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UNELECTED bodies have become increasingly influential in proposals for future development in Oxfordshire, according to a group professionals concerned about the current direction in land use, planning and transport policy in Oxfordshire.

The group, known as POETS (Planning Oxfordshire’s Environment and Transport Sustainably) have stated that they are concerned about the promotion of current plans for unprecedented levels of growth ‘which take little account of the climate emergency or the needs of the environment’. At the same time little attention is paid to meeting local needs, they say.

These are some of the key findings of a new report by POETS. They highlight the role being played by The National Infrastructure Commission, which is promoting major growth in the Oxford to Cambridge “arc”, including doubling Oxfordshire’s population by 2050′; Highways England, a government company promoting a motorway standard ‘expressway’ across this area; England’s Economic Heartland, a made-up area which overlaps with the arc, and again is promoting major development; The Oxfordshire Local Economic Partnership (LEP), which contains some local authority appointed members although they are outnumbered by other interests.

Amongst other things the latter has produced a ‘Local Industrial Strategy’ which has to be taken into account by local planning authorities in preparing their local plans. The POETS report also mentions The Oxfordshire Growth Board. While this involves the leaders of the county and five district councils, they are not directly elected, and the board also contains representatives of other interests. Homes England, the government’s self-styled ‘housing accelerator’ is advocating major housing growth, notably on land it owns at Chalgrove, in a location POETS believes is badly served by public transport and ‘poorly located for travel by bike or on foot’.

The POETS conclude: “It is difficult if not impossible for ordinary members of the public to influence, or in some cases even gain access to these bodies. Highways England for instance has notoriously persuaded some local authorities to sign agreements forbidding them to disclose information about its planning for the expressway. England’s Economic Heartland has restricted information on its transport planning to selected partners who happen to be major construction and engineering firms.

The POETS report points out that the increasing influence of such bodies carries risks both for the future of Oxfordshire and for local democracy itself. Chris Cousins, one of the report’s authors, said: “We are concerned that ordinary people feel increasingly disenfranchised from the planning process. Anyone who is concerned about climate change, for example, will find little to reassure them that these unelected bodies are proposing substantive action to address it.

“Despite professing support for local decision-making, central government has reduced both the power and the resources available to directly elected local authorities. The creeping growth of unelected organisations is unhealthy for our democracy. We need government at all levels to give priority to tackling the climate emergency. This should involve empowering directly elected local authorities, and enabling us as citizens both to contribute and to hold our elected representatives to account.”

The full POETS report can be read here: https://www.poetsplanningoxon.uk/poets_democratic_deficit_report_081219.pdf

A detailed report on the findings of the Oxford Citizens Assembly on Climate Change, the first of its kind in the UK, has been published.

The report, which has been produced by experts at Ipsos MORI who independently facilitated the Citizens Assembly on behalf of the City Council, summarises its findings and recommendations.

The Citizens Assembly addressed three themes, divided into five separate areas:

How do we use less energy?
Buildings – how do we ensure our buildings are fit for the future?
Transport – how do we develop a sustainable zero-carbon transport system?
How do we make more energy?
How do we transform our energy system to ensure it comes from renewable sources?
How do we improve environmental quality on the journey to net zero?
Waste – How do we reduce our waste to deliver net zero?
Offsetting – How could Oxford offset the emissions it can’t reduce?

Ipsos MORI’s headline findings were:

THE majority of Assembly members felt that Oxford should aim to achieve ‘net zero’ sooner than 2050. However, even among those who agreed with this, there was little consensus on when ‘net zero’ should be achieved

There was widespread belief that Oxford should be a leader in tackling the climate crisis

Assembly Members found a great deal of encouragement in the examples of what is already being done across Oxford to address climate change and meet the goal of becoming ‘net zero’

Enhanced biodiversity was central to the overall ‘net zero’ vision of Oxford with increased flora and fauna in the city centre, along with more cycling, walking, and public transport, and far fewer cars

The buildings sector should adopt improved building standards, widespread retrofitting, and more domestic and non-domestic energy needs being met by sustainable sources

Around one in four to one in three Assembly Members rejected the most ambitious – and, therefore, challenging to achieve – visions of a future Oxford

They were also perturbed by the extent to which the burden of change was – in their eyes – being placed on individuals

There was, therefore, a sense that the Council needs to communicate a shared vision and strategy to reaching ‘net zero’ that shows the roles played by local and national government, businesses, and individuals

Specifically, Assembly Members wanted more information about how to recycle correctly

There was a demand for more education and information provided for the wider public in Oxford to help them understand what they can personally do to help

What happens next?

A report, containing Oxford City Council’s initial response to the Assembly’s recommendations, will be presented to the Cabinet on December 19. This report will include the City Council’s proposals, which will feed into its 2020/21 budget, to respond to immediate issues arising from the report.

In the New Year, the findings will feed in to the City Council’s upcoming Sustainability Strategy, including an Action Plan to determine how the City Council can play its part in tackling the climate emergency over the coming months and years.

As recommended by the Assembly, City Council will also look at its role in convening and engaging stakeholders and the wider public to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One clear request from the Assembly was to produce educational material and information about how individuals can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the City Council will now work up detailed plans to achieve this.

Read the full Oxford Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change report HERE

FOLLOWING the offer of some provisional funding for an off-road, walking and cycling route between Thame and Haddenham, a survey is now open for comments from potential users.

Oxfordshire County Council would like to hear from people living in the Haddenham and Thame area about travelling between Haddenham & Thame Parkway Rail Station and Thame.

“We want to understand how people currently travel between these locations to help us assess whether it would be beneficial to introduce an off-road walking and cycling route (known as a Greenway),” explained Oxfordshire County Council.

OCC, Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC) and Sustrans are working in partnership to investigate this scheme. Funds have provisionally been allocated for the scheme through the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal.

The survey opened on November 25, and will close at midnight on Tuesday, December 10, 2019. LINK HERE

SIXTH Form students at Lord Willams’s School had the rare opportunity of listening to four political candidates for the Henley constituency giving their hustings speeches: Laura Coyle (Lib Dem), John Howell (Conservative), Zaid Marham (Labour) and Jo Robb (Green).

Over 450 students from Years 12 and 13 had the opportunity to compare and contrast party manifestos and individual approaches to key issues. The candidates were challenged to justify their positions in rigorous questioning from students studying A Level Government and Politics. Rebecca Lay, head of Government and Politics had arranged the event to coincide with the hustings event taking place later that day in Thame.

“What an excellent opportunity for students to engage with politics and their democratic rights. We were really pleased that all four candidates attended and appreciated the way they responded to our student questions. The students provided thoughtful and insightful questions and should be proud of their contributions.”

Laura Coyle for the Liberal Democrats tweeted: “The Sixth Formers gave all the candidates a good grilling and were very engaged.” Zaid Marham also tweeted “Thanks…to the…young connoisseurs of politics who made it such a great event.”

Afterwards, Jo Robb, the Green Party candidate, said: ““A great first meeting with the sixth form students at Lord Williams’s School in Thame. What an extraordinary bunch: engaged and knowledgeable. It was a pleasure meeting them.”

THE first incident that took place between 11.30pm on Monday (18/11) and 5.30am on Tuesday (19/11). Offenders attempted to gain entry to a property on Wentworth Road.

Nothing was stolen but damage was caused to the front door.

The second incident took place between 1.50am and 2am on Tuesday (19/11). Three offenders attempted to gain entry to a property on Stuart Way. Nothing was stolen.

If you live in the area please can you check any CCTV for the dates and times mentioned above.

If you have any information about this incident please report it on the Thames Valley Police website, or call 101, quoting reference 43190362967.

Find out how you can reduce the risk of becoming a victim of burglary by downloading your FREE Home Security Guide from the Thames Valley Police website HERE

THERE is some concern among Thame Town Councillors, that a capacity crisis could be looming for Lord Williams’s School, if Thame has to have more housing than has been planned for.

Questions about future planning for secondary places in the town came from Thame Town Councillors to County Councillor Nick Carter, after his quarterly report to TTC on Tuesday, November 19, included a warning that, if housing growth increases significantly more than currently planned, it could trigger the need for further expansion of education provision in Thame.

‘Future Proofing’ Lord Bill’s

Cllr Kate Gregory told Cllr Carter that she was concerned about ‘future proofing’ Lord Williams’s School and asked if there were plans for the expansion of LWS and what the plan was regarding another secondary school, and suggested it could be in Chinnor. Cllr Carter replied that Icknield School in Watlington is an alternative for Chinnor pupils, but that it does not have sixth form facilities, but that choice could be a quicker solution.

Cllr Paul Cowell said that ‘there is already pressure at Lord Williams’s’ with 13,  year 7 classes. (ED. The published Admission Number for the school is 320 in each year group. However, for the academic year September 2020 – 2021 there will be an additional form of entry to Year 7, taking the admissions number for that year group to 350.) He, Cllr Cowell, feared that Thame would be left behind before the situation becomes a crisis, and asked what could be done to raise the priority for engagement between the various bodies.”

Less choice for pupils outside catchment area?

Cllr Carter said that although the county council is responsible for admissions, the fact that the school is an autonomous Academy ‘complicates relationships’. He added that LWS has a new Headteacher ‘which may well be a factor’, and that he had not spoken to him about his view yet. In his report earlier, Cllr Carter had said: “As future housing development in Thame increases the local population, the planned expansion of Lord Williams’s should ensure sufficient school choice for families within the catchment area, but there is likely to be a reduction in choice for families outside the catchment area.” (ED. As well as from Chinnor, Lord Williams’s designated area includes some Buckinghamshire villages. It also attracts children from outside its designated area, from other parts of Buckinghamshire.)

He explained that The Thame Neighbourhood Plan protects a site for a potential new primary scool, as well as for secondary school expansion. “There may be just one answer, he said, “..to build a new secondary school. But where it should be built, is a factor.”

Thame’s Primary Schools

Cllr Carter report that: “Several primary schools in the Thame & Chinnor area have expanded in response to recent and planned housing development, in some cases providing additional school capacity faster than the pupil generation from the housing growth, so in the short term creating spare places.

Once the current expansion programme is completed, there is expected to be sufficient capacity to meet demand resulting from the adopted SODC core housing strategy, but if housing growth increases significantly more than currently planned, it could trigger the need for further expansion in Thame.

Early Years Provision – not enough!

In terms of Early Years free entitlement, Cllr Carter added: “Provision across this area barely meets the needs of the local population. Additional early years capacity will be required to meet increased demand for places created by housing developments.