Decision details

Matter for Decision

 

The report sought approval for the Local Plan and Housing Monitoring for approval.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Transport

 

                i.          Agreed to publish the Cambridge Authority Monitoring Report 2017-2018 (included as Appendix 1), with any further minor editing changes delegated to the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development where they relate to technical matters.

              ii.           Agreed that in future, a Greater Cambridge Authority Monitoring Report is produced, and that these future Greater Cambridge Authority Monitoring Reports would  be agreed for publication by the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport, Chair and Spokes via a decision outside of a meeting (together with the Lead Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire District  Council), unless the Authority Monitoring Report identified any significant issue with the implementation of any Local Plan or Area Action Plan policy that requires more detailed consideration by the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport at a meeting;

            iii.          Agreed that a decision on whether to submit a Greater Cambridge Annual Position Statement (relating to five year housing land supply) to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) for consideration would be made by the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport,  Chair and Spokes via a decision outside of a meeting (together with the Lead Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire District  Council) and that the decision will be made before 1 April each year as required by national planning guidance;

            iv.          That, whether or not it is decided to prepare a Greater Cambridge Annual Position Statement, the housing trajectory and five year supply calculations will be agreed by the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport, Chair and Spokes via a decision outside of a meeting (together with the Lead Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire District  Council);

             v.          Approved to seek agreement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) that Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire should be considered together for the purposes of the Housing Delivery Test; and

            vi.          Agreed that, if on publication of the annual Housing Delivery Test results, an Action Plan was necessary in this or future years, it would be agreed by the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport, Chair and Spokes via a decision outside of a meeting.

 

Reason 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 Manager.  The report set out the current processes for monitoring the Local Plan and housing delivery, and to propose a new approach to the decision making processes for the preparation, consultation, publication and submission of monitoring documents, such as the Authority Monitoring Report and housing trajectory.

 

Councillor Bick welcomed the report and the joint working with South Cambridgeshire District Council. He requested that any decision made outside of the Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee that the Chair and Spokes was included in the consultation process as was standard procedure with Cambridge City Council. 

 

It was unanimously resolved to do so and the recommendations changed accordingly (additional text underlined).

 

                i.           Agreed to publish the Cambridge Authority Monitoring Report 2017-2018 (included as Appendix 1), with any further minor editing changes delegated to the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development where they relate to technical matters.

              ii.          Agreed that in future, a Greater Cambridge Authority Monitoring Report is produced, and that these future Greater Cambridge Authority Monitoring Reports would  be agreed for publication by the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport, Chair and Spokes via a decision outside of a meeting (together with the Lead Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire District  Council), unless the Authority Monitoring Report identified any significant issue with the implementation of any Local Plan or Area Action Plan policy that requires more detailed consideration by the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport at a meeting.

            iii.          Agreed that a decision on whether to submit a Greater Cambridge Annual Position Statement (relating to five year housing land supply) to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) for consideration would be made by the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport,  Chair and Spokes via a decision outside of a meeting (together with the Lead Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire District  Council) and that the decision will be made before 1 April each year as required by national planning guidance.

            iv.          That, whether or not it is decided to prepare a Greater Cambridge Annual Position Statement, the housing trajectory and five year supply calculations will be agreed by the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport, Chair and Spokes via a decision outside of a meeting (together with the Lead Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire District  Council).

             v.          Approved to seek agreement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) that Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire should be considered together for the purposes of the Housing Delivery Test; and

            vi.          Agreed that, if on publication of the annual Housing Delivery Test results, an Action Plan was necessary in this or future years, it would be agreed by the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport, Chair and Spokes via a decision outside of a meeting.

 

In response from a question from Councillor Payne regarding the number of the homelessness recorded as 67 and the number of accepted as homeless and in priority need was 38 between April 2017 and March 2018 (p382 of the agenda pack); the Director of Planning and Economic Development responded that he would request a detailed explanation from the relevant officer.

 

The Committee:

 

 The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the recommendations as amended.

 

The Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Transport approved the recommendations.