The Head of Planning Services submitted a report to Cabinet on 16 June 2021 proposing that Cabinet recommend to Council that the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan be “made”.

The Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan 2019-2034 (referendum version), the version to be made, is attached as Appendix 1 of the Cabinet report.

A referendum held on 6 May 2021 and the result affirmed approved of the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan. Once approved at referendum, the Plan forms part of the statutory development plan and should be used to assess planning applications in the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Area.

The decision of Cabinet will be reported at the meeting.

Recommendations: Subject to the decision of Cabinet, Council is recommended to resolve:

1.        that the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan be “made”; and

2.        that the Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, be authorised to make any necessary editorial corrections to the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan prior to final publication. This will include a final desktop published version of the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan.

Council had before it the report of the Head of Planning Services to Cabinet on 16 June 2021 and the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan 2019-2034.

Cllr Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, introduced the report which proposed the making of the third neighbourhood plan in the City.

He said this had been prepared by the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Forum, subject to independent examination and subsequently modified in line with recommendations made to ensure it was both sound and congruent with the policies in the Oxford Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.

The Plan was put to a referendum on 6 May 2021 (postponed from May 2020 due to the pandemic) and the result confirmed the majority of those voting wanted: Oxford City Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Wolvercote to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area.

Cllr Hollingsworth and the two ward councillors (Cllrs Goddard and Wade) thanked the Neighbourhood Forum steering group and those involved in the Plan’s preparation for their hard work and resolve in seeing this thorough the long process to adoption. They paid tribute to the group’s exemplary work, and engagement with the community, and to council officers who assisted.

Cllr Hollingsworth, seconded by Cllr Goddard, proposed the recommendations as agreed by Cabinet, which were agreed on being put to the vote.

Council resolved:

1.     that the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan be “made”; and

2.     that the Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, be authorised to make any necessary editorial corrections to the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan prior to final publication. This will include a final desktop published version of the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan.

The Head of Planning Services has submitted a report requesting Cabinet to recommend to Council that the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan be “made”.

Recommendations: That Cabinet resolves to:

1.    Recommend to Council that the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan be “made”; and

2.    Recommend to Council that the Head of Planning Services after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, be authorised to make any necessary editorial corrections to the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan prior to final publication. This will include a final desktop published version of the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan.

The Head of Planning Services had submitted a report to request Cabinet  to recommend to Council that the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan be “made”.

Cllr Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, introduced the report which proposed the making of the third neighbourhood plan in the City.  This plan had been within weeks of final approval when the pandemic  caused the necessary referendum to endorse the plan to be postponed. The referendum had however now been held and resulted in overwhelming support for it.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Recommend to Council that the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan be “made”; and

2.    Recommend to Council that the Head of Planning Services after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, be authorised to make any necessary editorial corrections to the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan prior to final publication. This will include a final desktop published version of the Wolvercote Neighbourhood Plan.