Agenda, decisions and minutes

Interests were declared in the following agenda items:

9. Graven Hill Local Development Order.

Karen Curtin, Declaration, as a Director of Graven Hill Village Holdings Limited.

Sue Smith, Declaration, as a Director of Graven Hill Village Holdings Limited and Graven Hill Village Development Company Limited.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 June 2015.

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 June 2015 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

The Chairman made the following announcement:

1.    Under the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014,members of the public were permitted to film, broadcast and report on the meeting, subject to the efficient running of the meeting not being affected.

Report of Head of Transformation

To review the performance of the Equalities Annual Work Programme and to agree the planned work programme following the Achieving Standard under the Equality Framework for Local Government.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To consider the evidence and information contained within this report.

1.2         To agree the equalities action plan for 2015/16 noting the areas of good practice upon which it builds and the areas for development that it addresses. 

1.3         To agree the 3 year rolling plan of Equality Impact Assessments.

Resolved

(1)          That the evidence and information be noted.

(2)          That the equalities action plan for 2015/16 be agreed and the areas of good practice upon which it builds and the areas for development that it addresses be noted. 

(3)          That the 3 year rolling plan of Equality Impact Assessments be agreed.

The Head of Transformation submitted a report to review the performance of the Equalities Annual Work Programme and to agree the planned work programme following the Achieving Standard under the Equality Framework for Local Government.

Resolved

(1)          That the evidence and information be noted.

(2)          That the equalities action plan for 2015/16 be agreed and the areas of good practice upon which it builds and the areas for development that it addresses be noted. 

(3)          That the 3 year rolling plan of Equality Impact Assessments be agreed.

Reasons

Cherwell District Council has made significant progress delivering against the equalities agenda in recent years and has continued during 2014/2015 and continues to adopt a proportionate approach to equality performance with meaningful and relevant Corporate Action Plans to support this work.

The updated action plan demonstrates how the Council will continue to deliver its equalities objectives over the coming year. Progress will be reported via the performance management framework on a quarterly basis.

The three year impact assessment rolling plan also provides assurance that the Council is mindful of policy change and seeks to understand and address the impacts of service and policy change where appropriate.

Alternative options

Option 1: To note the report

Option 2: To request additional information on items within this report

Report of Director of Community and Environment

Purpose of report

The purpose of this report is to update the Executive with the latest project position in delivering the pavilion, car park, access requirements, floodlighting and 3G synthetic sports pitch.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended to

1.1       Note the progress in delivering phase 2 of the Bicester Sports Village project.

Resolved

(1)          That the progress in delivering phase 2 of the Bicester Sports Village project be noted.

The Director of Community and Environment submitted a report which updated Executive on the latest project position in delivering the pavilion, car park, access requirements, floodlighting and 3G synthetic sports pitch.

Resolved

(1)          That the progress in delivering phase 2 of the Bicester Sports Village project be noted.

Reasons

The Bicester Sports Village project continues to progress with a slightly adjusted programme which moves the anticipated project completion date to summer 2016.

Alternative Options

The project has been approved and is progressing in accordance with these approvals. There are no other options being considered at this time other than proposals to remain within the approved funding envelope.

Report of Head of Development Management

Purpose of report

To seek the agreement of Executive to consult on the draft Local Development Order (LDO) prepared by officers in respect of Phase 0 and part of Phase 1 of the redevelopment of Graven Hill

Recommendations    

1.1            To agree the draft LDO attached at Appendix A to this report for the purpose of public consultation.

1.2            To agree the statement of reasons for preparing the LDO attached at Appendix B to this report.

1.3            To agree to carry out consultation on the draft LDO as required by Article 38 of The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) Order 2015.

1.4            To note that the Head of Development Management will adopt a screening opinion in respect of the LDO as required by Regulation 29 of The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 (as amended)

1.5            To agree to receive a report back to a future meeting on the outcome of the consultation process.

Resolved

(1)          That the draft Local Development Order (LDO) (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be agreed for the purpose of public consultation.

(2)          That the statement of reasons for preparing the LDO (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be agreed.

(3)          That it be agreed to carry out consultation on the draft LDO as required by Article 38 of The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) Order 2015.

(4)          That it be noted that the Head of Development Management would adopt a screening opinion in respect of the LDO as required by Regulation 29 of The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 (as amended).

(5)          That officers be requested to submit a report on the outcome of the consultation process to a future meeting.

The Head of Development Management submitted a report to seek the agreement of Executive to consult on the draft Local Development Order (LDO) prepared by officers in respect of Phase 0 and part of Phase 1 of the redevelopment of Graven Hill.

Resolved

(1)          That the draft Local Development Order (LDO) (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be agreed for the purpose of public consultation.

(2)          That the statement of reasons for preparing the LDO (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be agreed.

(3)          That it be agreed to carry out consultation on the draft LDO as required by Article 38 of The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) Order 2015.

(4)          That it be noted that the Head of Development Management would adopt a screening opinion in respect of the LDO as required by Regulation 29 of The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 (as amended).

(5)          That officers be requested to submit a report on the outcome of the consultation process to a future meeting.

Reasons

The draft Local Development Order would facilitate and encourage self-build and custom build housing at Graven Hill by simplifying the planning process whilst providing certainty that individuality and variety in design would be supported within the parameters set by the Masterplan and Design Code to be approved under the outline planning permission.

It is therefore recommended that Executive agree the draft LDO and the statement of reasons for making the LDO. Officers can then proceed to preparing and adopting a screening opinion in respect of the LDO, before carrying out consultation on the draft LDO as required by legislation.

Alternative Options

Not to agree the draft LDO. Delivering the development through the traditional reserved matters route would not facilitate the desired level of individuality and variety in design.

The following report contains exempt information as defined in the following paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Members are reminded that whilst the following item has been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider it in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

No representations have been received from the public requesting that this item be considered in public.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to pass the following recommendation:

“That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the ground that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraph 3 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

Resolved

That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the ground that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraph 3 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information

Exempt Report of Commercial Director (Bicester)

Resolved

(1)          That the exempt report and staged approach being considered to deliver the project be noted.

(2)          As set out in the exempt decision notice

(3)          That it be noted that external funding would continue to be sought to deliver this project.

The Commercial Director (Bicester) submitted an exempt report relating to the Eco Business Centre procurement.

Resolved

(1)          That the exempt report and staged approach being considered to deliver the project be noted.

(2)          As set out in the exempt minutes.

(3)          That it be noted that external funding would continue to be sought to deliver this project.

Reasons

The exempt report sets out the current position on the proposed Eco Business Centre for North West Bicester. Funding for the building has been secured through the Eco-town programme and the report seeks the approval of the Executive to use the funding to deliver the project through the Council’s procurement of a design, build and operate services.

Alternative options

Option 1: A full competitive procurement for the development and management of the building, with CDC providing the site and funding for the design and build. This may to lead to delay and additional costs to the project

Option 2: Use the Scape Framework or a similar procurement framework to accelerate the procurement process and minimise some of the risk. However, this may not provide best value and may not allow for flexibility in terms of design and operation

Option 3: CDC to procure the development and management through a staged internal project management approach and competitive tender process. This is the preferred option at this stage.