RESIDENTS’ groups claim key decisions determining the shape of Oxford for decades to come were rushed through a pre-Christmas council meeting overloaded with too many issues.

A meeting of the full city council agreed plans to build 1,200 homes at Barton and cleared the way for nearly 70 developments listed in the council’s Sites and Housing development plan document.

But residents and the Campaign to Protect Rural England say “an overloaded” agenda meant councillors were unable to make informed decisions or even read the weighty planning documents, with some groups robbed of the opportunity to make their case.

One Labour councillor yesterday called for a review of the way the council does its business.

During Monday’s meeting, the council also debated the introduction of horse drawn carriages in the city centre, before refusing the move, while it agreed on new strategies governing student accommodation and new restrictions on the numbers of houses in multiple occupation.

Councillors also rejected Ruskin College plans to build 150 homes on Ruskin Fields, while clearing the way for a major development on the Summertown car park.

But a welter of amendments and announcements meant it was five hours before councillors got to the Barton Area Action Plan, described as “a once in a lifetime opportunity” to create a “vibrant new community” on the north side of the A40. It will also see the controversial transformation of a long stretch of the ring road into a landscaped 40mph street.

CPRE spokesman Sietske Boeles said: “It was quite clear that there was agenda overload, making it very difficult for councillors to make informed decisions.

“A separate meeting should have been convened to discuss the important planning policy documents which will help shape the future development of Oxford until 2026.”

Labour councillor Antonia Bance, left, said: “I believe it is time for us to review how the council meeting works.

“At the moment it starts at 5pm, a difficult time for people who work. There isn’t an opportunity for a meaningful dialogue between members of the public and councillors.”

Mojdeh Moasser, a member of the Falcon Residents Association, which is opposing housing plans on the East Minchery Farm site near Blackbird Leys, was told there was no time for her to speak. She said: “It raises issues about democracy. It was just one issue after another. ”

But Colin Cook, the executive member for city development, dismissed suggestions that the 376-page agenda was overcrowded.

He said: “In the past we have finished at 2am. I would have been happy to have gone on.

“My own view is that most of the motions are a complete waste of time. It is nice to get decisions about things that actually matter. It was a good meeting.”

“In any case, there is going to have to be an overflow meeting.”

Lib Dem councillor David Rundle said: “We believe it would have been better to have discussed Barton and Sites and Housing separately. Having said that I don’t think the decisions would have been different.”

times based on councillor tweets.

  • Long Haul: How the meeting unfolded:

  • 5pm: Meeting begins.

5.40: Principal of Ruskin College, Audrey Mullender makes case for building homes on Ruskin Fields.

5.48: Address on transport strategy.

6.00: Speakers from the Save Temple Cowley Pools campaign.

6.10: Councillors’ walkout prompted by member of public’s assault allegations.

6.15: Meeting resumes.

6.50: Horse-drawn carriages voted down by 27-16 after debate.

8.20: Student accommodation discussed.

8.40: Idea of signs showing car free development discussed.

8.50: New policies limiting Houses of Multi-occupation discussed.

9.00: Green policy strategy.

9.16: Bikes in new developments.

9.40: Can boats be counted as HMOs

9.50: Lord Mayor proposes adjournment and extra meeting.

10.00: Barton Area Action Plan discussed.

10.45: Meeting ends with rest of business moved to overflow meeting.

* Times based on councillors' tweets