Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Charlotte Dickson and Mike Murray. 

To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 7 October 2016. 

RESOLVED: to approve the Cabinet minutes from the meeting held on 7 October 2016 as a correct record and agree that the chairman signs them as such. 

None

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(1)       John Simmons made a statement in support of the Milton Conservation Area appraisal believing that the historic part of the village was worthy of conservation, and also protection against inappropriate development.  Any future development would have to be in keeping with its surroundings. 

In response Councillor Roger Cox, the Cabinet member for planning, reported that each planning application would be considered on its own merits, but in the context of local plan policies in the Conservation Area. 

(2)       Councillor Debby Hallett was pleased that the council would soon be able to adopt Part 1 of the Local Plan but asked:

·         What were the immediate benefits to the council?

·         Did the council have a five-year housing land supply today?

·         Would there be any change to the way the council determined planning applications?

·         Would there soon be a masterplan for the redevelopment of the Harcourt Hill university campus?

In response Councillor Roger Cox, the Cabinet member for planning, reported that the immediate benefit to the council of adoption of Local Plan Part 1 would be that development in the district would be plan-led.  As of today, before adoption of Local Plan Part 1, the council still had 4.2 years’ housing land supply but if Council adopted Part 1 at its meeting on 14 December, the council would have a five-year housing land supply.  Adoption of the plan would mean planning applications would be judged against the full strength of Local Plan policies.  As for a masterplan for possible redevelopment of the Harcourt Hill campus, there would be a meeting Oxford Brookes University representatives next week. 

To consider the head of planning’s report. 

Cabinet received a verbal update regarding the receipt of the local plan inspector’s letter, which confirmed that the council’s Local Plan Part 1 was sound and that it was now for the council to adopt Part 1 at its discretion.  In order to recommend adoption, the officers needed to prepare the paperwork to comply with the planning regulations before an executive recommendation could be made to full Council on 14 December 2016.  Cabinet welcomed the news and supported the Cabinet member for planning taking an individual Cabinet member decision in the following week to make the formal recommendation to Council to adopt Local Plan Part 1. 

Cabinet noted that although the council did not have a five-year housing land supply until Local Plan Part 1 was adopted by Council, the plan and its policies now carried substantial weight.  Cabinet thanked the officers for their work on this.  

To consider the head of planning’s report. 

Cabinet considered the head of planning’s report on the Milton Conservation Area appraisal and proposed amendments to the boundary.  The report set out the consultation results and the changes that had been made as a result. 

The report set out three options:

1.         To find that the proposed extended area identified in the appraisal was of special architectural or historic interest and the character or appearance of which was desirable to preserve or enhance, the council should designate the whole area as a conservation area.

2.         To find that the proposed extended area identified in the appraisal was not of special architectural or historic interest and the character or appearance of which was not desirable to preserve or enhance, then the council should not designate the proposed extension as a conservation area. 

3.         To find that there was an area of special architectural or historic interest and the character or appearance of which was desirable to preserve or enhance, but that the boundary should be different to that proposed and having identified and justified the difference, then to designate that area as a conservation area. 

Cabinet agreed with option 1, to adopt the Conservation Area appraisal to extend and amend the area boundary, and noted that the appraisal document would form part of the evidence base for the development plan and would become a material planning consideration when determining planning applications. 

RESOLVED: to

(a)       adopt the Milton Conservation Area appraisal, as set out in Appendix 3 of the report of the head of planning to Cabinet on 2 December 2016, as part of the Development Plan evidence base and to agree that it is a material planning consideration; 

(b)       extend and amend the boundary to the Milton Conservation Area as set out in Appendix 2 of the report of the head of planning to Cabinet on 2 December 2016; and 

(c)       authorise the head of planning in consultation with the Cabinet member for planning to make minor changes, typographical corrections or non-material amendments to the Milton Conservation Area appraisal and associated documents prior to formal publication and to undertake necessary statutory actions to implement agreed recommendations. 

To consider the head of planning’s report. 

Cabinet considered the head of planning’s report regarding a revised Statement of Community Involvement in planning matters.  The council had conducted an eight-week consultation on the revised draft statement.  The report set out proposed changes as a result of the consultation and incorporated suggested changes from the Scrutiny Committee. 

Cabinet noted that it was a requirement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 to produce the statement.  Once adopted, the statement would be used to assist in the preparation of planning policy documents and be used when deciding on planning applications for development.  Cabinet agreed to adopt the statement. 

RESOLVED: to

(a)     adopt the Statement of Community Involvement December 2016, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report of the head of planning to Cabinet on 2 December 2016; and

(b)     authorise the head of planning in consultation with the Cabinet member for planning to make any minor changes, typographical corrections or non-material amendments to the Statement of Community Involvement prior to formal publication. 

To consider the head of finance’s report. 

Cabinet considered the head of finance’s report on the council tax base for 2017/18.  Before the council tax could be set by the council, a calculation had to be made of the council tax base, being an estimate of the taxable resources for the district as a whole and for each parish area.  Cabinet agreed to recommend the council tax base to Council. 

RECOMMENDED: to Council that:

(a)       the report of the head of finance for the calculation of the council’s tax base and the calculation of the tax base for each parish area for 2017/18 be approved;

(b)       in accordance with The Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by Vale of White Horse District Council as its council tax base for the year 2017/18 be 49,406.0; and

(c)       in accordance with The Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by Vale of White Horse District Council as the council tax base for the year 2017/18 for each parish be the amount shown against the name of that parish in Appendix 1 of the report of the head of finance to Cabinet on 2 December 2016.