Agenda item

To receive the following notices of motion under standing order 11.

(1)          Motion to be proposed by Councillor Gervase Duffield:

This Council requests that the Environment Agency commission an independent review into the implications of the proposed Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, especially relating to possible flood risks in areas of the Vale downstream of Abingdon.

(2)          Motion to be proposed by Councillor Gervase Duffield:

That this Council thanks the staff for their hard work during the recent round of elections in the Vale. The complexity of the elections this year is noted given the combination of parliamentary, district and parish council elections all being held on one day meant that well over 1,300 nomination papers had to be checked and well in excess of 130,000 ballot papers were counted over the three days of the count. The efforts of the electoral staff and others throughout the Council and beyond is recognised and appreciated.

Council also welcomes the consultation and Interim Report published by the Returning Officer into the conduct of the elections. Council notes that the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee will review the above report and a further report covering the cost of the district and parish elections and make any further recommendations to Council in due course.

Council considered the following motions under Standing Order 11.

(1)       Motion proposed by Councillor Duffield, seconded by Councillor Monica Lovatt:

“This Council requests that the Environment Agency commission an independent review into the implications of the proposed Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, especially relating to possible flood risks in areas of the Vale downstream of Abingdon”.

In supporting the motion a number of councillors, whilst supporting the various alleviation measures proposed, expressed concern that these could have a negative impact on areas south of Abingdon, both within the Vale and further afield, by transferring flood water elsewhere.

Council requested a general briefing from the Environment Agency on flooding issues in the Vale and the proposed alleviation measures.

RESOLVED:

That Council request that the Environment Agency commission an independent review into the implications of the proposed Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, especially relating to possible flood risks in areas of the Vale downstream of Abingdon.

(2)       Motion proposed by Councillor Duffield, seconded by Councillor  Cox:

“That this Council thanks the staff for their hard work during the recent round of elections in the Vale. The complexity of the elections this year is noted given the combination of parliamentary, district and parish council elections all being held on one day meant that well over 1,300 nomination papers had to be checked and well in excess of 130,000 ballot papers were counted over the three days of the count. The efforts of the electoral staff and others throughout the Council and beyond is recognised and appreciated.

Council also welcomes the consultation and Interim Report published by the Returning Officer into the conduct of the elections. Council notes that the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee will review the above report and a further report covering the cost of the district and parish elections and make any further recommendations to Council in due course”.

Council requested that the Chief Executive inform staff of Council’s thanks.

RESOLVED:

That Council thanks the staff for their hard work during the recent round of elections in the Vale. The complexity of the elections this year is noted given the combination of parliamentary, district and parish council elections all being held on one day meant that well over 1,300 nomination papers had to be checked and well in excess of 130,000 ballot papers were counted over the three days of the count. The efforts of the electoral staff and others throughout the Council and beyond is recognised and appreciated.

Council also welcomes the consultation and Interim Report published by the Returning Officer into the conduct of the elections. Council notes that the Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee will review the above report and a further report covering the cost of the district and parish elections and make any further recommendations to Council in due course.

(3)       Motion proposed by Councillor Sharp, seconded by Councillor Blagrove:

“Council recognises that following the issue of the Oxfordshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment in 2014, and its identification of Oxford City's Objectively Assessed Need (OAN) for new housing, it is likely that Oxford City will be unable to meet its OAN in full, and so will look to its neighbouring authorities, including the Vale, to assist.  Council considers that Oxford City's existing local plan from 2011 and its development policies contain many constraints on development and hinder the City's ability to meet its own OAN.  Council therefore calls upon Oxford City to immediately carry out a full review of its local plan in order to meet as much of its own OAN as is sustainably possible.  Council notes the recent Inspector's report following Examination in Public of the Cherwell District Council Local Plan, and his comment:

"I am satisfied that it is appropriate for this plan to proceed on that basis [meeting its own full district OAN], provided that there is a firm commitment from the Council to play its part in addressing the needs of Oxford city through that joint process [to fully address the OANs of the whole county] in the near future, once those needs have been fully clarified/confirmed." 

Council confirms its intention to meet its appropriate share of Oxford's Unmet Need and supports the Cabinet in its work to help identify and assess how Oxford’s Unmet Need could be accommodated.  The Council will continue to work within the Oxfordshire Growth Board to strengthen the joint working across the county to identify and accommodate the unmet need in Oxfordshire.  Council recognises that this work is underpinned by the following principles:

·         The district Local Plans are sovereign and all work should feed into Local Plans for them to determine the spatial future of the districts;

·         A recognition however that the work must be collaborative and joined up to provide a county wide spatial picture and strategy;

·         A recognition therefore that joint work on future spatial options, transport infrastructure and green belt will be required to feed into Local Plans;

·         Recognition that the City cannot fully meet its housing needs and there is a need to agree on the level of unmet need. However work on determining spatial options in Local Plans can commence alongside this;

·         A wish that the timescale for completing the Review is 12 – 18 months and that this should not hold up Local Plan timescales.

As a means to progressing these objectives Council endorses Cabinet's intention to consider and consult on strategic options to provide evidence for the Growth Board which will be robust in providing a sound proposal for Oxfordshire.  Council is committed to the resolution of unmet housing need in Oxfordshire, the adoption of Local Plan Part 1 and the development and adoption of Local Plan Part 2 on the earliest possible timetable that is compatible with good governance and public consultation”.

A number of councillors expressed concern regarding the late circulation of the wording of the urgent motion and the lack of clarity regarding the role of the Growth Board. Others expressed disappointment that Oxford City Council had not addressed its housing shortage by making land available for development. In supporting the motion councillors expressed the view that Cabinet should actively engage with Oxford City and that, whilst Council’s support for the approach was not required, support of the motion would provide a powerful mandate for proactive negotiations with Oxford City to address its housing requirement.   

The leader of council reported that this issue would be the subject of a report to Cabinet on 7 August and Scrutiny Committee on 20 August.

The chairman called for a recorded vote on motion which was carried with the voting recorded as follows:

RESOLVED:

That Council recognises that following the issue of the Oxfordshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment in 2014, and its identification of Oxford City's Objectively Assessed Need (OAN) for new housing, it is likely that Oxford City will be unable to meet its OAN in full, and so will look to its neighbouring authorities, including the Vale, to assist.  Council considers that Oxford City's existing local plan from 2011 and its development policies contain many constraints on development and hinder the City's ability to meet its own OAN.  Council therefore calls upon Oxford City to immediately carry out a full review of its local plan in order to meet as much of its own OAN as is sustainably possible.  Council notes the recent Inspector's report following Examination in Public of the Cherwell District Council Local Plan, and his comment:

"I am satisfied that it is appropriate for this plan to proceed on that basis [meeting its own full district OAN], provided that there is a firm commitment from the Council to play its part in addressing the needs of Oxford city through that joint process [to fully address the OANs of the whole county] in the near future, once those needs have been fully clarified/confirmed." 

Council confirms its intention to meet its appropriate share of Oxford's Unmet Need and supports the Cabinet in its work to help identify and assess how Oxford’s Unmet Need could be accommodated.  The Council will continue to work within the Oxfordshire Growth Board to strengthen the joint working across the county to identify and accommodate the unmet need in Oxfordshire.  Council recognises that this work is underpinned by the following principles:

·         The district Local Plans are sovereign and all work should feed into Local Plans for them to determine the spatial future of the districts;

·         A recognition however that the work must be collaborative and joined up to provide a county wide spatial picture and strategy;

·         A recognition therefore that joint work on future spatial options, transport infrastructure and green belt will be required to feed into Local Plans;

·         Recognition that the City cannot fully meet its housing needs and there is a need to agree on the level of unmet need. However work on determining spatial options in Local Plans can commence alongside this;

·         A wish that the timescale for completing the Review is 12 – 18 months and that this should not hold up Local Plan timescales.

As a means to progressing these objectives Council endorses Cabinet's intention to consider and consult on strategic options to provide evidence for the Growth Board which will be robust in providing a sound proposal for Oxfordshire.  Council is committed to the resolution of unmet housing need in Oxfordshire, the adoption of Local Plan Part 1 and the development and adoption of Local Plan Part 2 on the earliest possible timetable that is compatible with good governance and public consultation.