Issue - meetings

** Please note that due to the size of the documents: Appendices 1 and 3 will be published as a supplement to the main agenda and hard copies distributed to Executive members only. Appendices 4 and 5 will be published as supplements to the main agenda and can be accessed online and a hard copy will be available in the Members’ Room **

Report of Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy

Purpose of report

To seek approval of an Options Paper for the Partial Review of Local Plan Part 1 for formal public consultation.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To note the Oxfordshire Growth Board’s decision to apportion 4,400 homes to Cherwell District in the interest of meeting Oxford’s agreed unmet housing need.

1.2         To approve the Options Paper (Appendix 1) for formal public consultation.

1.3         To authorise the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy to make any necessary minor and presentational changes to the Options Paper before formal consultation commences.

1.4         To authorise the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy to produce a summary booklet to support public consultation.

Resolved

(1)          That the Oxfordshire Growth Board’s decision to apportion 4,400 homes to Cherwell District in the interest of meeting Oxford’s agreed unmet housing need be noted.

(2)          That the Partial Review of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011 – 2013 (Part 1): Oxford’s Unmet Housing Need Options Consultation Paper be approved for formal public consultation.

(3)          That the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy be authorised to make any necessary minor and presentational changes to the Partial Review of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011 – 2013 (Part 1): Oxford’s Unmet Housing Need Options Consultation Paper before formal consultation commences.

(4)          That the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy be authorised to produce a summary booklet to support public consultation.

The Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy submitted a report to seek approval of an Options Paper for the Partial Review of Local Plan Part 1 for formal public consultation.

Resolved

(1)          That the Oxfordshire Growth Board’s decision to apportion 4,400 homes to Cherwell District in the interest of meeting Oxford’s agreed unmet housing need be noted.

(2)          That the Partial Review of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011 – 2013 (Part 1): Oxford’s Unmet Housing Need Options Consultation Paper be approved for formal public consultation.

(3)          That the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy be authorised to make any necessary minor and presentational changes to the Partial Review of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011 – 2013 (Part 1): Oxford’s Unmet Housing Need Options Consultation Paper before formal consultation commences.

(4)          That the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy be authorised to produce a summary booklet to support public consultation.

Reasons

An Options consultation paper for the Partial Review of the adopted Cherwell Local Plan Part 1 (2011-2031) is presented for approval. The Options Paper presents alternatives on how Cherwell District might accommodate its ‘share’ of the unmet housing need arising from Oxford, as apportioned by the Oxfordshire Growth Board. The Options Paper concerns: 1) the level of housing the district is being asked to accommodate; 2) a draft vision and draft objectives; 3) ‘areas of search’; 4) potential strategic development sites; and, 5) the emerging evidence base. The Executive’s approval of the Options Paper is sought to proceed to public consultation.

Alternative options

Option 1: To delay the Options Paper to enable further evidence to be considered

A consultation now will provide officers the opportunity to consider whether the options / alternatives identified are reasonable, to acquire further information in testing options/alternatives, and to meet the deadline for Submission for examination (20 July 2017). A delay would make it very difficult to meet the two year review programme that the Council has committed to within paragraph B.95 of the adopted Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 (Part 1).

Option 2: To reconsider the content of the Options Paper

The Options Paper has been produced having regard to national policy and guidance, the county-wide work for the Oxfordshire Growth Board, public consultation on issues, site submissions, engagement with prescribed bodies, emerging evidence and Local Plan Part 1. It is considered by officers to be an appropriate consultation document.