Agenda and draft minutes
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Contact: Democratic Services
Media
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Apologies for Absence To receive any Apologies for Absence from members of the Committee. Minutes: Apologies for Absence were received from the following Members:
Councillors Hugo Ashton, Andrew Beaney, Rizvana Poole, Lidia Arciszewska, Andrew Lyon, Mark Walker, and Colin Dingwall.
Councillor Elizabeth Poskitt substituted for Councillor Lidia Arciszewska. Councillor Liam Walker substituted for Councillor Colin Dingwall. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any Declarations of Interest from Members of the Committee, on any items to be considered at the meeting. Minutes: Councillor Dan Levy stated that in his role as an Oxfordshire County Councillor and Cabinet Member for Property, his division and portfolio covered a large area of the intended Solar Farm site. Councillor Levy also stated that he knew people (including councillors) who would be materially affected by the proposed solar farm, but who do not have a disqualifying position.
Councillor Andy Goodwin stated that they had with engaged residents of the intended solar farm area and knew people (including local councillors) who would be materially affected by the proposed solar farm, but who do not have a disqualifying position. Councillor Goodwin also stated they had engaged with local stakeholder groups in relation to the proposed Solar Farm site.
Councillor Harry St. John stated that they had met with Mr. Robert Gunn, a local resident, and had previously worked with Mr. Gunn, in relation to North Leigh Common. Councillor St. John also stated that they were a Member of Wychwood Forest Trust.
Councillor Elizabeth Poskitt stated they were a Member of Sustainable Woodstock.
There were no other declarations of interest made by Members of the Committee. |
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Minutes of Previous Meetings To approve the minutes of the previous meetings, held on Monday 27 March 2023 and Wednesday 24 May 2024. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Elizabeth Poskitt proposed that the minutes of a previous meeting, held on Monday 27 March 2023, be agreed by the Committee as a true and accurate record, and signed by the Chair. This was seconded by Councillor Jeff Haine and was put to a vote. There were 8 votes in favour, 0 votes against, and 9 abstentions. The Vote was carried. Councillor Julian Cooper proposed that the minutes of a previous meeting, held on Wednesday 24 May 2023, be agreed by the Committee as a true and accurate record, and signed by the Chair. This was seconded by Councillor Michael Brooker and was put to a vote. There were 14 votes in favour, 0 votes against, and 3 abstentions. The Vote was carried. The Committee Resolved to: 1. Agree the minutes of the previous meetings, held on Monday 27 March 2023 and Wednesday 24 May 2023, as a true and accurate record. |
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Purpose: To agree a response to the Botley West Solar Farm (BWSF) statutory consultation, and notification of the BWSF pursuant to Section 42 of the Planning Act 2008.
Recommendations: That the Development Control Committee Resolves to: 1) Endorse the contents of the draft consultation response; 2) Agree submission of the consultation response by the consultation deadline. Additional documents: Minutes: Phil Shaw, Business Manager – Development Management, introduced the report, which sought to agree a response to the Botley West Solar Farm (BWSF) statutory consultation, and notification of the BWSF pursuant to Section 42 of the Planning Act 2008.
Robert Gunn addressed the Committee as a local Parish Councillor, which raised no points of clarification from the Committee.
Anthony Thompson of the ‘Stop Botley West’ Campaign Group addressed the Committee in objection to the scheme, which raised points of clarification regarding an external report related to the “Pathway to Net Zero”, and land ownership of the proposed site.
Hilary Brown of the ‘Sustainable Woodstock’ Action Group addressed the Committee in support of the scheme, which raised points of clarification regarding offers of compensation to affected residents adjacent to the proposed site, and the site’s intended energy usage and output.
Andrew Thomson, Lead Planning Policy Implementation Officer, delivered a presentation, which provided clarification on the following points:
The Lead Planning Policy Implementation Officer gave Members a high-level overview of the characteristics of the proposed development, including details of the draft masterplan and how these related to the characteristics of the West Oxfordshire environment, including historic environment landscape & visual resources. The presentation was framed in the context of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report and covered all thematic chapters relevant to the Council’s proposed consultation response.
The Lead Planning Policy Implementation Officer stated that it was apparent that aspects of the environmental assessment were incomplete at this stage. Further detail would be presented through the Environmental Statement when the Development Consent Order (DCO) application was made and he was unable to comment on the suitability and effectiveness of all proposed design and mitigation measures at this point, in the absence of full environmental assessment and landscape and ecology management plans. Furthermore, the Council would make a detailed assessment of local impacts through the preparation of a Local Impact Report should the Botley West DCO application proceed to Examination. The Lead Planning Policy Implementation Officer further highlighted that both London Oxford Airport and the Civil Aviation ... view the full minutes text for item 25. |
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Frequency of Sub-Committee Meetings Purpose: To allow the Development Control Committee to consider the frequency of Sub-Committee meetings.
Recommendations: That the Development Control Committee Resolves to:
a) 4-weekly; or b) monthly. Minutes: Andrew Brown, Business Manager – Democratic Services, introduced the report which allowed the Development Control Committee to consider the frequency of Sub-Committee meetings. The Business Manager explained that the frequency of meetings was last considered in November 2022, and the tabled options were either to hold the 2 Area Planning Sub-Committee meetings (Uplands and Lowlands) 4-weekly (as at present), or monthly.
Councillor Jeff Haine proposed that Area Planning Sub-Committee meetings be held monthly. This was seconded by Councillor David Jackson, was put to a vote, and was unanimously agreed by the Committee.
The Committee Resolved to: 1. Agree to hold monthly meetings of the Council’s Area Planning Sub-Committees. |
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Notification Policy Purpose: To consider the current notification policy including any feedback from Members. The Chair of the Development Control Committee has requested that this item be added to the meeting agenda as a discussion item. Minutes: The agenda item was not considered at the meeting. |