26 May 2026 – Minutes (draft)
THAME TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning Committee held on 26 May 2026 at 6:30pm in the Meeting Room, Thame Town Hall.
Present:
Cllrs M Baines (Chair), L Emery, C Jones, S McGarry (Deputy Chair) and W Wilde.
Officers
G Markland, Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer
J Doherty, Committee Services Officer
Due to the heatwave and the high temperature in the Upper Chamber; it was agreed that the meeting would be held in the Meeting Room.
1) Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from Cllrs D Dodds (personal), A Gilbert (personal) and A Wainwright (personal).
RESOLVED:
i) To accept the apologies and reason given from Cllrs D Dodds (personal), A Gilbert (personal) and A Wainwright (personal).
2) Declarations of Interest and Dispensations
There were no declarations of interest. Dispensations are recorded.
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 Meeting held on 7 April 2026 and 12 May 2026 were received. The Minutes of the Delegated Committee Meeting held on 28 April 2026 were noted.
RESOLVED that:
i) The minutes of the meeting held on 7 April 2026 and 12 May 2026 are confirmed as a correct record, and signed by the Chair.
5) Planning Applications
a) Members were asked to consider and agree a response for each of the following planning applications:
There were no applications that met the criteria for consideration.
b) Members were asked to receive and comment on the Officer’s recommendations for the following planning applications:
RESOLVED:
i) To approve the following planning application responses as listed:
2113 The Rise 1 Fish Ponds
New 2m high stepped boundary wall with timber trellis over.
P26/S1115/HH
Agreed response: Support.
2116 2A Horton Avenue
First Floor side extension
Agreed response: Support.
2128 Southern Road Recreation Ground Southern Road
Demolition of existing changing-room facilities and erection of new community and youth facilities and changing rooms and improvements to the existing Scout Building. Relocation of existing play area and additional car parking. Landscaping and amenity enhancements.
Agreed response: Support.
2125 24 Weavers Branch
Construction of single storey rear extension and conversion of loft with rear dormer window.
Agreed response: Objects with comment: No information has been given regarding the colour and material for the dormer cladding. The proposal risks failing to respond to local character, contrary to Thame Neighbourhood Plan Policy CPQ1, the Thame Neighbourhood Plan Design Code and District Council’s Design Guide.
2124 Lucy Switchgear Howland Road
Monolith sign with illumination
Agreed response: Support.
2122 Togs 13 High Street
Repairs to a grade II listed shop frontage in Thame High Street to replace damaged rendered brick pier and shop window following vehicular damage.
Agreed response: Support, subject to no objection from the District’s Heritage Officer.
2121 41 Onslow Drive
Single storey side and rear extension to form enlarged kitchen/dining space, utility, WC and study.
Agreed response: Support.
2120 5 Cornmarket
To replace the rotten sill at ground floor level and rotten sill of window. Replace the shop doors with equal sized double doors with same glazed section and painted heritage white paint Redecorate whole of shopfront in white heritage paint. Renew fascia signs.
The NPCO noted that the building is not currently included on the Historic England list. However, it appears to have been listed previously, and it is identified as such within the Thame Conservation Area map.
Agreed response: Support.
6) Street Naming
The Committee discussed six street names, (prefix only) for a development off Causeway Close and Weavers Branch, planning application P23/S4262/FUL for submission to South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) for consideration.
It was suggested by Councillors that a naming convention reflecting the historical development of Thame should be used. Examples such as Weavers Branch, Causeway Close, and Drovers Crescent were noted, highlighting the strong heritage of the area, particularly given that the development is sited on land of archaeological importance. It was considered that maintaining and continuing the character of a market town would help ensure the development is closely connected to the identity and history of local trades.
It was further suggested that archaeological-themed street names could work well for smaller closes and ways, and that the opportunity to celebrate Thame’s historic trades through street naming would be welcomed.
A proposal was made that the north-western part of the development could adopt street names derived from flint, while the eastern and southern areas, which are closer to the archaeological site, could draw on craft-based naming conventions.
Whilst the proposed naming convention focuses on archaeological findings, it was noted that the archaeological report sets out features and findings across different phases of excavation. This could provide the basis for a more cohesive and historically representative naming approach across the development.
A Councillor commented that, from a principal perspective, there should be a balance between reflecting archaeological findings and maintaining a town-wide context. The site represents a continuous stretch of occupation by different groups over time, including Romano-British, pre-Roman British, and Anglo-Saxon communities. Rather than focusing on a single period, it was suggested that the naming strategy could reflect this broader historical timeline to create a more complete narrative.
Councillors were also mindful that consideration should be given to the pronunciation and spelling of proposed street names to ensure they are practical and accessible.
It was agreed that primary street names should reflect craft and trade themes, with secondary street names based on archaeological findings derived from the site.
RESOLVED that:
i) It was agreed to submit the following street names to South Oxfordshire District Council for a development off Causeway Close and Weavers Branch, planning application P23/S4262/FUL. Primary street names: Potters, Farriers, Brewers, Cordwainers, Clockmaker(s), Watchmaker(s), Wool Staple Road. Secondary Street names: Quernstone, Constantine, Amphora, Hammerstone, Pendulum and Tessera.
7) For Information
a) It was noted that CACC did not meet on 20 May 2026.
b) Lawful development applications P26/S1092/LDP – 2 Augustine Way, P26/S1126/LDP – 63 Queens Road and P26/S1033/LDP – 3 Cavendish Walk were noted.
c) Amended plans for CM/0022/22 – Land To South East Of Hornage Farm, Bicester Road, Chilton, Buckinghamshire. The committee noted that the application is outside the parish boundary, and that there are therefore limits on matters Thame Town Council can comment on. It was noted that this is a reasonable distance from dwellings; and previously Thame Town Council commented with matters of concern regarding highways safety. Highways are content with the number of vehicle movements and restrictions on hours.
d) The siting of a portacabin for use as a pharmacy at Thame NHS Community Hospital was noted.
e) Noted the non-material amendment P26/S0848/NM.
The meeting concluded at 7.20pm.
Signed ……………………..
Chair, 30 June 2026