PROGRESS REPORT – July 2018 - Oxford Civic Society · 2018-08-03 · Progress Report 18.08.03.docx 5 of 12 Vernon Porter Appendix A: Chairman Activities July 4th – meeting with

Progress Report 18.08.03.docx 1 of 12 Vernon Porter

PROGRESS REPORT – July 2018

For Members of the Executive Committee

Items included here are for information and reference. Please address any comments or queries

to the relevant contributor.

1) Officers Ian 723289 | Gillian 721810 | Richard 512607 | Vernon 557660

Oxfordshire Futures Group - current activities

Oxfordshire Futures Group - current activities

Although there was no meeting of the OFG in this period a number of key events were monitored.

The monitoring aims to identify opportunities for effective intervention by OCS on issues

of importance to the Society. The development planning and management context in which

OCS is working is exceptionally dynamic and this provides opportunities for OFG, Planning and

Transport Group constructive interventions. Synchronization of our activities with the schedules

of the various development planning activities in the city and county is essential.

Please refer to the Progress Report for the April 2018 Executive Committee for details of the

Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal. Progress and issues arising are described below:

A. CITY COUNCIL PLANNING DEPARTMENT NEWS

Patsy Dell, Head of Planning, Sustainable Development and Regulatory Services advised the

OCS Chair that she has resigned with effect from October 2018. This is disappointing news

as Patsy has being a very effective City Planning Officer since her arrival from the matching

position in Cambridge. The reasons for Patsy’s resignation are personal.

An informal meeting was held with Patsy to discuss how we might continue to work with

Patsy until October and thereafter (Patsy will be working with Hertfordshire County Council),

including with Patsy as a special member / adviser to OCS. Patsy welcomed this suggestion.

After Patsy’s departure Adrian Arnold (Development Management Service Manager) will be

Interim Head of Planning. A new Head of Planning will be sought for a restructured core

planning department stripped of the current array of regulatory activities.

B. PLANNING AND TRANSPORT ACTIVITIES

B.1. OXFORDSHIRE JOINT STATUTORY SPATIAL PLAN

A draft Statement of Community Involvement has been prepared by the JSSP team and subject

to endorsement at the OGB meeting on July 31st there will now be a consultation on the draft

(as requested by OCS). It is expected that the consultation will be in September. A copy of

the draft SCI is available on the OGB website as part of the July 31st meeting documents.

https://www.oxfordshiregrowthboard.org/

Version 4 of the JSSP Scoping document was also available in the documents (same website)

for the OGB meeting of July 31st. The scope continues to be formulated and the report being

prepared by the OFG with Nick Falk will contribute to this. The draft OCS report was discussed

with Bob Price and is now being revised following the advice provided. Peter Thompson, Peter

Headicar and Andrew Pritchard are contributing and the final draft is being assembled by Ian

Green.

B.2. OXFORD LOCAL PLAN

• The Transport Group has agreed to prepare OCS position statements on key transportation

issues (see Transport Group meeting notes) so that OCS can contribute effectively to the final

stages of Local Plan preparation and the anticipated final consultation in late November / De-

cember 2018.

Other OCS groups may like to consider making similar preparations.

https://www.oxfordshiregrowthboard.org/


B.3. OXFORD CENTRE-WEST

• Meetings have now been confirmed with Susan Brown (Leader, City Council) and (separately)

Alex Hollingsworth (City Council Cabinet member for Planning). The City centre-west will be

discussed with both with a view of influencing the reformation of the West End Area Steering

Group and the next steps for integrated planning of the area with the planning of the city

centre.

• First Base, one of the shortlisted developers for the Oxpens site has met the OCS Chair for a

briefing on the context of the site development.

• OCS has been invited by Westgate Alliance to discuss improvements to the bleak south, east

and west elevations of the Westgate shopping centre.

B.4. OXFORD CITY-REGION PLANNING AND THE UNIVERSITIES

A meeting was held with David Prout (Pro-Vice Chancellor, Planning and Resources) to discuss

the University’s new development strategy. A report of the meeting can be found in Appendix

B

A similar meeting is being arranged with Oxford Brookes University.

C. Association of North Thames Amenity Societies (ANTAS)

OCS has been a member of ANTAS for many years. There are a total of 18 Societies inn

membership stretching from Oxford to Bishops Stortford. IT meets twice a year to hear a

guest speaker and discuss matters of common concern. The meetings have been interesting

and worthwhile and frequently inn Aylesbury! The annual fee is £15. Some societies are

members of Civic Voice a majority are not but it is seen by Civic Voice as a regional

organisation.

The current Chairman and Secretary have indicated that they will retire in October 2018 and

no one seems willing to take over. A recent survey of the 18 members elicited 7 replies.

VPs view is that we should not make any special effort to keep the grouping alive. Societies

should look towards forming County based groupings.

For more details of ANTAS see http://www.antas.org.uk/index.htm

2) Communications Group Hilary 762418 | Liz 765453 | Tony 765727 |

July’s Visions was published; the printed version was in the post and the online version on the

website before the weekend of 28 July.

One new post (on Oxford North) was added to the OCS website during the month (apart from

the regular comments on planning applications).

The @oxcivicsoc twitter account now has over 1000 followers.

Gillian Coates has joined the Comms Group to help co-ordinate with the work of the OCS50

team.

A batch of membership leaflets was left at the marketing suite of Mosaics Oxford, aka Barton

Park Phase 1. The sales people said they would give them to any of the incoming residents who

enquired about local activities. Leaflets were also left in the mailboxes of the already-occupied

apartments.

A number of colleges and local businesses have been contacted encouraging them to join as

corporate members. Response so far has been muted.

Possible venues for the 2019 AGM and the President’s Reception are being considered.

TT and IG met FilmOxford to progress the HLF bid for a film based around Liz Woolley’s OCS50

‘book’.

Our Student Ambassadors are being added to the various working groups’ Google Groups to

give them an insight into our day-to-day activities.

http://www.antas.org.uk/index.htm


3) Membership & Community Groups Liz 765453

Membership stats to end of June:

June 2018 = 27 (758 members)

June 2017= 27 (901 members) December 2017 = 50 (864 members)

June 2016 = 19 (921 members) December 2016 = 35 (927 members)

June 2015 = 27 (919 members) December 2015 = 59 + 1 Corp (937 mem-

bers)

June 2014 = 26 + 1 Corp + 1 RA (949

members)

December 2014 = 51+ 2 Corp + 1 RA

(953members)

June 2013 = 35 plus 1 RA & 1 Corp December 2013 = 72 plus 1 RA & 1 Corp =

969

June 2012 = 33 plus 1 RA plus 2 Corporate

(950 members)

December 2012 = 64 plus 1 RA plus 4 Corpo-

rate = 972

June 2011 = 47 plus 1 Corporate December 2011 = 60 plus 1 Corporate = 981

June 2010 = 43 plus 2 Corporate (962

members)

December 2010 = 68 plus 5 Corporate = 985

June 2009 = 53 plus 4 Corporate December 2009 = 101 plus 4 corporate – 971

members

June 2008 = 37 plus 2 Corporate December 2008 = 75 plus 6 corporate plus 1

RA – 948 members

June 2007 = 40 December 2007 = 61 plus 1 RA plus 1 corpo-

rate – 941 members

June 2006 = 59 December 2006 = 120 plus 1 RA – 962 mem-

bers

.

4) Planning________________________________________________Clive 557627

Planning Report: see website for details of comments on applications.

CB has indicated that he will retire as Planning Group convenor in October. New arrangements

need to be agreed to cover, as a minimum:

- organising the Wednesday fortnightly planning group rota

- putting the arrangements for pre-application meetings on a more systematic and formal basis as pro-

posed by Richard

- regulating the membership of the group, i.e. policy on admitting or not admitting new members to the

group and involvement of student ambassadors being organised by Tony Turton.

- writing articles for Visions.

- representing the Society on planning matters

5) Programme Terry Bremble 515326

No report.

6) Transport Group Juliet Blackburn 554017 | Andrew Pritchard 240014

A report of a meeting of the group held on 20th July can be found in Appendix C


7) OxClean Rosanne Bostock 514579

Margaret Maden’s report on succession is appended (Appendix D)

8) Housing Policy Peter 558616 Tony 765727

Papers summarising the presentations made at the “Broken Housing Market Conference” on 1st

June were circulated. Arrangements are being made for a discussion meeting of the group early

in September, with a range of topics suggested.


Appendix A: Chairman Activities

July 4th – meeting with TT and MM to discuss Heritage Lottery Fund bid.

July 5th – Programme Group Meeting

July 5th - OPT AGM

July 5th – Meeting with Bob Price to discuss Oxfordshire 2050 draft (report for JSSP)

July 9th – Meeting with Mary Clarkson (City Councillor with Cabinet responsibility for Culture

and City centre.

July 9th – Communications Group

July 13th – Informal meeting with Rosanne – OxClean

July 14th – Blue Plaques ceremony

July 17th – Transport Innovation meeting – Said Business School

July 18th – Meeting with David Prout, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Planning and Resources) Univer-

sity of Oxford

July 19th – BOB-MK Design Review Panel (Chair) (residential development in Banbury for

Trinity College, Oxford)

July 20th – Transport Group meeting

July 25th – Meeting with Barry Jessop, 1st Base – potential developers of Oxpens

July 26th – Meeting with Film Oxford re- HLF bid (with TT)

July 27th – Meeting with Liz Woolley for presentation of OCS ‘history’


Appendix B: OXFORD CIVIC SOCIETY – NOTES OF A MEETING WITH DR D PROUT, PRO-VICE

CHANCELLOR, PLANNING AND RESOURCES, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.

18 JULY 2018

Present: Juliet Blackburn, Clive Booth, Gillian Coates, Ian Green, Tony Joyce, Andrew Pritchard,

Peter Thompson.

This was the first meeting with the Pro VC, its purpose to discuss how OCS and the University can

establish a useful discussion forum in connection with the University’s spatial strategy and how

this can feed into the wider issues of the city and county.

At Dr Prout’s invitation, Ian Green opened the discussions by describing the aims and objectives

of OCS. These go across the whole gambit of activities

Consultation – Demand management

Involvement – Contributions to strategic documentations

Lobbying – not protesting

Looking to future – while preserving the integrity of the past

Networking and relationships with decision making bodies

Pro-active

The reputation of OCS is evinced by its involvement in the important projects currently under

discussion in the county and beyond. This exemplifies the trust the Council and other bodies have

in the sensible and measured approach taken by OCS.

Dr Prout welcomed the proposal to hold ?twice-yearly meetings to discuss developments in the

City and beyond. He was interested to learn if the University were a corporate member of OCS

and also to know what view OCS held in connection with the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor proposals.

He then outlined the primary elements of the University’s Strategic Plan, 2018-20231 which

impacted on housing, transport and the development of particular areas of the city and outlying

areas. The projects he outlined to the group concerned

Development of the Begbroke site – this would be community driven with a mix of univer-

sity and social housing

Development of a number of graduate sites – Wellington Square, Court Place Gardens Iffley,

Banbury Road (currently occupied by Anthropology, joint with Hertford College)

Development of Osney Mead site

Demolition of Tinbergen Building

Development of the ROQ site – discussions centre on provision for Computer Sciences and

Engineering.

The consensus was meetings of this kind were valuable and all present welcomed the opportunity

for further discussions. It was agreed to hold a second meeting in January 2019. Dr Prout

undertook to identify a suitable date.

1 Copy circulated post-meeting


Appendix C: OCS TRANSPORT GROUP Meeting notes: 20 July 2018, 10 a.m.

Present: Juliet Blackburn, Ian Green, Peter Headicar, Hugh Jaeger, Graham Jones, Tony Joyce,

Andrew Pritchard, Jonathan Scheele (Chair), Graham Smith, Peter Thompson, Michael Tite, Tim

Wilson

Apologies: Tim Lund

1.Actions and Matters Arising from last meeting

1.1 IG was still trying to fix a date for a meeting with Alex Hollingsworth. He advised that a

meeting had been arranged with Susan Brown for OCS group conveners and Executive Com-

mittee representatives. He also said that Patsy Dell, Head of Planning, Sustainable Develop-

ment and Regulatory Services, Oxford City Council, has resigned with effect from October

2018. She had been good to work with, and is keen to intensify contacts with us between

now and October.

1.2 The draft Oxfordshire Futures report on the scope of work for the JSSP had been circulated.

1.3 AP had not yet circulated his revised report on Rapid Transit.

1.4 All to consider a group view on transport in the city centre – see item 4.

1.5 JB reported that her contact at Chiltern Rail was currently on holiday.

1.6 All to look at Dieter Helm’s website on Integrated Transport.

2. Joint Statutory Spatial Plan

IG had spoken with Bob Price and discussed our draft report. Bob felt that it was too general,

and needed to relate in more detail to LTP4. There was too much on trams, but there needed to

be a vision on Rapid Transit. More detail was needed on “Garden Cities”, in particular the various

ones/types being promoted in the region. There had been significant changes since 2014. PT

said that our ideas did not agree with those of the DCLG on Garden Cities. He asked for

comments from members.

PH said that there was a choice to be made between the interpretation of urban intensification,

distinguishing between densification of development in larger conurbations and the present

tendency to concentrate development in market towns and villages. IG had been to Banbury

and noted the new groups of 250-300 houses that had been built with no strategic planning for

the combined groups of houses, including transport planning. HJ noted that Banbury town bus

services were disappearing. GPS complained that County road guidance didn’t support

sustainable transport such as cycling and public transport: the Residential Road Design Guide

should be abolished. IG said that Trinity College was considering building housing at Banbury for

some of its key workers. AP said that housing could be kept for key workers only if the college

continued to own the land, not selling it to a developer (IG agreed that this was the case). He

noted that Stagecoach had produced a useful guide on how to design developments with public

transport in mind.

GJ said that the Eynsham “Cotswold Village” had been designed as a stand-alone community

with a school, but poor links across the A40 to the existing village. Those links were essential.

PT had discussed garden cities with Nick Falk. PT felt that we could not do it all from scratch,

and suggested that we might recruit a team to look at the basics. IG felt that we didn’t want to

write the JSSP, just to make comments that could be included in its scoping. It was important

that housing, employment and transport were located together. TJ commented that at our

meeting with David Prout (University pro-Vice Chancellor) he had said that some employees

commuted long distances (e.g. Winchester, London). PH said that he would circulate a report on

commuter numbers and distances.

IG said that there were two options for the finalisation of our current JSSP report editing: (1) we

could prepare it in time for the next Growth Board meeting on 30 July – he would be prepared

to lead on this, and had already agreed some changes with Nick Falk; (2) we could leave it until

September or October. He preferred Option 1, to get in early, as did GJ. We could then meet the

leading JSSP team members (Giles Hughes – Head of Planning, West Oxfordshire, and Rachel

Williams) to discuss it. JB noted that a JSSP statement of common ground had been prepared

and IG noted that it was being refined and will be finalised following publication of the revised

NPPF. The Group agreed to pursue Option 1.


3. Report on Transport Café (Catapult) meeting on 17th July

The title of this meeting, attended by several members, was “How Innovation will power the

Oxford-MK-Cambridge Corridor”, but there had been relatively few references to the Corridor.

The list of presentation titles is as follows:

How Innovation will power the Oxford-MK-Cambridge Corridor –titles

*Oxford and Mobox introduction – Llewellyn Morgan (Oxfordshire County Council)

*Delivering a World Class Heartland: Opportunity Calling – Martin Tugwell (England’s Economic

Heartland Strategic Alliance)

*Right Hear. Right Now D/deaf Access Tools – Mark Applin (Signly)

*Cambridge University Eco Racing – Building a vision for an inspiring future where sustainable

transport is ubiquitous - Xiaofang Zhang (Cambridge University Eco Racing)

*The Future of Commuting – Zach Eisaway/Alexander Opeagbe (Sparrow)

*Partnering for Prosperity: A new deal for the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford Arc – Nick

Francis (National Infrastructure Commission NIC)

*Stagecoach and the new mobility landscape – Matt Dacey (Stagecoach Digital)

*Transitioning to Autonomous Mobility: an Urban/Rural Perspective – George Economides

(Oxfordshire)

*The Energy Fog: How electric vehicles, blockchain, and fog computing will re-power the planet

– Ross Laurie (Energy Fog)

*Reinventing Road Data: City-wide sensor networks to bring Smart Cities to life – Mark

Nicholson/James Hill (Vivacity Labs)

*MK Futures 2050 and long-term growth – how do we deliver mobility for all – Fiona Robinson

(Milton Keynes Council)

The paper by Sparrow concerned transport for small communities and sounded rather like a

rural dial-a-ride. GPS had spoken to Nick Francis of the NIC and had sent him a paper on

distributor roads and how they produced negative effects on communities. The Stagecoach

paper put clients at the heart of connectivity. Autonomous vehicles would make no difference –

most of the claimed advantages could be achieved with existing car pools. It was clear that

there were a number of test sites for AV’s in the region. IG had sat next to Laura Peacock, who

was now concentrating on digital applications in all sectors (i.e. Health Services), and no longer

focussing on transport.

4. Transport in the City Centre/City Local Plan comments

IG said that the final Local Plan consultation was in November-December: what did we want to

see? We should re-engage with Patsy Dell to try and influence the report. He noted that in our

meeting with him, David Prout appeared to rule out congestion charging. IG wondered if we

could comment on existing operating congestion charging schemes. PT said that he knew of only

two: a very localised one in Durham, and London. JS said that the technical side appeared to be

developed, it was just a question of buying one. GJ said that the Workplace Parking Levy (WPL)

was easy to implement, but not welcomed by business.

JS proposed that we should put forward a series of short papers addressing different issues. PH

asked what had happened about the Phil Jones scheme responses. Martin Kraftl would be

bringing forward the decisions on congestion charging and WPL for the Local Plan – we should

meet him to find out where things stood at the moment. TJ said that the distribution of nursery

schools was an important factor that had not been considered in relation to traffic flows, e.g. in

the Headington triangle. One issue that had come from the meeting with David Prout had been

the inadequate provision of nursery schools. JB said the access to such schools was important:

the bollards in Dragon Lane were too close together to allow a cycle with infant carrier to get

through. HJ also said that there was very poor parking during the school runs.

JS suggested a list of papers, and those present were invited and agreed to take on preparation,

as follows:

1. Congestion charging (HJ)

2. WPL (JS)

3. ZEZ (JB)


4. Phil Jones report (AP)

5. Demand management (PH)

6. Nursery schools (TJ)

7. Bike routes and parking (GPS)

8. Deliveries including by bike (GJ)

9. A position paper (PT)

Delivery to be one week before the next meeting on 22 August, each limited to 2 sides of A4

IG suggested we should review previous City Council actions and make comments first. AP said

that he felt that too often single issues were discussed without their implications for other,

related ones, e.g. ZEZ effects on the need for congestion charging. GJ commented that taxis

were now to be allowed to use the Westgate link road. Decisions on the Worcester

Street/George Street junction had been deferred until the final version of the Phil Jones report

had been issued. The ZEZ report was expected in late autumn.

5. Oxford Tourism Policy

TW said that there should be a tourism tax. IG said that the Executive felt that it should not just

be for tourism. We needed to talk to Hayley Beer-Gamage, chief executive of The Oxfordshire

Experience (ref.OxTimes 12 July), and he would try to arrange a meeting, and also with Mary

Clarkson. AP and TJ had serious concerns about tourism, and TJ suggested we should also look

at what Bath was doing – the Bath Town Manager used to be in Oxford.

6. Transport Modes seminar

JB said that this was basically a road space use question. We needed to identify the problems.

AP suggested that a recent County map of congestion hot-spots might be a good idea, and was

supported by GJ. PT said that we needed a detailed evidence-based file similar to that produced

by Steer, Davies & Gleave for Cambridge. There were also differences in the extent of problems

in the morning and in the evening, and in and out of university and school terms. If we felt that

the public needed more evidence, maybe we should have a seminar.

JB and AP said that we needed technical details of the various modes to start with, and TJ said

that the costs of different modes were important. HJ said that we should look at the possible use

of electric buses and of autonomous buses. PH said that IT could play a role. GJ said that we

should consider how transport hubs such as the P&R sites could play a role, and PH said that

ease and number of transfers between modes was important. TJ thought that management of

tourism was also important. JB suggested the use of tourist trains, but HJ felt that this would

reduce bus use. JB said that she would contact Fiona Fernbach to see how the University’s

Transport Studies Group might help.

IG felt it important to synchronise our work with the planning and decision-making cycles. The

initial JSSP consultation was to be in January, and should include analyses of problems and

opportunities. TJ felt there could be a delay if more issues such as canals and waterways were

included, and their relevance to government legislation. PH asked whether our work could make

a contribution to the Local Plan. IG said that there were gaps in policy making, and pointed out

that the list of papers we had just agreed to produce would be part of evidence gathering.

AP and DW felt that individuals should look at different modes. PH said that there was no

integrated information to help with analysis of the problem. It should be possible to use IT to

make choices. PT felt that there were two aspects: (1) to influence the JSSP, and (2) to get the

information. AP was persuaded to put together an inventory of sources of information from

members. PH said that the County Council must have some information.

7. Other items

7a) Farewell for Martin Sutton of Stagecoach It was agreed to have an informal evening drinks

meeting, and IG agreed to set this up, probably in a college, if not too expensive.

7b) Meeting with Oxford Brookes Registrar TJ agreed to do this.


7c) Comments on the Andrew Gilligan report All were asked to do this.

8. AOB

a) TW and GPS complained about the removal of advance cycle provision at some junctions in

the Access to Headington works. AP to ask GPS about this.

b) TJ said that the implications for traffic of some of the University’s big ideas for development

shown by David Prout, including a new college at Headington, needed to be considered.

c) It was noted that our responses to the recent Oxford North consultation should be sent to

Clive Booth, who was collating them on behalf of the Society (now completed and response sent

to the developer).

d) HJ highlighted the extra £10M provided to fix potholes. These were particularly serious at

some bus stops – a water main had been punctured at Shelley Road. Potholes could be recorded

and details sent to Fix My Street.

e) Tim Lund had spoken to PT about the difficulties for pedestrians crossing the A40 to Barton.

Amongst others, the Ramblers were concerned.

f) JB was concerned about the impact of the Flood Channel on the expansion of the Seacourt

P&R, and wondered why it could not be double decked using the hardware from the temporary

car park at the Oxpens.

9. Date of next meeting

This was fixed for Wednesday 22 August at 10.00 a.m., probably at the same venue.

ACTIONS

1. IG to continue to try to arrange a meeting with Alex Hollingsworth, and with Patsy Dell.

2. AP to circulate revised report on Rapid Transit.

3. All to consider a group view on transport in the city centre

4. JB to fix a meeting with Chiltern Rail to find out their latest thinking about passenger ser-

vices on the Cowley line.

5. All to look at Dieter Helm’s website on Integrated Transport.

6. PH to circulate a report on commuter numbers and distances

7. IG to consolidate the scoping response to the JSSP and submit it by the next Growth

Board meeting on 30 July.

8. Short (2 sides of A4) papers to inform the Local Plan to be produced by 15th August; ti-

tles and authors agreed as follows:

8.1 Congestion charging (HJ)

8.2 WPL (JS)

8.3 ZEZ (JB)

8.4 Phil Jones report (AP)

8.5 Demand management (PH)

8.6 Nursery schools (TJ)

8.7 Bike routes and parking (GPS)

8.8 Deliveries including by bike (GJ)

8.9 A position paper (PT)

9. IG to fix up meetings with Hayley Beer-Gamage and Mary Clarkson on tourism

10. TJ to look at what Bath is doing to control tourism

11. ALL to help AP put together a list of sources of information on road congestion in

Oxfordshire and transport modes.

12. IG to set up farewell drinks event for Martin Sutton

13. TJ to set up meeting with Oxford Brookes registrar.

14. ALL to look at Andrew Gilligan report and prepare comments

15. IG to circulate Oxford University Development Strategy paper.

Andrew Pritchard, Ian Green, Jonathan Scheele

22 July 2018


Appendix D: OXCLEAN Report to the OCS Executive, August 2018.

OxClean started in 2007 as a branch of OCS. Much of the activity, now involving over 1000

volunteers in the annual litter-picking weekend, is the result of Rosanne Bostock’s inspiration

and imagination. She has been reliably supported by others in organisational matters including

website support, equipment provision, registration etc. Rosanne has now decided to pass her

convening/managing role to someone else and thus, the OCS Executive needs to reflect upon

how best to ensure the continuing success of OxClean.

Background OxClean now includes the following activities: Spring Litter Blitz, liaison with 31

Primary and 5 Oxford secondary schools, a Ring Road campaign, new re-cycling bins in Oxford,

Cowley campaign (involving students from both Universities), SPOTLESS Oxford (Oxford

businesses- their footpaths & gutters). Its committee includes OCS Executive members, Vernon

Porter, Gillian Coates, Liz Grosvenor, and Tony Turton. Associate committee members include Sir

Hugo Brunner and Philippa Berry.

OCS supports OxClean financially; annual awards have varied from £105 to £5050, depending

on the specific purchases and expenditure proposed. Rosanne Bostock is a member of a steering

group of Keep Britain Tidy which meets 3 times a year in London and also includes

representatives of the Marine Conservation Society etc. Whether this link is for OCS/OxClean or

Rosanne personally needs to be established.

Transition It is probably helpful if OCS considers the succession to Rosanne and how far and

in what way, priorities might be reviewed.

On the first, OCS should indicate how it wishes to proceed with Rosanne’s suggestion that

Natasha Robinson should assume overall leadership of OxClean, assisted by Ingrid Lunt. Two

other positions should also be considered and/or confirmed; Gillian Coates as Schools anti-litter

campaign organiser and Caroline Thompson as overall Schools Convenor. The interests and

willingness of these named persons needs to be established and conversations with them

arranged re: the main tasks to be undertaken.

Second, as part of such conversations, the further development of OxClean might be discussed,

including liaison with related organisations such as Friends of the Earth etc. and how far the

growing concern about plastics should feature in OxClean’s work. NB: Rosanne will also have

suggestions about such further priorities.

Timing Liaison with Rosanne about transition is required including, for example, her intention

to introduce her likely successor to the OxClean committee in October. Perhaps OCS can carry

out its own ‘conversation’, as above, at this meeting? If so, it might be helpful to provide a note

for all participants beforehand so as to clarify and confirm the purpose(s) of the meeting.

When the process has been agreed by OCS Executive and carried out, a Press Release should be

issued and an article, including our genuine appreciation of Rosanne Bostock’s work and

imagination, included in VISIONS.

Margaret Maden.


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