Apologies were received from Councillor Turner

It was noted that Councillor Jean Fooks would speak on agenda item 5 – Northern Gateway Area Action Plan

The Northern Gateway Area Action Plan (AAP) Options Document is the first major stage towards producing an action plan for this important City council project. Information that is gathered through the consultation that will follow will be used to shape the Proposed Submission Document that will follow in the summer.

City Executive Board is recommended to:-

(1)  Approve the Northern Gateway Area Action Plan Options Document for consultation;

(2)  Approve the proposed amendment to the Local Development Scheme; and;

(3)  Authorise the Head of City Development, in consultation with the Executive Board Member, to make any necessary editorial corrections to the document and to agree the designed version before publication

The Head of City Development submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) concerning the Northern Gateway Area Action Plan (AAP).

Councillor Colin Cook (Board Member for City Development) introduced the report and provided some background and context.

Councillor Jean Fooks addressed the Board, raising issues including traffic management, the importance of getting consultation right, and employment matters.

Rachel Williams (Principal Planning Officer) explained that this is the first stage in producing the AAP. There would be a 6 week period of consultation, involving workshops, exhibitions and leaflet drops. The consultation results are an important part of the next stage – producing the Draft Document; which would also be followed by a 6 week consultation period.  The aim was to produce the Draft AAP in the summer, and send it to the Secretary of State in September/October; following which there would be a public examination of it. Therefore, there would be several opportunities for consultation with the public.

In answer to a question, Rachel Williams confirmed that the idea of a workplace parking levy was included in the AAP options document. There was awareness of the wide traffic implications of the scheme that would necessitate close working with Oxfordshire County Council.

Officers recommended an amendment to the Options Document to include an additional option.  An additional option would be included in the section on the Green Belt South of A40, to ensure that all options are considered. 

The table on page 15 of the Options Document would be amended as follows (amendment in bold):-

Green Belt South of A40:

Resolved to:-

(1)  Approve the Northern Gateway Area Action Plan Document for consultation, with amendment as shown above;

(2)  Approve the proposed amendment to the Local Development Scheme, and;

(3)  Authorise the Head of City Development, in consultation with the Executive Board Member, to make any necessary editorial corrections to the document and to agree the design version before publication.

The Localism Act has introduced new rights and powers to enable communities to get directly involved in planning for their areas. Interested communities will be able to come together through a neighbourhood forum  and produce a neighbourhood plan.

The report asks City Executive Board to consider two proposed neighbourhood forums for designation. Neighbourhood forum applications must link to a designed neighbourhood area. The neighbourhood areas the forum applications relate to are Wolvercote (following the ward boundary) and Summertown and St Margaret’s (following both ward boundaries). Maps of the areas are shown in Appendix 1. 

City Executive Board is recommended to designate the two proposed neighbourhood forums.

The Head of City Development submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) concerning Neighbourhood Forum Designations for Wolvercote and Summertown/St Margaret’s.

Councillor Colin Cook (Board Member for City Development) presented the report to the Board and explained the background.

Councillor Jean Fooks addressed the Board and confirmed her satisfaction with this suggestion.

Resolved to designate two Neighbourhood Forums for Wolvercote and Summertown/St Margaret’s as detailed in the report.

This report seeks approval to the letting of the retail premises shown hatched on the plan attached at Appendix 1, and known 23-25 Broad Street, Oxford.

City Executive Board is recommended to:-

(1)  To approve the proposed letting of 23-25 Broad Street, Oxford on the terms as detailed in the Not for Publication confidential Appendix 4 of this report and otherwise on terms and conditions to be approved by the Service Manager, Regeneration and Major Projects.

(2)  Give authority to the Service Manager, Regeneration and Major Projects, to vary the proposed letting or tenant party as detailed herein provided the transaction continues to represent best consideration.

There is not for publication appendix attached at item 11

The Regeneration and Major Projects Team Manager submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) concerning the proposed letting of the retail premises at 23-25 Broad Street. Jane Winfield (Regeneration and Major Projects Manager) presented the report to the Board.

Resolved to:-

(1)  Approve the proposed letting of 23-25 Broad Street, Oxford on the terms as detailed in the Not for Publication confidential Appendix 4 of this report and otherwise on terms and conditions to be approved by the Service Manager, Regeneration and Major Projects.

(2)  Give authority to the Service Manager, Regeneration and Major Projects, to vary the proposed letting or tenant party as detailed herein provided the transaction continues to represent best consideration.

Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th December 2013

Resolved to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th December 2013.

Resolved to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the items in the exempt from publication part of the agenda in accordance with the provisions in Paragraph 21(1)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2000 on the grounds that their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in specific paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Summary of business transacted by the Board after passing the resolution contained in minute 123

The Board received and noted the contents of not for publication appendix to the reports at agenda item 7(minute 123 refers).

This paper is a not for publication appendix to the report at agenda item 7

It contains information concerning the terms of the proposed lease.

The public interest in maintaining the exemption from publication is in order not to compromise commercially sensitive information.

The Board received and noted the contents of a not for publication appendix (previously circulated, now appended) to the report at agenda item 7 (minute 123 refers)

The Board decided not to release the appendix from confidentiality because the information contained within it was, and remains, commercially sensitive.