Agenda item

Motions on notice

To consider motions from councillors in accordance with Council procedure rule 38. 

 

A.   Motion to be proposed by Councillor Gascoigne, seconded by Councillor Medley

 

Council notes: 

  • As specified in the Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031: Part 2, the district council has committed to provide 22,760 new homes in the period 2011-2031.  
  • Residents across the Vale regularly contact members about the existing pressure on local health services and concerns about additional homes increasing demand. 
  • The Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group is responsible for ensuring health provision for our growing population is provided. 
  • If section 106 contributions from developers agreed by the District Council are not used by the CCG within a set time, the money can be paid back to the developer, which would result in an under-provision of health care in our communities.
  • Despite significant effort by council officers and local health professionals, the current system is preventing us from providing the health services that local people need and deserve. 
  • Our planning service and planning committee are therefore under pressure to approve new housing without plans for healthcare in place.  

 

Council believes: 

  • This council has an important role in improving the health and wellbeing of our residents. 
  • Primary health provision should be planned based on population growth and vision for health care provision in the district. 
  • That sufficient infrastructure such as transport, health and education should be provided alongside, and preferably ahead of new housing development. 
  • The current national system for ensuring health infrastructure is provided, through Clinical Commissioning Groups, is not working. 

 Council requests: 

1.  Officers continue to work with Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group contacts to ensure sufficient provision is made for primary care services for key strategic housing sites such as Valley Park, Great Western Park and North Abingdon.
 

2.  The leader of the council write to Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) requesting a meeting to discuss: 

·         Better working relationship between the two organisations.

·         Ensuring OCCG take a more pro-active approach to our planning process and respond to planning application consultations in a timely and ongoing basis to support the work of our planning department and our Infrastructure and development team.  

·         How the OCCG can engage more proactively with the planning authority to better plan healthcare for strategic sites housing sites in the Vale linked to the council’s corporate plan theme of “building healthy communities”. 

·         To understand how OCCG uses population forecasts to plan primary healthcare and what its plans are for Oxfordshire

·         To discuss particular case studies where there is a potential for section 106 monies to be lost  

 

3.   The Council Leader write to the Ministers for Heath and MHCLG to: 

·         explain the difficulties local planning authorities have to obtain information and commitment to deliver health services from OCCG. 

·         provide specific case studies about where health provision negotiated as part of section 106 is at risk of being lost.

·         press the need for whatever structure replaces Clinical Commissioning groups as part of the health reform has working with local planning authorities and its heart.

·         ask what government are doing to increase the number of GPs and other health staff and funding to keep up with number of homes.

 

B.   Motion Proposed by Councillor de la Harpe, seconded by Councillor  Fawcett

 

Council notes that:

Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) has a Cycling Design Standards document which provides best practice for roundabout junction design.

·         It states in the introduction “We need to ensure we create the right conditions for everyone to choose to cycle, whether they are young or old, male or female, or disabled. We want to make cycling a preferred choice for everyone.”

·         And in section 3.3.5 “Roundabouts can be particularly daunting for some cycle users, especially large multi-lane roundabouts. Approaches, exits and the geometry of roundabouts should aim to cause traffic to slow down to use the roundabout and therefore reduce the risk to cycle users - roundabout entry should be radial, not tangential, in order to slow traffic.”

 

A recent Oxford Brookes survey of Abingdon workplaces that was commissioned by Abingdon Liveable Streets showed that most residents who could walk to work do so but a significant proportion of residents who would like to cycle to work are put off by safety fears.

 

Roundabouts are particularly hazardous for cyclists and there have been several accidents involving cyclists on roundabouts in the Vale.

 

Council notes, with regret, that in the Vale of White Horse and on routes where bicycles are not segregated from the traffic, new roundabouts designs, and the layout of refurbished ones continue to include tangential entries, also known as high speed or flared geometry designs.

 

Council believes that:

·                     the aims of the Oxfordshire Cycling Design Standards document are good and should be treated as central to planning new settlements well.

·                     we are moving towards a society where use of a personal vehicle for every journey (both local and longer distance) will be less common, and people will want to have the opportunity to cycle and walk to more local destinations where appropriate.

·                     Encouraging active travel is part of this council’s corporate plan as it has many benefits. For the person themselves, they are likely to feel the physical and mental benefits. And for the environment, there is less traffic on the roads, and therefore less air pollution.

·                     Having declared a climate emergency, it is the duty of this Council to do what it can and working with partners, to make it easier for residents to choose to cycle for leisure, to school and to work (this applies especially on routes to the larger employment centres in and around our District such as Culham, Harwell Campus and Milton Park).

 

Council requests that the leader of the council write a letter to the OCC Cabinet Member for the Environment calling on her to:

1.            Ensure that the OCC Cycling Design Standards are adhered to and, in particular, for all new roundabout designs and refurbishments in the Vale of White Horse to be based on those Design Standards.

2.            Ensure that the Vale of White Horse Design Guide Principle DG31 for streets as social spaces is considered when reviewing junction design. i.e. “Streets should be designed as social spaces with the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users put above the needs of the motorist.”

3.            Ensure that When developers consult planning and highways officers on potential road design, officers are proactive in promoting the priorities of local councils and are encouraged to design accordingly.

4.            Create a culture of pro-actively striving for the best possible street and junction design when highways officers are advising developers about what is expected locally, ensuring that people walking, cycling and using public transport are prioritised.

5.            Note that when highway design proposals are put forward that fall below the County Council’s Design Standards, and/or do not further the County Council’s policy objectives, we would expect the County Council as technical consultee on highways to oppose them.

 

References:

Oxfordshire County Council Cycling Standards: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/file/roads-and-transport-policies-and-plans/cyclingstandards.pdf

 

Oxford Brookes Study of Abingdon Workplaces

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12YfdQeZO_FmItChpUGa9fQLxIS0C2qKAtNu9ndPrZcQ/

 

Map of accidents involving cyclists

https://www.crashmap.co.uk/Search  

 

Minutes:

 

A.   Councillor Gascoigne moved, and Councillor Medley seconded, the motion as set out in the agenda at agenda item 12

 

Amendment

 

Councillor Ware moved, and Councillor Boyd seconded an amendment
with additional words in bold and deleted words shown by a strikethrough to reflect the fact that the Vale is covered by Clinical Commissioning Groups other than Oxfordshire.

 

Council notes: 

·         As specified in the Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031: Part 2, the district council has committed to provide 22,760 new homes in the period 2011-2031.  

·         Residents across the Vale regularly contact members about the existing pressure on local health services and concerns about additional homes increasing demand. 

·         The Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups is are responsible for ensuring health provision for our growing population is provided. 

·         If section 106 contributions from developers agreed by the District Council are not used by the CCGs within a set time, the money can be paid back to the developer, which would result in an under-provision of health care in our communities.

·         Despite significant effort by council officers and local health professionals, the current system is preventing us from providing the health services that local people need and deserve. 

·         Our planning service and planning committee are therefore under pressure to approve new housing without plans for healthcare in place.  

 

Council believes: 

·         This council has an important role in improving the health and wellbeing of our residents. 

·         Primary health provision should be planned based on population growth and vision for health care provision in the district. 

·         That sufficient infrastructure such as transport, health and education should be provided alongside, and preferably ahead of new housing development. 

·         The current national system for ensuring health infrastructure is provided, through Clinical Commissioning Groups, is not working. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Council requests: 

1.    Officers continue to work with Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups contacts to ensure sufficient provision is made for primary care services for key strategic housing sites such as Valley Park, Great

Western Park and North Abingdon.

 

2.  The leader of the council write to Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) requesting a meeting to discuss: ,recognising that there are a number of CCGs involved in the provision of health care services, write to the CCGs to arrange meetings to discuss:

 

·     DevelopingBbetter working relationship between the OCCGs and the District Council. two organisations.

·     Ensuring OCCGs take a more pro-active approach to our planning process and respond to planning application consultations in a timely and ongoing basis to support the work of our planning department and our Infrastructure and development team.  

·     How the OCCGs can engage more proactively with the planning authority to better plan healthcare for strategic sites housing sites in the Vale linked to the council’s corporate plan theme of “building healthy communities”. 

·    To understand how OCCGs uses population forecasts to plan primary healthcare. and what its plans are for Oxfordshire

·    To discuss particular case studies where there is a potential for section 106 monies to be lost  

 

3.   The Council Leader write to the Ministers for Heath and MHCLG to: 

·     explain the difficulties local planning authorities have to obtain information and commitment to deliver health services from OCCGs

·     provide specific case studies about where health provision negotiated as part of section 106 is at risk of being lost.

·    press the need for whatever structure replaces Clinical Commissioning groups as part of the health reform has working with local planning authorities and its heart.

·     ask what government are doing to increase the number of GPs and other health staff and funding to keep up with number of homes.

 

With the agreement of Council, the mover and seconder of the original motion
accepted the amendment.


After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

 

RESOLVED: That Council notes: 

 

·         As specified in the Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031: Part 2, the district council has committed to provide 22,760 new homes in the period 2011-2031.  

·         Residents across the Vale regularly contact members about the existing pressure on local health services and concerns about additional homes increasing demand. 

·         Clinical Commissioning Groups are responsible for ensuring health provision for our growing population is provided. 

·         If section 106 contributions from developers agreed by the District Council are not used by the CCGs within a set time, the money can be paid back to the developer, which would result in an under-provision of health care in our communities.

·         Despite significant effort by council officers and local health professionals, the current system is preventing us from providing the health services that local people need and deserve. 

·         Our planning service and planning committee are therefore under pressure to approve new housing without plans for healthcare in place.  

 Council believes: 

·         This council has an important role in improving the health and wellbeing of our residents. 

·         Primary health provision should be planned based on population growth and vision for health care provision in the district. 

·         That sufficient infrastructure such as transport, health and education should be provided alongside, and preferably ahead of new housing development. 

·         The current national system for ensuring health infrastructure is provided, through Clinical Commissioning Groups, is not working. 

 Council requests: 

2.    Officers continue to work with Clinical Commissioning Groups to ensure sufficient provision is made for primary care services for key strategic housing sites such as Valley Park, Great

Western Park and North Abingdon.

 

2.  The leader, recognising that there are a number of CCGs involved in the provision of health care services, write to the CCGs to arrange meetings to discuss:

 

·     Developing better working relationship between the CCGs and the District Council.

·     Ensuring CCGs take a more pro-active approach to our planning process and respond to planning application consultations in a timely and ongoing basis to support the work of our planning department and our Infrastructure and development team.  

·     How the CCGs can engage more proactively with the planning authority to better plan healthcare for strategic housing sites in the Vale linked to the council’s corporate plan theme of “building healthy communities”. 

·     To understand how CCGs uses population forecasts to plan primary healthcare. 

·     To discuss particular case studies where there is a potential for section 106 monies to be lost  

 

3.   The Council Leader write to the Ministers for Heath and MHCLG to: 

·     explain the difficulties local planning authorities have to obtain information and commitment to deliver health services from CCGs. 

·     provide specific case studies about where health provision negotiated as part of section 106 is at risk of being lost.

·     press the need for whatever structure replaces Clinical Commissioning groups as part of the health reform has working with local planning authorities and its heart.

·     ask what government are doing to increase the number of GPs and other health staff and funding to keep up with number of homes.

 

 

B.   Councillor de la Harpe moved, and Councillor Fawcett seconded the motion as set out in the agenda at agenda item 12

 

After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

 

RESOLVED: That Council notes that:

Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) has a Cycling Design Standards document which provides best practice for roundabout junction design.

·         It states in the introduction “We need to ensure we create the right conditions for everyone to choose to cycle, whether they are young or old, male or female, or disabled. We want to make cycling a preferred choice for everyone.”

·         And in section 3.3.5 “Roundabouts can be particularly daunting for some cycle users, especially large multi-lane roundabouts. Approaches, exits and the geometry of roundabouts should aim to cause traffic to slow down to use the roundabout and therefore reduce the risk to cycle users - roundabout entry should be radial, not tangential, in order to slow traffic.”

 

A recent Oxford Brookes survey of Abingdon workplaces that was commissioned by Abingdon Liveable Streets showed that most residents who could walk to work do so but a significant proportion of residents who would like to cycle to work are put off by safety fears.

 

Roundabouts are particularly hazardous for cyclists and there have been several accidents involving cyclists on roundabouts in the Vale.

 

Council notes, with regret, that in the Vale of White Horse and on routes where bicycles are not segregated from the traffic, new roundabouts designs, and the layout of refurbished ones continue to include tangential entries, also known as high speed or flared geometry designs.

 

Council believes that:

·                     the aims of the Oxfordshire Cycling Design Standards document are good and should be treated as central to planning new settlements well.

·                     we are moving towards a society where use of a personal vehicle for every journey (both local and longer distance) will be less common, and people will want to have the opportunity to cycle and walk to more local destinations where appropriate.

·                     Encouraging active travel is part of this council’s corporate plan as it has many benefits. For the person themselves, they are likely to feel the physical and mental benefits. And for the environment, there is less traffic on the roads, and therefore less air pollution.

·                     Having declared a climate emergency, it is the duty of this Council to do what it can and working with partners, to make it easier for residents to choose to cycle for leisure, to school and to work (this applies especially on routes to the larger employment centres in and around our District such as Culham, Harwell Campus and Milton Park).

 

Council requests that the leader of the council write a letter to the OCC Cabinet Member for the Environment calling on her to:

1.            Ensure that the OCC Cycling Design Standards are adhered to and, in particular, for all new roundabout designs and refurbishments in the Vale of White Horse to be based on those Design Standards.

2.            Ensure that the Vale of White Horse Design Guide Principle DG31 for streets as social spaces is considered when reviewing junction design. i.e. “Streets should be designed as social spaces with the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users put above the needs of the motorist.”

3.            Ensure that When developers consult planning and highways officers on potential road design, officers are proactive in promoting the priorities of local councils and are encouraged to design accordingly.

4.            Create a culture of pro-actively striving for the best possible street and junction design when highways officers are advising developers about what is expected locally, ensuring that people walking, cycling and using public transport are prioritised.

5.            Note that when highway design proposals are put forward that fall below the County Council’s Design Standards, and/or do not further the County Council’s policy objectives, we would expect the County Council as technical consultee on highways to oppose them.

 

References:

Oxfordshire County Council Cycling Standards: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/file/roads-and-transport-policies-and-plans/cyclingstandards.pdf

 

Oxford Brookes Study of Abingdon Workplaces

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12YfdQeZO_FmItChpUGa9fQLxIS0C2qKAtNu9ndPrZcQ/

 

Map of accidents involving cyclists

https://www.crashmap.co.uk/Search  

 

 

 

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Vale of White Horse District Council
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