Agenda and draft minutes

To consider apologies and reasons for absence.

Committee Members who are unable to attend the meeting should notify the Democratic Services Officer (nicky.cayley@witney-tc.gov.uk) prior to the meeting, stating the reason for absence.

Standing Order 30(a)(v) permits the appointment of substitute Councillors to a Committee whose role is to replace ordinary Councillors at a meeting of a Committee if ordinary Councillors of the Committee have confirmed to the Proper Officer before the meeting that they are unable to attend.

Apologies for their absence were received from Cllr Aitman, who was on holiday.

Members are reminded to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in any of the items under consideration at this meeting in accordance with the Town Council’s code of conduct.

Cllr License declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to agenda item 9 – Bus Shelter on Corn Street as he was an employee of Stagecoach bus company.

Cllr Jones declared a non-pecuniary interest in application WTC/092/19 as she knew the applicants.

         To elect a Vice Chairman for the ensuing municipal year.

Cllr Trevor Licence was nominated as Vice Chairman.  There were no other nominations and all members were in favour.

RESOLVED:  that Cllr License be elected as Vice Chairman of the Planning and Development Committee for the ensuing municipal year.

The meeting will adjourn for this item

Members of the public may speak for a maximum of five minutes each during the period of public participation, in line with Standing Order 42.  Matters raised shall relate to the following items on the agenda.

The Committee adjourned in line with standing order 42 to receive public participation.

Kirsten Johnston addressed the Committee on agenda item 9 – Bus Stop on Corn Street – on behalf of Abbeymill Development.

Paul Vickery addressed the Committee on application WTC/095/19 – Eastnor House on behalf of DevComms Consultancy.

Lydia Warwick addressed the Committee on application WTC/095/19 – Eastnor House on behalf of the Hinton Group.

The Committee re convened following the addresses by members of the public.

To receive and consider revised design and communication from Abbeymill Homes (enclosed)

This item was moved up the agenda with the express permission of the Chairman.

Members held a detailed discussion on the history of this item, as many of them were newly elected Councillors.  There followed a discussion on the best way to proceed, with the residents in mind.  The Committee did express its disappointment that the developer had started building seemingly with the expectation that the Town Council would allow the bus shelter to be moved.  To an extent the Committee felt that it had been “bullied” and that the developer “had them over a barrel”.  Members wished to emphasise that any decision taken would not set a precedent for the future. 

The Committee decided that they would agree to the old shelter’s removal on certain conditions including provision of two new stops, (one to replace the existing and one to be sited elsewhere in the town), and cycle racks and bins to adjoin them by the

developer.  There was also a request for a contribution to the Bus Stop Art Project.  The DSO advised that permission from OCC would need to be sought for cycle racks as they were the Highways authority.

RESOLVED:

1.            that the correspondence from the developer as circulated be noted;

2.            that the request from Abbeymill Development to re site the bus shelter by 90cm to the left of its property be granted adjacent to the wall and not the kerbside;

3.            that this request is granted subject to the following conditions: -

                a) that the re siting is subject to the developer obtaining agreement from all other relevant authorities i.e. Oxfordshire County Council, Stagecoach etc;

b) that the developer replaces the existing shelter with a three -sided shelter with seating of the Council’s choice, with a bin and adjacent cycle racks and installs this as soon as possible after the road in front of the properties is re-opened- all of these items should be at the expense of the developer;

c)  any costs incurred by the re siting, including (but not solely) the making good of the pathway, re-positioning of the bus stop signage/markings/real time information must be covered by the developer;

d) the current bus shelter must be dismantled carefully and returned to the Town Council for future use on other similar shelters that may need repairs;

e) that an additional shelter, including seating, a bin and cycle racks must also be purchased by the developer for siting at a place of the Town Council’s choice;

f) that in respect of both shelters, a contribution of £500 is given towards the Bus Stop Art project to decorate these;

4.             that in granting this request, the Council is not setting a precedent for any future such requests.

As per schedule.

As the meeting had now reached 2 hours in length, the Committee agreed to suspend standing order 48 in order to allow the meeting to continue.

RESOLVED:          that standing order 48 be suspended in order to allow the meeting to continue past 2 hours in length.

The Committee received and considered the schedule of planning applications as previously circulated.

RESOLVED:         that the comments, as per the attached schedule, be forwarded to

West Oxfordshire District Council.

       To receive and consider an appeal decision for 8 Wadards Meadow

The Committee received and considered correspondence concerning the appeal decision for Wadards Meadow.

RESOLVED:         that the appeal decision be noted.

        To receive and consider an appeal decision for land east of 135 Farmers Close

The Committee received and considered correspondence concerning the appeal decision for land east of 135 Farmers Close.

RESOLVED:          that the appeal decision be noted.

To receive notifcation of an appeal.

The Committee received and considered an appeal notification for 53 Farmers Close.

RESOLVED:          that the appeal notification be noted.