05 July 2021 – Minutes

THAME TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of Thame Town Council held on 5 July 2021 at 7pm in the Upper Chamber, Thame Town Hall.

Present:

Cllrs B Austin, P Cowell (Town Mayor), N Champken-Woods (Deputy Mayor), A Dite, D Dodds, M Dyer,
L Emery, H Fickling, K Gregory, C Jones, A Midwinter, and H Richards

Officers

C Pinnells, Acting Town Clerk
G Markland, Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer
L Fuller, Committee Services Officer

1 Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from Cllrs Bretherton (personal), Deacock (personal), Tipping (personal) and Wyse (personal).

2 Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

Cllr Dodds declared an interest in Item 5 due to family relations, however as this was a noting item there would be no discussion.

3 Public Participation and Public Questions

There were no applications to address the Council.
There were no public questions put to the Council.

4 Minutes

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 22 June 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Dyer for chairing the previous council meeting in his and the Deputy Mayor’s absence.

5 Planning Application Updates to Note

The amended plans for planning applications P21/S0917/O (Reserve Site C) and P20/S4693/FUL (Land to the West of Windmill Road) were noted.

6 Exclusion of the Press and Public

RESOLVED:

  1. That under Section 1, Paragraph 2 of The Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business because publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

7 1253 – P20/S0928/FUL – Land at The Elms, Upper High Street

Cllr Fickling entered the meeting during this item.

Members received the advice note from the Council’s legal counsel and the Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer provided some further commentary and context for consideration.

Overall, Members formed the view that a successful challenge could not guarantee a different decision being made by the District Council following any resubmission of the applicant’s scheme.  This was in light of the District Council’s failure to address accommodation for older people at a strategic level.  Members regrettably felt in good conscience that the Town Council could not justify further resource expenditure on a matter that could end in a similar outcome.

RESOLVED that:

  1. The Town Council takes no further action on planning permission P20/S0928/FUL, granted 8 June 2021.

 

The meeting concluded at 7:42pm.

 

 

Signed ………………………

Chairman, 10 August 2021