Report of the Head of City Development (attached)

The report seeks approval of the Annual Planning Monitoring Report for publication.

Recommendations

The Board is asked to:-

(1)   Approve the Annual Planning Monitoring Report for publication;

(2)   Authorise the Head of City Development to make any necessary editorial corrections to the document prior to publication.

The Head of City Development submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which sought approval of the Annual Monitoring Report 2011/2012 (Local Development Framework).

Councillor Colin Cook presented the report to City Executive Board.   He noted in particular the continuing vitality of the City centre and District centres in terms of retail, and that there had been a considerable improvement in vacancy rates.

Councillor John Goddard asked four questions. These, with responses, are attached as an appendix to these minutes.

Michael Crofton Briggs, Head of City Development, informed the Board that Oxford Brookes University had apparently met its student housing targets. The Board noted paragraph 14 of the report, which explained that, for Oxford University during the 12/13 academic year, an additional 154 places would be available  arising from recent developments including Pembroke College, and a further 279 places were under construction. This would bring Oxford University below the 3,000 threshold.

 It was intended that a mid year review of these figures would be carried out, and that CEB would be asked to approve the Sites and Houses Plan in Spring 2013.

It was noteworthy that there had been pre-application discussions about 3 sites of 200 (plus) housing units; the first such discussions for approximately 4 years.

Resolved to:-

(1)   Approve the Annual Monitoring Report 2011/12 for publication;

(2)   Authorise the Head of City Development to make any necessary editorial corrections to the document prior to publication.