A MOOD of compromise swept through a meeting about a controversial housing plan this morning.

South Oxfordshire District Council’s cabinet discussed its Local Plan for the first time today since being told by the government on Tuesday night that it needs to get it done by December.

Public speakers made arguments against the local plan, expressing their worries that too many homes could be built in the wrong places, including on untouched green belt land.

But the cabinet agreed a series of points which the full council could vote on later this evening.

Council leader Sue Cooper said: “This seems to us to be a progressive way forward. I agree the environmental agenda has moved on a lot, and what we want to do coincides with what the secretary of state has said in public about planning.”

The Lib Dem-Green cabinet had discussed other laws which could be used to make sure any new homes in South Oxfordshire are built to highly sustainable standards.

Oxfordshire County Counci leader Ian Hudspeth urged the district to finish the plan.

He said there had been a 'wasted eight months' spent arguing about the plan, which could have been used to complete it.

Mr Hudspeth added: "I am sure you realise what is written in election leaflets has to be balanced against what can be delivered if  and when you are in control."

South Oxfordshire resident Adrian Townsend was opposed to accepting the Local Plan, and suggested the council should still scrap it and put together a new one.

But Robin Bennett, cabinet member for  economic development and regeneration said he thought the council could go ahead with the plan and still be as green as possible.

Mr Bennett said: "We all know what the previous cabinet recommendation was back in October, but I think we have to acknowledge the direction that has happened is very clear.

"But it does leave some positive scope for us to work as councillors to work for our residents."

He added that SODC would be willing to work together with the county council and government to make sure new cycle routes are built, and highly sustainable building standards are enforced.

What will councillors be discussing tonight?

The cabinet agreed on a motion, a set of decisions for the future of the plan, which the full council will vote on at 6pm tonight.

The motion included:

  • that the council would continue with its Local Plan, and submit it to government inspectors to make sure it is legal.
  • a timetable to make sure it is all complete by December this year is in place.

This was all based on the orders given to the council by Robert Jenrick, secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, in a letter he sent to Ms Cooper on Tuesday night.

The motion also included:

  • that the council should write back to Mr Jenrick to make sure £215 million of funding for new roads around Didcot is now paid to Oxfordshire County Council.
  • to find ways for the council to address the climate emergency by ‘enhancing planning policies for environmental standards’.