NEWS: Planning Resource January 23 & 16, and Oxford Times January 23, 2020
South Oxfordshire warns Jenrick that plan intervention sets 'dangerous precedent'
Planning Resource has written two articles about the disagreement between South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) and Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Robert Jenrick has put a stop to SODC progressing with its plans to review it’s Local Plan (how many houses to be built, where and by when), asking SODC to “outline by 31st January 2020, if there are any exceptional circumstances as to why you do not have a plan in place that I should take into account when I make a decision on next steps.“ Mr Jenrick’s next steps are either to produce the Local Plan himself or give it to Oxfordshire County Council to deliver.
Oxfordshire County Council have said they do not have the skills to do this work, as they do not prepare housing plans.
Cllr Sue Cooper, Leader of SODC has asked to meet face-to-face with Mr Jenrick to talk this through and find a compromise solution. She has not yet had a reply.
Why does this matter?
SODC Council changed control and councillors dramatically in May 2019 elections, on a promise to review the Local Plan of housing numbers and not building on Green Belt land.
If Mr Jenrick will step in over plans in one District Council, what will he and his department do to drive the delivery of 1 million houses along the Arc by 2050?
Some Councillors have told NEG not to worry about 1 million houses across the Arc by 2050, as Local District and City Councils have control over these plans and can chose to build some of these new houses or not, and that it’s up to them. NEG was always concerned that this was not the case, especially when there’s a central Government push for housing targets. Is this proof that Councils ultimately do not have control?
What’s been reported?
The Oxford Times, January 23, carries an opinion piece by Cllr Dr Sue Roberts outlining seven reasons why the SODC Local Plan must be reviewed. See the article at the end of this report.
Planning Resource January 23rd reports “Government plans to impose a local plan upon South Oxfordshire would represent a "dangerous precedent" and risks undermining local democracy, the council's leader has warned the secretary of state in a letter.
“Sue Cooper has written to housing secretary Robert Jenrick, requesting a face-to-face meeting to find "a pragmatic way forward" and the lifting of a holding direction that prevents the council taking any action in relation to its local plan.
“In October, Jenrick issued a holding direction instructing the council "not to take any step in connection with the adoption of the plan".
Cllr Sue Cooper wrote to “Jenrick last week, Cooper said the decision to withdraw the plan was due to the council's financial situation, climate change concerns and the fact the new administration had been voted in on the basis of opposition to its proposals.
“Cooper suggested an agreement could be reached over ways to amend the plan to address South Oxfordshire’s concerns about the strategy. "I firmly believe that a face-to-face meeting with you is now essential," she said.
Planning Rsource, January 16th reported “Why a county council is poised to take over production of a district's local plan . Ministers have warned an Oxfordshire district council considering ditching its long-emerging development plan that it may ask the county council to intervene. Observers believe some form of intervention is likely, with the county saying it is willing to step in, despite resource concerns.
“Earlier this month, housing secretary Robert Jenrick delivered South Oxfordshire District Council an ultimatum – explain by the end of January why it has failed to adopt its local plan or face government intervention. Jenrick’s warning is the latest episode in a battle that has been raging since a coalition of Liberal Democrats, Greens and independents ousted the previous Conservative regime in last May’s local elections.
”Experts believe that the threat to remove plan responsibilities from South Oxfordshire is partly motivated by the importance of a £215 million housing growth deal agreed between central government and the six Oxfordshire councils. Under the terms of the deal, all local plans in the county were to be submitted by April 2019.
“Ian Hudspeth, Conservative leader of the county council said the council has not yet discussed taking over the plan with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, but it stands ready to do so if necessary. He said: "If the secretary of state asked us to come forward, we would have to establish exactly what the government’s intentions are. We would work with the department and South Oxfordshire to make sure the plan goes through."
“However, Hudspeth said that even if his authority was tasked only with progressing the existing plan submitted for examination by the previous South Oxfordshire regime, "there would be resource issues". He said: "We don’t produce local plans but like any county council our transport teams work closely with planning teams on the delivery of housing. But although there is a lot of knowledge there, we would require specific additional expertise."
You can see the most recent letter Robert Jenrick wrote to Cllr Sue Roberts here.
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