23 January 2024 – Minutes

THAME TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning & Environment Committee held on 23 January 2024 at 6:30pm in the Upper Chamber, Thame Town Hall.

Present:

Cllrs M Baines, P Cowell, A Dite (Town Mayor), D Dodds, H Fickling (Chairman), A Gilbert (Deputy Mayor), C Jones, H Richards, P Swan, and T Wyse (Deputy Chairman)

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 Cllr Emery (personal).

 

2) Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

A general dispensation is in place to allow Members to debate and vote on planning applications where the Town Council is the applicant and/or landowner, which applied to planning application P24/S0049/LB.

Cllr Swan entered the meeting.

 

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 19 December 2023 were received.

Cllr Richards entered the meeting.

RESOLVED that:

  1. The minutes of the meeting held on 19 December 2023 are confirmed as a correct record, and signed by the Chairman.

 

5) Planning Applications

1693 –   OFFICE LAND AT PHOENIX PARK (BELLWAY DEVELOPMENT), HOWLAND ROAD – AMENDMENT NO.2

The erection of 9 x 2-bedroom apartments with associated parking and landscaping. (As amended by information 2 January 2024.)
P23/S0690/FUL

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ11, ESDQ12, ESDQ15, ESDQ27, H8, GA2, GA6
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES5, DES6, EP4, H9, H11, TH1, TRANS4

Members noted that the amended scheme offered a considerable improvement.

RESOLVED that:

  1. Thame Town Council supports planning application P23/S0690/FUL – Amendment No.2.

 

1812 – 8 SYCAMORE DRIVE

Single storey rear extensions.
P23/S4073/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ16, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, H20

RESOLVED that:

  1. Thame Town Council supports planning application P23/S4073/HH.

 

1813 – 57 TOWERSEY DRIVE

Construction of two storey side extension.
P23/S4179/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ16, ESDQ28, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES3, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, H20

RESOLVED that:

  1. Thame Town Council supports planning application P23/S4179/HH.

 

1816 – 56 LUDSDEN GROVE

New entrance porch.
P23/S4225/HH

This planning application received planning permission on 22 January 2024 and therefore was not considered by the committee.

 

1817 – 1 PRIEST END

Proposed reinstatement of structure following building fire.
P23/S4193/LB

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ17, ESDQ18, ESDQ19, ESDQ20, ESDQ26, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES3, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8, H20 

RESOLVED that:

  1. Thame Town Council supports planning application P23/S4193/LB:
    1. Subject to no objection from the District’s Heritage Officer.

 

1818 – 1 PRIEST END

Proposed reinstatement of structure following building fire.
P23/S4226/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ17, ESDQ18, ESDQ19, ESDQ20, ESDQ26, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES3, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8, H20 

RESOLVED that:

  1. Thame Town Council supports planning application P23/S4226/HH:
    1. Subject to no objection from the District’s Heritage Officer.

 

1819 – 6 GRENVILLE WAY

Garage conversion to include replacing the garage door with a window. Addition of half landing window to the side elevation. Move main entrance door to front elevation.
P23/S4201/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, GA6, ESDQ16, ESDQ28, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, TRANS5 

RESOLVED that:

  1. Thame Town Council supports planning application P23/S4201/HH:
    1. Subject to the two parking space sizes complying with standards.

 

1821 – 27 WEBSTER CLOSE

2m fencing around the back garden with trellis on top. Decorative panels up the front of the house to cover unsightly electrical cables.
P23/S4285/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ16, ESDQ18, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8

RESOLVED that:

  1. Thame Town Council supports planning application P23/S4285/HH.

 

1822 – BATES LEYS FARM, MORETON LANE

Adding mezzanine floor to form part first floor with additional windows and rooflights. Amendment to windows, doors and external finishes. Alteration to curtilage to reflect existing fences.
P23/S4113/FUL

This application was withdrawn prior to determination on 18 January 2024 and therefore was not considered by the committee.

 

1823 – 2A MITCHELL CLOSE

Proposed single-storey rear (North) extension.
P24/S0006/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ19, ESDQ20, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES3, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, H20 

RESOLVED that:

  1. Thame Town Council supports planning application P24/S0006/HH.

 

1824 – ST ANDREWS COURT, WELLINGTON STREET

External alterations to existing office buildings including to existing windows, incorporation of new terraced and inset roof balconies, roof lights, replacement of car parking spaces with external amenity area and new and additional cycle parking for occupiers and visitors.
P23/S4371/FUL

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, GA6, ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ17, ESDQ18, ESDQ19, ESDQ20, ESDQ27, ESDQ28, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES3, DES5, DES6, DES7, DES8, EMP3, EMP6, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8, ENV12, EP3, H3, H9, H11, H16, H20, STRAT1, STRAT5, TH1, TRANS2, TRANS4, TRANS5 

RESOLVED that:

  1. Thame Town Council supports planning application P23/S4371/FUL.

 

1825 – TOWN HALL, HIGH STREET

To install a water refill station to the exterior of the building. Remove and relocate existing noticeboard.
P24/S0049/LB

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: ESDQ15, ESDQ16, ESDQ17, ESDQ18, ESDQ19, ESDQ20
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES2, DES3, DES7, DES8, ENV6, ENV7, ENV8

RESOLVED that:

  1. Thame Town Council supports planning application P24/S0049/LB:
    1. Subject to no objection from the District Council’s Heritage Officer.

 

1826 – 5 CROFT CLOSE

Partial garage conversion to form new Utility Room.
P23/S4373/HH

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: GA6, ESDQ16, ESDQ29
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES6, DES7, DES8, TRANS5

RESOLVED that:

  1. Thame Town Council supports planning application P23/S4373/HH.

 

1827 – WALBROOK, MORETON

Variation of condition 2(approved plans) on application P23/S2078/FUL to make changes to the roof lights within the carers flat in order to provide a means of escape in the event of fire. (Erection of a detached dwelling (316m2 GIA) with residential annex for disabled family member (239 m2 GIA) and carers accommodation (72 m2 GIA), detached garage, parking and amenity space).
P24/S0007/S73

Neighbourhood Plan Policies: H6, ESDQ16, ESDQ28
SODC Local Plan Policies: DES1, DES5, DES6

RESOLVED that:

  1. Thame Town Council supports planning application P24/S0007/S73.

 

6) P&E and CAAC Survey Findings

The report was noted, along with the results of the survey carried out with Members over Christmas. At this stage, the information is just to note and will form part of the information pack for the additional Full Council meeting on 13 February 2024. With regards to the Conservation Area Advisory Committee, it was suggested that CAAC be advertised to the public to gauge whether there is interest in joining the committee.

Members agreed that it was good to evaluate the current functions to ensure it continues to add value.

 

7) Travel Plan Working Group

The report was noted.

The TPWG had been working with the Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) to create a Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for Thame, who are currently waiting to appoint a consultant to progress the work. Councillors are invited to attend a public open meeting that is being held on Thursday 29 February 2024 to hear from the community what bus services they need in Thame.

There was discussion over the transferring of £150,000 of S106 funds from OCC to Buckinghamshire Council, how this decision was made and the impact of this on a future hopper bus for Thame. There had been some issues with reporting TPWG work whilst it did not have a committee to report into, although the money is managed by OCC not the Town Council. The TPWG have been working closely with OCC to establish the best option for Thame residents whilst ensuring financial viability. A joint solution with Buckinghamshire Council, who would contribute more, would offer a longer-term financially sustainable bus service connecting Thame and Haddenham, including to the station and garden centre, as well as following the route of the current 121 town bus service. There would still be approximately £200,000 for the Town Council to deliver a community bus service. Whilst the money can be used by the Town Council, it must be used in accordance with the S106 agreements. The 121 service appeared to be what the community wanted but it was noted the service is not financially sustainable and due to end in April. The alternative to a joint approach with Buckinghamshire Council was for the Town Council to tender for, and then run, its own community bus service, but this would have to be 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, which the Town Council currently does not have the legislation or resources to deliver.

It was noted that the Environmental Project Officer along with the TPWG had undertaken a lot of work and research to date, and it was felt it would be beneficial to the committee if they could have more details, including passenger numbers of the 121 service, so they can understand the process so far.

 

8) Swan Hotel, 9 Upper High Street – P23/S1396/FUL and P23/S1397/LB – Change of use from C1 (hotel) to C3 (dwellinghouse). Internal alterations and partial removal of roof to non-listed part of building to form external courtyard. (As amended by updated Application Form, serving notice).

The Town Council had objected to this planning application and listed building consent on the grounds of loss of the public house without a viability assessment, poor amenity for future occupiers, and impact on the Conservation Area. The Case Officer has advised that the building has been marketed for three years with no real offers after over 30 enquiries. In light of this information, it is considered that the Town Council’s objections in this regard have been overcome. Whilst some private amenity space would be afforded, the amenity space would be below standards although it was noted that the District Council were likely to advise that this is typical in a town centre location. The committee were keen to see the listed building redeveloped than to fall into disrepair.

RESOLVED:

  1. To withdraw the Town Council’s objections for applications P23/S1396/FUL and P23/S1397/FUL and submit no comments.

 

9) For Information

The items for information were noted.

 

The meeting concluded at 7:33pm.

 

 

Signed ……………………..

Chairman, 20 February 2024