None.

None.

The Committee agreed to consider item 5 next on the agenda, followed by items 4 and 6.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 18 October 2023, will consider a report from the Head of Planning Services seeking approval for the draft Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule to be published for public consultation. Cllr Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Healthier Communities, David Butler, Head of Planning Services and Lan Nguyen, Senior Data Analyst have been invited to present the report and answer questions. The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Cllr Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Healthier Communities introduced the report, which sought Cabinet approval for the draft Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule to be published for public consultation following a partial review. CIL was a fixed levy payable on new developments which funded the provision of infrastructure in the City; the amount charged was dependent on the area of the new development.

David Butler, Head of Planning and Regulatory Services added that it made sense to consult on the CIL Charging Schedule in tandem with the draft Local Plan 2040, as it would be more efficient for them to go through examination by the inspector at the same time.

In response to questions, the Committee was advised that:

·       CIL rates varied across the country and were dependent on what their viability evidence found and when it had been gathered.

·       The viability evidence used for Oxford utilised the latest data for the Oxford region.

·       The use class for hotels was tested during the viability study, but it was deemed that the values of these developments could not absorb any additional CIL charge above annual indexation.

·       There was no requirement for the CIL Charging Schedule and Local Plan 2040 to be adopted at the exact same time, but it was more efficient to do so as both documents used the same evidence base; there were no dependencies, therefore if one document was delayed the other could still be brought forward for adoption.

The Panel noted the contents of the report; no recommendations were agreed.

Lorraine Freeman, CIL, Data Analysis and Reporting Team Leader and Lan Nguyen, Senior Data Analyst left the meeting and did not return.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 18 October 2023, will consider a report from the Head of Planning Services seeking approval of the Oxford Local Plan 2040 Proposed Submission document and recommendation to Council that it go out to public consultation. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, if no matters are raised that materially impact upon the Plan strategy, the report seeks authority for the Proposed Submission to be submitted to the Secretary of State for formal examination. Cllr Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Healthier Communities, David Butler, Head of Planning Services, Rachel Williams, Planning Policy and Place Manager and Sarah Harrison, Team Leader (Planning Policy) have been invited to present the report and answer questions. The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

The Chair advised that she had approved a request to speak on this item and, in addition, all members of the Committee had received a representation via email from the Oxfordshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) prior to the meeting.

Kaddy Beck addressed the Committee on the subject of Bertie Park; a copy of the address is attached to the minutes pack. The Chair thanked Kaddy Beck for her contribution and suggested that the Committee bear the address in mind during consideration of the item.

The Chair read out the email representation received from the Oxfordshire branch of CPRE, a copy of which is attached to the minutes pack. The Chair suggested that the Committee bear the representation in mind during consideration of the item.

Cllr Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Healthier Communities introduced the report, which sought Cabinet approval for the Oxford Local Plan 2040 Proposed Submission Document to go out to public consultation, approval of the statutory supporting information and delegated authority for the Head of Planning and Regulatory Services to make minor changes as detailed in the Cabinet report. She highlighted that the Local Plan was an important document which set the context within which Oxford would develop over the next 15 years; it would form the basis for determining planning applications, including consideration of where homes were built; where jobs were located; the protection of blue and green spaces; and the protection of district centres to ensure they remained vibrant and thriving.

Responding to the public address, Cllr Upton stated that it was a technical issue which did not, in her view, preclude the Council from progressing the Local Plan 2040. In relation to the representation from CPRE, Cllr Upton added that there appeared to be some misunderstandings about some of the consultations and the level of responses received; Rachel Williams, Planning Policy and Place Manager set out the background to the plan-making process and the consultations that had taken place, particularly highlighting that the consultation which CPRE referred to was a supplementary single-issue consultation which, as was to be expected, had received a smaller number of responses.

The Committee asked a range of questions, including questions relating to site allocation; local and district centres; provision of healthcare infrastructure; pressures on services from other developments outside of the City boundary; collaboration and partnership working during the Plan making process (both in Oxford and neighbouring Districts); viability policies; affordable workspace; First Homes; parking standards; development density; and information contained in the Sustainability Appraisal (Appendix 2 to the report).

Cllr Corais joined the meeting.

In response to questions, the Committee was advised that:

·       The Council worked with landowners in order to gain as clear an understanding as possible whether a particular site was to be put forward for site allocation; sites could only be included in the Local Plan when a landowner had committed to putting their site forward as the housing numbers set out in the Local Plan were required to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

Scrutiny Committee

·         06 November 2023

·         04 December 2023

·         16 January 2024

·         06 February 2024

·         04 March 2024

·         11 April 2024

Standing Panels

Housing & Homelessness: 05 December 2023; 07 March 2024

Finance & Performance: 06 December 2023; 22 January 2024; 26 March 2024

Climate & Environment: 29 November 2023; 27 February 2024; 20 March 2024

Companies Scrutiny Panel will meet on the same dates as the Shareholder and Joint Venture Group (SJVG): 25 October 2023; 01 November 2023; 07 December 2023; 27 March 2024; 24 April 2024

All meetings start at 6.00 pm.

The dates of future meetings were noted.