The Chair of the Committee is Lesley McLean and the Vice-Chair David Thurling 

Development and Strategy

This committee is concerned with planning and development matters and with the Council's policies and strategic direction.

Terms of reference 

• To agree, monitor and report the Councils Values, Aims and Objectives
• To agree, monitor and report the Councils strategic ambitions in the near and longer term
• To agree, monitor and report on the Strategic Plan for the Council
• To agree, monitor and report an action plan to implement the strategic ambitions of the Council
• To review existing, and development of polices that build on the strategic ambitions to guide the services and activities of the Council
• To carry out discussions with developers and other third parties on behalf of the Council
• To consider and respond to major consultations from other bodies and represent the Parish's interests to other bodies
• To oversee the internal management of the Council's affairs
• To receive reports from Planning, Strategy and Policy Groups as necessary
• To consider and monitor District, County, and other developmental plans, proposed listed buildings, conservation areas, tree preservation orders and building preservation orders which impact upon Kidlington or its vicinity, and the making of all appropriate representations
• To make representations to consultations that affect the village from other organisations and authorities as appropriate
• To make representations to consultations that affect the village from other organisations and authorities as appropriate
• To make representations to the Local Planning Authority on applications for planning permission which have been notified in accordance with relevant legislation and in emergencies.  Final decisions are made by Cherwell District Council Officers under delegation or, if placed before them, the District Council Planning Committee
• To make representation in respect of appeals against the granting/permission or refusal of planning permission
• To undertake street naming under powers delegated by Cherwell District Council and to make representations regarding house naming and street numbering
• To consider and comment on all environmental matters and work n partnership with other Councils, agencies, and groups to secure improvements in the physical environment
• To liaise with Oxfordshire Police, Fire Service, and other statutory and voluntary services in relation to emergencies
• To consider and review the Kidlington Masterplan as required
• To undertake a Neighbourhood planning process as necessary
• To consider and comment on all Highways matters and contribute towards improving the local transport infrastructure.  To make recommendations representing the interests of the Kidlington Community as a whole to Cherwell District Council on planning applications received.

Planning Applications

Most planning applications (although there are exceptions) are made to Cherwell District Council who then have responsibility to ask all interested parties including neighbouring properties, the County Council and the Parish Council for their views on the development.

The Parish Council is, therefore, a consultee.

The issues the Parish Council are able to consider include:  

• loss of privacy/impact on residential amenity overshadowing/overbearing impact highway safety, traffic and parking issues 
• noise
• visual amenity/street scene
• wildlife
• historic buildings and conservation
• flooding
• design, and materials
• appearance of the development
• capacity of infrastructure – schools/public transport etc

Issues the Parish Council is NOT able to consider include: 

• loss of View
• effect on property values
• private rights
• boundary disputes, and construction noise

Planning applications are considered at the next available Development and Strategy Committee meeting (see below for meeting dates) and included on the agenda;  links to the appropriate section of the CDC Planning Portal are also included on the Planning Applications Section on the Website.