SODC Local Plan deadlock could be broken

The latest move in the South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) Local Plan row looks set to result in the authority allowing it to continue its progress through examination.

A report has been produced by SODC on its options in the latest move in the authority’s fight with the housing minister Robert Jenrick over the plan.

In October, Mr Jenrick imposed a direction to prevent SODC withdrawing the plan over fears hundreds of millions of pounds’ infrastructure funding could be lost. Now it is believed he will lift the direction to allow the report to be discussed by SODC’s cabinet at its March 5 meeting.

The report offers two options – allow the plan to continue through the examination process or withdraw it.

However, the report also warns that if councillors vote to withdraw the plan, Mr Jenrick could impose a new direction to prevent that happening and Oxfordshire County Council, which has already agreed to take control of the plan if requested, would be likely to be given control.

SODC leader, Cllr Sue Cooper, said: “The new report sets out all of the risks and benefits of each of the options, and I am very sure my colleagues in the cabinet will discuss them thoroughly and as always come to a recommendation that has the best interests of South Oxfordshire residents at its heart.”

The report can be seen on the meeting agenda here.

Image: By Jonathan Billinger, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13621647