(Time: 3.48pm to 3.49pm)
The Executive received and considered report 16/08 of the Deputy Director (Planning and Community Strategy), which outlined the work carried out to review the Conservation Areas at Northcourt in Abingdon, East Hendred and Wytham. The report explained the methodology for the appraisals, and the report set out the consultation process and the comments received. It went on to recommend the adoption of the appraisal documents and the extensions to the boundaries of all three areas. The future programme of Conservation Areas reviews was also set out.
A schedule summarising the comments received during consultation together with officer observations and copies of the appraisals had all been sent as a separately bound document to Members of the Executive.
Members noted that the reviews had been considered by the Strategic and Local Planning Advisory Group and the Development Control Committee, both of which supported the proposals. The Executive also supported the proposals and thanked the officer for the work carried out in the appraisals.
RESOLVED
(a) that the steps taken to involve the community in the appraisals of the Northcourt in Abingdon, East Hendred and Wytham Conservation Areas be noted and confirmed as appropriate steps for involving communities in future appraisals;
(b) that the consultation responses made to the three Conservation Area appraisals be noted and the officers’ observations and recommendations be agreed;
(c) that the programme of future Conservation Area appraisals for Cumnor, Bourton and Sutton Courtenay be noted; and
R E C O M M E N D E D
(d) that the Conservation Area Appraisals for Northcourt in Abingdon, East Hendred and Wytham be adopted, as set out in Appendix D to these minutes, and the Conservation Areas be extended, as set out in Map 4 of the Northcourt appraisal, Map 4 of the East Hendred appraisal and Map 4 of the Wytham appraisal.
The Committee received and considered report 189/07 of the Deputy Director (Planning and Community Strategy) which outlined the work that had been carried out to review conservation areas at Northcourt in Abingdon, East Hendred and Wytham. The report outlined the consultation process and methodology for the three appraisals, responded to the comments received and recommended the adoption of the appraisal documents and the extensions to the boundaries of all three areas. The future programme of work was also set out.
At this point in the meeting the Officers expressed their thanks for the support given to Sally Straddling the Conservation Area Appraisal Project Officer.
Further to the report, it was noted that an additional paper regarding the East Hendred Appraisal was circulated at meeting.
Members thanked the Officers for their work noting that the appraisals had been considered in detail by the Structure and Local Plan Advisory Group.
Another Member commented that he recognised the amount of work which had been undertaken by the Officers in carrying out the three appraisals. He suggested that there was potentially a need to review many more which he commented would take a long time and require significant resources. Notwithstanding this he considered that it would be beneficial to carry out other appraisals,
One Member asked that it be recorded in the minutes that to review the whole of the Vale would be an onerous task but it was thought that Officers should do their utmost to adequately appraise all areas.
By 14 votes to nil, with 1 of the voting Members having not yet arrived at the meeting it was
RESOLVED
(a) that the steps that have been taken to involve the community in the appraisals of the Northcourt in Abingdon, East Hendred and Wytham Conservation Areas be noted and that it be confirmed that for future appraisals these steps are appropriate for involving communities;
(b) that the responses which have been made to the appraisals in the Northcourt in Abingdon, East Hendred and Wytham Conservation Areas as set out in Appendix 1 to report 189/07 be noted and the officers’ observations and recommendations be agreed;
(c) that the Executive be asked to recommend to Council the adoption of the Conservation Area Appraisals for Northcourt in Abingdon, East Hendred and Wytham as set out in Appendix 2 to report 189/07 and agreed to extend the Conservation Areas as set out in Map 4 of the Northcourt appraisal, Map 4 of the East Hendred appraisal and Map 4 of the Wytham appraisal;
(d) that the current programme of conservation area appraisals for Cumnor, Bourton and Sutton Courtenay be noted.