Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 68 KBVenue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Woodgreen, Witney, Oxfordshire OX28 1NB. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services
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Minutes of Previous Meeting To approve the minutes of the meetings held on Monday 5 February 2024 and Wednesday 22 May 2024. Additional documents: Minutes: Monday 5 February 2024.
The Chair proposed that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 5 February 2024, be agreed by the Committee as a true and accurate record. This was seconded by Councillor Elizabeth Poskitt, was put to the vote and was agreed by the Committee.
The Committee Resolved to:
Wednesday 22 May 2024.
The Chair asked for the following corrections to be made:
Councillor Michael Brooker was appointed.
The Chair proposed that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 22 May 2024, be agreed by the Committee as a true and accurate record subject to the corrections. This was seconded by Councillor Elizabeth Poskitt was put to the vote and agreed by the Committee.
The Committee Resolved to:
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Apologies for Absence To receive any apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from:
Councillors Mike Baggaley, Andrew Lyon, Lidia Arcizsewska, Nick Leverton and Andy Goodwin.
Councillor Paul Marsh substituted for Councillor Mike Baggaley Councillor Dan Levy substituted for Councillor Lidia Arcizsewska Councillor Liam Walker substituted for Councillor Nick Leverton Councillor Alaric Smith substituted for Councillor Andy Goodwin.
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations from Members of the Committee on any items to be considered at the meeting Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of Interest were received as follows
Councillor Elizabeth Poskitt declared that she was a member of Sustainable Woodstock. Councillor Poskitt had attended Stop Botley West meetings. Councillor Poskitt also declared that she was a member of a wider group representing parishes with the view to look at possible mitigation should Botley West go ahead.
Councillor Sarah declared she was a member of Community Benefits representing North Leigh Parish.
Councillor Faulkner declared that he had been to Stop Botley West meetings as his ward was within the Botley West proposed site.
Councillor Dan Levy declared he had been to Stop Botley West meetings as his ward was within the Botley West proposed site.
Councillor Liam Walker declared he had been to Stop Botley West meetings as his ward was within the Botley West proposed site.
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Purpose The purpose of the report is to explain the content of the council’s Relevant Representation and to highlight the key issues that are relevant to the DCO application and that should be subject to detailed consideration through the Examination.
Recommendation That Development Control Committee resolves to: 1. Endorse the contents of the draft relevant representation 2. Authorise officers to make amendments following meeting in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and the Chair of Development Control Committee 3. Agree submission of the consultation response by the consultation deadline. Additional documents:
Minutes: Andrew Thomson, Planning Policy Manager, introduced the report which sought to endorse the contents of the draft relevant representation, authorise officers to make amendments for following meeting in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and the Chair of Development Control Committee and to agree submission of the consultation response by the consultation deadline 27 February 2025.
The Planning Policy Manager gave a recap of the proposal for a solar farm in the district which, if approved would cover a significant area of Cherwell, Vale of the White Horse and West Oxfordshire District Councils. The majority of the proposed area fell within West Oxfordshire. The total proposed area was 1400 hectares, with the proposed installation of solar panels on 893 hectares. The proposed project was split broadly into 3 areas, North, Central and South sites. The project’s aim was for 840 megawatts of power to be supplied to the National Grid.
The Planning Policy Manager gave a recap of the Development Consent Order Process which was comprised of six stages. West Oxfordshire District Council would engage with and respond to requests for information at each stage. The Council had submitted representations to three formal stages of consultation. The Council had submitted consultations during the pre-application period and considered the adequacy of consultation undertaken by the applicant at the acceptance stage. The application for Development Consent was accepted in December 2024. The total number of documents submitted with the application was 288. The process was currently at the pre-examination stage. The next stage would be the submission of representations.
The Planning Policy Manager advised that West Oxfordshire District Council was not the decision-making authority for this application. The application had been made to the Secretary of State’s consent. As a host authority, West Oxfordshire District Council was a Statutory Consultee in accordance with the Planning Act.
The Planning Policy Manager explained the importance of relevant representations and how these were used to set out principal submissions to the Examining Authority. The Examining Authority would look at the aspects of the application West Oxfordshire District Council agreed and disagreed on and reasons why as well as the consideration of the main points. The Planning Policy Manager also explained the decision-making framework. There would be further opportunities to make further detailed representations at the Examination. National Policy Statements provided the framework within which the Examining Authority make their representations to the Secretary of State.
The Planning Policy Manager explained how the National Policy Statement set out a range of impacts to be considered when decisions were made, these impacts included landscape and visual impacts, land use impacts on greenbelt, agricultural and historic environments. The National Policy Statement had been used when setting out representations from West Oxfordshire District Council. The importance of the Development Plan for West Oxfordshire had been highlighted when making these representations.
The Planning Policy Manager explained that West Oxfordshire District Council’s Local Plan 2031 supported the development of renewable energy schemes provided such schemes minimised adverse impacts. The Local ... view the full minutes text for item 8. |
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Request to enter into a legal agreement at Pudlicote Farm Chipping Norton Purpose To consider a S106 agreement with the landowner at Pudlicote Farm near Chipping Norton in the Evenlode Catchment.
Recommendations That Development Control Committee resolves to: 1. Authorise the Head of Planning to enter into the agreement in respect of the proposed Pudlicote Farm Habitat Bank; and 2. Authorise the Head of Planning in consultation with the Head of Legal to complete other such agreements as may be required to enable local habitat banks to be created.
Additional documents:
Minutes: Phil Shaw, the Planning Services Transformation Lead presented the report which sought to authorise the Head of Planning to enter into the agreement in respect of the proposed Pudlicote Farm Habitat Bank and to authorise the Head of Planning in consultation with the Head of Legal to complete other such agreements as may be required to enable local banks to be created.
The Planning Services Transformation Lead then delivered a presentation which covered the following points:
The Chair invited the Committee to open the debate which raised the following points:
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