Decision details

To agree the Council's response to the Government's consultation on the recent housing white paper 'Fixing our Broken Housing Market'.

Matter for Decision

To consider and comment before decision by the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport

·         To agree the comments set out in the consultation response attached to the officer report and that these are submitted to the Government as Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils’ formal response to the consultation.

·         To agree that any subsequent changes to the consultation response as a result of the South Cambridgeshire District Planning Portfolio Holder meeting be agreed with the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport, Chair and Spokes prior to submission.

Reasons for the Decision   

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Planning Policy and Economic Development Officer. 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

     i.    Commented that the demand for new housing was only met when local authorities were constructing houses.  Without the ability for local authorities to borrow and utilise receipts then it would be difficult to achieve the uplift in housing construction required in Cambridge to meet demand.

   ii.    Drew attention to the implication that within the White Paper that Planning Authorities were responsible for the current status of the housing market when government policies such as Right to Buy and developers purchasing land but delaying development, a practice known as ‘land-banking’ had a far greater impact upon the housing market.

 iii.    Clarified paragraph 3.3, bullet points 1 and 4 of the officer report, questioning whether the agreement of all local authorities was required in respect of the allocation of strategic sites and the level of residential allocations in local plans. 

 iv.    Questioned the amount of time and resources had been used in compiling the consultation response.   

The Planning Policy and Economic Development Officer said the following in response to Members questions:

i.         Confirmed that the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) confirmed, following the publication of the report that bullet point 4 of the report referred to residential allocations and that DCLG had not clarified bullet point 1. 

ii.       Explained that in compiling the consultation response, 15 officers across 2 Councils had input which took considerable time in reading the consultation and formulating responses. 

The Committee resolved 4 in favour, 0 against, with 2 abstentions to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.