Councils pay Oxford college £545,500 after planning delay
Two councils have paid a total of £545,500 to an Oxford University college after delays to a planning decision.Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council were told to pay the costs to Merton College over its planning application for 540 homes at Rutten Lane in Yarnton.The college first submitted the application in 2021, but in 2023 decided to appeal because Cherwell District Council failed to make a decision on it.The authority said it had carried out a "thorough examination" of the case and an action plan was in place.
The Planning Inspectorate awarded costs to Merton College as part of the appeal.Figures obtained by the BBC show that Cherwell District Council has now paid £401,769.74 and Oxfordshire County Council has paid £145,500.The inspector's report said that Cherwell District Council had "delayed development that should clearly have been permitted".It added that Oxfordshire County Council behaved "unreasonably" over a request for a contribution to highway works at the Peartree Interchange as part of the application.The development is part of the 4,400 new homes allocated by Cherwell Council in Yarnton, north Oxford, Kidlington and Begbroke to meet Oxford's housing needs.A report released by Cherwell District Council's auditors said that a review had found significant "weaknesses" in the authority's handling of the application.It said: "The council has already been financially exposed as a result of these weaknesses and, if left unaddressed, there is a risk that the situation reoccurs with other strategic site applications it handles."A spokesperson for Cherwell District Council said: "A thorough examination of the case has been undertaken. "An internal management action plan has been prepared to address the findings of that examination for immediate implementation."An Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson said it had "considered the Planning Inspectorate's decision and it will continue to review its internal procedures related to the outcome of this appeal and subsequent costs ordered against the authority".
You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
21 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Tulisa to recount drugs trial in new memoir detailing her career highs and lows
Tulisa Contostavlos has announced a new memoir that will detail the highs and 'unimaginable lows' of her music career, including her collapsed drugs trial in 2014. The pop singer, 36, who found fame in hip-hop trio N-Dubz, was arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs in 2013, but the charges were later dismissed after prosecution witness, 'fake sheikh' journalist Mazher Mahmood, was found guilty of tampering with evidence in the trial. Advertisement The book, titled Judgement, has been written using journals that Contostavlos wrote in amid the media storm following the sting operation that saw Mahmood pose as a wealthy film producer called Samir Khan. In an Instagram video on Tuesday, Contostavlos said: '90% of this no one has ever known. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tulisa Contostavlos (@tulisacontostavlos) 'The story of my year in 2013 has been spoken about many times, but it has never been told in the way that it's told in my new book. 'This is living all the juiciest moments from behind the scenes. This book will have you crying one moment, on the edge of your seat the next.' Advertisement She added: 'I have given absolutely all of myself in this book, it's Sex And The City on a drugs charge.' She wrote in the caption: 'As you all know, I've been through the highs and some unimaginable lows in my career. 'For the first time, I'm sharing everything. The truth, the pain, the fallout, and the strength I discovered when my world fell apart.' The singer had been accused of arranging for Mahmood to be sold more than £800 worth of cocaine by one of her contacts following an elaborate sting for The Sun On Sunday in 2013. Advertisement During a meeting at a hotel in London, Mahmood posed as a film producer and plied Contostavlos with alcohol as they discussed an acting role alongside Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio. Following the collapse of the trial Contostavlos said 'I have never dealt drugs and never been involved in taking or dealing cocaine' in a statement where she also accused Mahmood of a 'horrific and disgusting entrapment'. In 2016 Mahmood was jailed for tampering with evidence in the collapsed drugs trial when the 'King of the Sting' and his driver Alan Smith, were found guilty of plotting to pervert the course of justice. Publishing director, Ciara Lloyd, who has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to the book, said: 'When I read Tulisa's proposal, I knew instantly that I wanted to publish her. Advertisement 'I remember the infamous 'Fake Sheikh' trial well and how unfairly Tulisa was treated, a story that highlighted the bias and misogyny in the press, and in our society. Tulisa Contostavlos found fame as a member of N-Dubz (Ian West/PA) 'So, to give a voice to Tulisa and her story as well as showcase her phenomenal talent as a writer is a real privilege. 'This is the perfect redemption story for the original Female Boss, and I'm so proud to be publishing her at Blink.' Contostavlos is most known for singing in hip-hop group N-Dubz who had hits with songs including I Need You, Girls and Number 1, featuring Tinchy Stryder. Advertisement In 2011 she became a judge on popular reality singing series The X Factor and a year later she released her debut solo album, The Female Boss. She also released the book, Honest: My Story So Far: The Official Autobiography, in 2012, which detailed her life growing up on a council estate in London, to making music with N-Dubz, and helping girl group Little Mix win The X Factor in 2011. The singer from Camden most recently appeared on the 2024 season of I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!. Judgement will publish in hardback, ebook and audio in August 2025 from Blink Publishing.
Daily Record
22 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Robust rent controls will prevent Lanarkshire residents from paying 'rip-off' prices
'Homes are for living in, not for grotesque profiteering' Lanarkshire MSP Gillian Mackay is pushing for robust rent controls to prevent people being 'ripped off' and left struggling to make ends meet. The Scottish Greens have published plans to end rip-off rents with their proposals for the upcoming Housing (Scotland) Bill, that will save people living in rented accommodation money. Amendments lodged by the Scottish Greens would allow rents to be increased by no more than the cost-of-living or increases in wages. And in areas where rents are already too high, local authorities could put in place lower increases, freezes or rent reductions. Statistics show that average monthly rent for a two-bedroomed privately rented property in North Lanarkshire rose from £488 in 2019 to £672 in 2024, a jump of 38 per cent. And in South Lanarkshire it went up to £714 from £533 in the same time period, a rise of 34 per cent. Rent caps during this time would still have resulted in rents rising but at a significantly lower level. Gillian Mackay MSP said: 'Far too many people in Lanarkshire are being made to pay rip-off rents. It's leaving them with very little left to pay for food, heating and electricity bills, or to simply enjoy their lives. 'All parties agree that we are in a housing emergency, but we need to start acting like it. The proposals we have published will ensure a robust system of rent controls that will support tenants across Lanarkshire and keep rents lower. 'Our proposals would give stability to households and families on the frontline of the crisis, and make sure rents are fairer across the board going forward. 'By tying rents to average earnings, we are establishing an important principle that rents should not rise faster than renters' ability to pay. 'Homes are for living in, not for grotesque profiteering. The Housing Bill was introduced by the Scottish Greens. It gives us the opportunity to transform the broken housing market and protect renters all across our country.'
Leader Live
24 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Government ‘confident' it can implement US deal in time to protect steel sector
US president Donald Trump exempted the UK from the 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium that came into effect on Wednesday morning, saying he would 'provide different treatment' after the deal struck between London and Washington last month. The decision means that British steel exports will continue to face a 25% levy from America, rather than the higher rate, while negotiations continue on bringing the agreement into effect. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: 'As a result of our landmark deal with the US, UK steel won't be subject to additional tariffs. 'My Government will always protect British businesses and British jobs.' But the situation could still change again in July, when the US is set to either increase the tariffs to 50% or introduce the quotas in the US-UK agreement, effectively eradicating the tax, depending on whether the deal is implemented. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the BBC's Today programme on Wednesday she was 'really confident' that her Cabinet colleagues had the 'ability' and 'determination' to 'ensure that we are protecting British businesses and that we can get on and implement the trade deals we have agreed'. Ms Alexander said the Government would be introducing legislation 'to ensure that that happens', although this could take the form of regulations rather than a full Bill. Meanwhile, the head of industry body UK Steel, Gareth Stace, urged the Government to 'apply rocket boosters' to negotiations with the US on implementing the deal. Mr Stace said Mr Trump's decision to keep tariffs on British steel at 25% was a 'welcome pause' but warned that continuing uncertainty was making US customers 'dubious over whether they should even risk making UK orders'. The Government has pledged to keep working with the US to get the agreement up and running and the 25% tariff rate 'removed'. Those negotiations saw a meeting between Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and US trade representative Jamieson Greer in Paris on Tuesday at which the two men committed to working closely to implement the deal. President Trump just signed a proclamation raising tariffs on steel and aluminum imports by 50% to protect U.S. steel and national security.🇺🇸 THE GOLDEN AGE IS HERE! — The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 3, 2025 A spokesperson said: 'The UK was the first country to secure a trade deal with the US earlier this month and we remain committed to protecting British business and jobs across key sectors, including steel as part of our plan for change. 'We're pleased that as a result of our agreement with the US, UK steel will not be subject to these additional tariffs. We will continue to work with the US to implement our agreement, which will see the 25% US tariffs on steel removed.' The Conservatives have said that Labour's 'botched negotiations have left businesses in limbo'. Shadow business and trade secretary Andrew Griffith said: 'Keir Starmer stood in front of the nation and insisted to the British public that his Labour government had achieved a trade deal with the US – and now one month later our industries face a fresh tariffs blow. 'So once again it seems that Keir Starmer's promise was just like the rest: hollow and broken. Labour's botched negotiations have left businesses in limbo and this country simply cannot afford their continuing failure.'
