Agenda and minutes

To consider apologies and reasons for absence.

Committee members who are unable to attend the meeting should notify the Committee Clerk derek.mackenzie@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 absence were received from Councillors A Bailey, L Cherry, J Robertshaw and D Temple.

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.

There were no declarations of interest from Members or Officers.

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.

There was no public participation.

Receive a verbal update from WODC planning officers on the Local Plan 2041 and formulate a response to the open consultation on behalf of the council.

Details on the consultation can be found here https://yourvoice.westoxon.gov.uk/en-GB/folders/ideas-and-objectives-consultation

The Council received a presentation from the Planning Policy Manager at West Oxfordshire District Council regarding a review of its Local Plan 2041.

The Plan was the bedrock in defining future development in Witney and West Oxfordshire and input was required from stakeholders, including the town council, on how to shape it and on what policies needed to be considered for inclusion.

Members raised several concerns, questions and opinions and agreed the following points in the town council’s response to the open consultation.

Draft Local Plan Objectives

Witney Town Council recognises Witney is and will remain the service centre/hub and administrative centre of the District up to 2041 and therefore needs to ensure the necessary facilities and infrastructure are in place from future development. There are a number of objectives in the Local Plan consultation, all of which are important across the district, but the priorities of the town council are:

·        Designation of further burial land/land for cemeteries

·        Designation of land for sports pitches and an obligation that developers provide them in a timely manner, to a good standard with associated FA approved changing facilities.

·        Designation of further allotment land

·        More community Halls for greater integration

·        Coach/Campervan parking in Witney

·        Designated land for community use, such as a camping sites for Witney’s local scout groups.

·        A strategy for managing water quality.

Further key objectives should include:

·        Expansion of healthcare provision

·        Greater parking infrastructure for cars, electric cars, coaches, campervans, vans, and bikes integrated with options for increased rail travel

·        Green Energy generation which provides energy and further community gain/payback for the local area

·        Affordable housing so young residents do not have to leave the area.

·        A housing mix that includes market rate homes, affordable homes + Social rent (for key workers) meaning the Council begins to build a housing stock again (social sustainability)

·        Future-proofed housing for the elderly/independent living for those needing extra care needs.

·        More or updated, enlarged Leisure Centres, a Lido and running track.

·        Provision of Youth Centres

·        More Public Houses and support of those already in place

·        More Public Art

·        Land for horticulture (for example market gardening once in the Brize Norton area)

The future plan of development in West Oxfordshire

Although Witney Town Council can see the benefits of the current pattern and the others suggested in the consultation, it believes the pattern should be spread across the District with a degree of proportionality to deliver improvements to all towns and villages.

Any development should be people-focused and respond to the needs of the community living there to achieve healthy place shaping. Quality transport connections must be delivered which connect all to each other and to their larger service centres.

Call for Sites, Ideas and Opportunities

Witney Town Council is aware that most large development opportunities within its boundaries are already allocated as strategic development areas but would like to put forward the following locations which could potentially be reallocated in the future.

·        Behind the High Street, private car park and associated industrial land behind it.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 553.

To receive and consider Oxfordshire County Council Planning Application R3.0142/23 relating to the Shores Green Junction.

This item has also been added to the Agenda of the Climate, Biodiversity & Planning Meeting for 17 October 2023.

Documents can be found at

https://myeplanning.oxfordshire.gov.uk/Planning/Display/R3.0142/23

The Council received notice of planning application R3.014223, submitted by Oxfordshire County Council regarding the Shores Green junction in East Witney.

Resolved:

That, the application be noted, and any response be provided by the Climate, Biodiversity & Planning Committee at its meeting on 17 October 2023.