03 June 2025 – Minutes

THAME TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning Committee held on 3 June 2025 at 6:30pm in the Upper Chamber, Thame Town Hall.

Present:

Cllrs M Baines (Chairman), L Emery, A Gilbert (Town Mayor), and C Jones

Officers

M Sturdy, Town Clerk
G Markland, Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer
L Fuller, Committee Services & Processes Officer

1) Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from Cllrs Dawson (personal) and McGarry (personal).

Cllr Dodds was absent without apology.

2) Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

There were no declarations of interest.

In relation to planning application P25/S1388/LB, it was noted that a dispensation is in place to enable members to debate and vote on planning applications where the Town Council is the landowner.

3) Public Participation and Public Questions

There was no public participation.
There were no public questions put to the Committee.

4) Minutes

The Minutes of the Committee Meetings held on 6 May 2025 and 13 May 2025 were received.

RESOLVED that:

The minutes of the meetings held on 6 May 2025 and 13 May 2025 are confirmed as a correct record, and signed by the Chairman.

5) Planning Applications

a) Members were asked to consider and agree a response for each of the following planning applications:

1986 – Town Hall, High Street

Installation of a bracket and small wireless radio receiver unit on the side of the town hall building with associated galvanised metal conduit to house cabling which will feed into the CCTV equipment.
P25/S1388/LB

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: CPQ1, CPQ3, SFO1
SODC Local Plan Policies: CF2, DES1, DES2, DES3, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8, INF1, TC5

RESOLVED:

To support planning application P25/S1388/LB:
1. Subject to no objection from the Heritage Officer.

1991 – Racquets Fitness Centre, North Street

Alterations to existing sports and leisure building to include new and altered fenestration, raising of flat roof area, removal of external metal escape stair, introduction of new means-of-escape door, introduction of mezzanine floor within existing squash courts, internal alterations, introduction of PV panels on part of roof. Additional car parking and new cycle rack
P25/S1428/FUL

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: GDR1, GDR2, CPQ1, CPQ2, CPQ3, CPQ5, SFO1, GATCP1
SODC Local Plan Policies: CF1, CF2, DES1, DES2, DES3, DES6, DES7, DES8, EMP3, ENV8, ENV12, EP3, H20, INF1, STRAT1, TH1, TRANS2, TRANS4, TRANS5

RESOLVED:

To support planning application P25/S1428/FUL.

1992 – Racquets Fitness Centre, North Street

Display of additional / enlarged / repositioned illuminated advertising on two facades of the building.
P25/S1429/A

RESOLVED:

To support planning application P25/S1429/A

b) Members were asked to receive and comment on the Officer’s recommendations for the following planning applications:

1985 – 4 Moats Crescent

Front single storey extension and side two storey extension and external alterations to the existing dwelling.
P25/S1360/HH

Agreed response: Supports

1987 – 53 Corbetts Way

Erection of single storey rear extension.
P25/S1434/HH

Agreed response: Supports

1993 – 47 Corbetts Way

Single storey rear extension.
P25/S1524/HH

Agreed response: Supports

6) Future of the Planning Committee

The report was noted. The Government are currently consulting on reforms to Planning Committees at Local Planning Authority level which would see potential changes to their delegations, size and composition, and the removal of individual Councillors being able to ‘call-in’ applications to committee. Separately, there are proposed changes to the organisation of the local district and county councils.

The committee recognised some of the opportunities and challenges associated the proposed changes.

Overall, it was felt that it was pre-emptive to change the Planning Committee ahead of the proposed Government changes. It was felt the Planning Committee functioned well, especially now Thame has an up-to-date neighbourhood plan to provide clear guidelines when commenting on planning applications, but it was recognised that it may need to adapt to reflect upcoming changes and could begin work on exploring those options now.

It was also suggested that the Planning Committee on 1 July 2025 be cancelled due to staff availability and ongoing maintenance with the District Council’s website which has resulted in no planning applications for several weeks. The committee agreed that a contingency plan was sensible, although unlikely to be needed.

RESOLVED:

To keep the Planning Committee as it is until such time when the proposed changes from Central Government materialise.
To cancel the Planning Committee on 1 July 2025 and to delegate any non-deferrable planning application responses to the NPCO, Chair and Deputy Chair of the Planning Committee. Any decisions made under this delegation to be reported to the next Planning Committee.

7) Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) Working Group

The report was noted. The committee would welcome further detail on the direction of the work from a representative from the Working Group.

Cllr Gilbert reported that a meeting had been held with representatives from Buckinghamshire Council and Oxfordshire County Council last week. There had been no update on the outcome of the meeting. There was frustration that the Town Council was not being kept informed, despite being a key stakeholder.

8) For Information

The items for information were noted.

The meeting concluded at 7:16pm.

Signed …………………….. Date ………………………….

Chairman