To receive questions from members of the council under standing order 12.
1. Question from Councillor Helen Pighills to Councillor Charlotte Dickson, Cabinet member for leisure.
In June 2013, after completion of the Leisure and Sports Facilities Study, the Cabinet member for leisure told Council there was to be a 'follow up piece of work' that would include surveys of community or village halls. In December 2014, the Cabinet member told us the report on this survey would be available in the summer of 2015. When can we expect this report to be published?
2. Question from Councillor Catherine Webber to Councillor Mike Murray, Cabinet member for planning policy.
What policies are in place regarding housing development in or adjacent to our air quality management areas (AQMAs)?
3. Question from Councillor Bob Johnston to Councillor Matthew Barber, Leader of the council.
Why was the north east area committee disbanded and merged with Abingdon, making that committee twice the size of the other area committees?
4. Question from Councillor Debby Hallett to Councillor Mike Murray, Cabinet member for planning policy.
The loss of the last petrol station in Botley is an environmental concern when it means thousands of extra cars must travel on the already over-capacity A34 to Peartree, Heyford Hill or Abingdon in order to fill the tank. What policy changes could the Vale consider to address this environmental sustainability issue?
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1. Question from Councillor Debby Hallett to Councillor Charlotte Dickson, Cabinet Member for leisure and arts
“In June 2013, after completion of the Leisure and Sports Facility Study, the Cabinet member for leisure told Council there was to be a ‘follow up piece of work’ that would include surveys of community or village halls. In December 2014, the Cabinet member told us the report on this survey would be available in the summer of 2015. When can we expect this report to be published”?
Answer
“The surveys of community and village halls form part of the survey work that consultants have carried out on the Vale Council’s behalf for the joint playing pitch strategy and associated work. The consultants sent their draft findings to various parties for review and comments. The report on the strategy and associated work was expected this summer; however, for a number of reasons, including capacity of the relevant national governing bodies of sport to respond to the draft findings, this piece of work is now expected to be finalised by the end of 2015”.
2. Question from Councillor Catherine Webber to Councillor Mike Murray, Cabinet member for planning policy.
“What policies are in place regarding housing development in or adjacent to our air quality management areas (AQMAs)”?
Answer
“Development management colleagues consider each application on its own merits, and in the light of national and local policy context. Councillor Webber may be aware that the there is new best practice Institute for Air Quality Management / EPUK guidance to assess significance development impacts on human health receptors and no doubt this will assist case officers in the future. At a local level detailed policies are those as saved under the old local plan, but there will be an opportunity to revisit these under LPP2. Councillor Webber will also know from her careful study of the submitted LPP1 that some areas have particular Core Policy references to Air Quality, in particular Core Policy 11 (v), relating to the Botley Central Area. She may also be aware of a recent case where Mid Sussex Council refused consent for development in the Designated Local Gap between Hassocks and Husrtpierpoint, and where air quality was one of three reasons for dismissal of the appeal. This will also no doubt assist case officers in assessing development proposals in the Vale”.
In response to a supplementary question regarding the need for pollution mitigation policies in the three AQMAs in the Vale, Councillor Murray stated that such policies already existing in the current and emerging planning policies and that each planning proposal was considered on its merit having regard to local environmental criteria, national policies and guided by planning decisions such as the Mid Sussex Council decision referred to in his response to the main question.
3. Question from Councillor Bob Johnston to Councillor Matthew Barber, Leader of the council.
“Why was the north east area committee disbanded and merged with Abingdon, making that committee twice the size of the other area committees”?
Councillor Barber responded that the implementation of the district ward boundary changes at the May 2015 elections necessitated a change to the area committees. The changes agreed by Council at its annual meeting in May focussed three area committees on the market towns of Abingdon, Faringdon and Wantage.
In response to a supplementary question Councillor Barber stated that he did not accept that this change represented gerrymandering.
4. Question from Councillor Debby Hallett to Councillor Mike Murray, Cabinet member for planning policy.
“The loss of the last petrol station in Botley is an environmental concern when it means thousands of extra cars must travel on the already over-capacity A34 to Peartree, Heyford Hill or Abingdon in order to fill the tank. What policy changes could the Vale consider to address this environmental sustainability issue”?
Answer
“We will all be very aware of the great strides forward in technology that the car manufacturing industry has taken in the past few years. In particular they have focussed on increasing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. This, coupled with competition between suppliers and increased taxation on fuel to encourage reduced consumption, has resulted in greatly reduced margins and market capacity for roadside retailers. As such we have seen a considerable consolidation of the sector. However the improvement in vehicle range on a tank of fuel has very much reduced the need for local fuel provision. Whilst the BP garage at Seacourt Tower remains open for business, there is no certainty that this, or any other fuel, or other retail, or other commercial use for any building in the Vale, will continue to trade in the long term in the face of changing market conditions, and it does not appear immediately obvious why increasingly scarce council resources should be deployed to developing a fuel retailer policy specifically for Botley as a priority over other more pressing Vale wide matters”.
In response to a supplementary question regarding the need for a joined up planning approach to planning in Botley Councillor Murray stated that views were sought during the consultation on the draft local plan. There would be a further opportunity to submit views/ideas during the Botley supplementary planning document consultation process.