….

to approve proposals to extend the 30mph speed limit on the A4095 Witney Road westwards by approximately 75 metres in place of the current 40mph speed limit as advertised.

Signed…………………………………..

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing…………………………

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/076

Contact: Peter Day, Minerals & Waste Policy Team Leader Tel: (01865) 815544

Report by Director for Planning & Place (CMDE11).

The County Council is required to prepare and publish minerals and waste local plan monitoring reports. This procedural and information requirement has been met by the production each year of a Minerals and Waste Annual Monitoring Report. The Annual Monitoring Report must report on implementation of the Minerals and Waste Development Scheme (the programme for preparation of the Minerals and Waste Local Plan) and on the extent to which local plan policies are being achieved. A draft Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Annual Monitoring Report 2016 (Calendar Year) has been prepared, covering the year 1 January to 31 December 2016.

The draft Annual Monitoring Report 2016 (Calendar Year) reports on how work on preparation of the revised Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Core Strategy was progressed in relation to the programme in the Council's revised Minerals and Waste Development Scheme, February 2016. It also reports on: production of aggregate minerals; permissions granted for mineral working and landbanks of permitted reserves; production of secondary and recycled aggregates; amounts of waste produced and methods of management; permissions granted for waste management facilities and capacity of facilities. It cross refers to the Council's Local Aggregate Assessment and Waste Needs Assessment, which contain more detailed information and will sit alongside and complement the Annual Monitoring Report. In addition, it reports on work undertaken by the Council to meet the Duty to Cooperate.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED:

(a)                to approve the Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Annual Monitoring Report 2016 (Calendar Year) in the Annex to this report;

(b)                to authorise the Director for Planning & Place to carry out any necessary final editing of the Minerals and Waste Annual Monitoring Report 2016 (Calendar Year) for publication on the County Council website.

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) required the County Council to prepare and publish minerals and waste local plan monitoring reports.  This requirement had been met by the production each year of a Minerals and Waste Annual Monitoring Report (AMR). AMRs assessed and reported on implementation of the Council’s local development scheme (the programme for preparation of the Minerals and Waste Local Plan) and the extent to which local plan policies were being achieved. Minerals and Waste AMRs had been produced and published on the Council’s website for each year from 2005 to 2016.

Officers confirmed that the report the first in the new format provided a baseline for future monitoring. 16 policies which related to specific areas had been saved pending adoption of the site allocations document.  There remained ongoing dialogue with neighbouring authorities including Gloucestershire county council

on issues such as exploration of common ground for production.

Responding to Councillor Sanders Mr Day confirmed that a paper setting out a timetable for publication of a site allocation document would be going to December Cabinet.

Having regard to the information set out in the report before her and the representations made to her at the meeting the Cabinet Member for Environment confirmed her decision as follows:

(a)         to approve the Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Annual Monitoring Report 2016 (Calendar Year) in the Annex to the report CMDE11;

(b)         to authorise the Director for Planning & Place to carry out any necessary final editing of the Minerals and Waste Annual Monitoring Report 2016 (Calendar Year) for publication on the County Council website.

Signed…………………………………..

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing……………………………