Decision details

Matter for Decision

The County Council resolved in May 2020 to withdraw from the Joint Development Control Committee (JDCC) after July 2020. The effect of their resolution will be for the current JDCC to no longer be quorate. 

 

The report sought agreement to the establishment of a new Committee (the Greater Cambridge Joint Planning Committee GCJPC) and set out the proposed terms for the new Joint Committee to come into effect from 1 August 2020.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces to recommend to the Civic Affairs Committee to:

i.               Dissolve the JDCC between Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council as surviving members, pursuant to section 101 (5) Local Government Act 1972 and cease all delegations to the same with effect from 31 July 2020; 

ii.             Establish a new joint planning committee between Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council (to be called the Joint Development Control Committee) with the Terms of Reference detailed in Appendix A as amended to increase the membership from 3 to 6 members for both Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council and that the Chair and Vice-Chair positions rotate between the councils each municipal year and to delegate functions to the joint committee and officers as set out therein, pursuant to section 101 (5) and section 102 Local Government Act 1972 with effect from 1 August 2020

iii.            Agree that any ongoing planning matters or any other continuing action which would otherwise fall to be determined by the JDCC will, after 31 July 2020, transfer to the Greater Cambridge Joint Planning Committee for determination 

iv.           Authorise the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development  to decide whether to refer any development control matters for determination by the Greater Cambridge Joint Planning Committee where the boundary of the site concerned overlaps or is adjacent to the boundary between Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council

v.             Authorise the Monitoring Officer to make any consequential amendments to the Council’s constitution arising from the above decisions

vi.           Comment upon the proposed draft standing orders for the Committee as appropriate.

 

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 Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development. He updated his report to state that:

i.               Members had queried the proposed name of the Committee.

ii.             Members may wish to consider the number of members who sat on the committee.

iii.            Clarified the geographical areas which would be covered by the new Committee.

iv.           The terms of reference should be amended to include the ability for County Members to exercise speaking rights at the Committee.

v.             Members had requested that the chair position rotated  between SCDC and the City Council.

 

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

      i.         Agreed that the new Committee should consider major planning applications rather than householder applications.

    ii.         Thought that the number of members sitting on the committee should be increased.

   iii.         Suggested the number of members sitting on the committee should comprise 6 members for both SCDC and the City Council.

 

The Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development and Democratic Services Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         Thought the matter of the size of the committee would be commented upon by SCDC councillors as well.

    ii.         The Committee could suggest how many councillors they thought the committee should comprise but noted this would still be a matter for negotiation between the two councils.

 

Councillor Baigent proposed and seconded by Councillor Porrer the following amendment:

i.               Amend the membership of the committee so there would be 6 Cambridge City Council members and 6 South Cambridgeshire District Council members rather than 3 members each.

 

Councillor Smart proposed and Councillor Baigent seconded the following amendment:

ii.             Retain the name of the Committee as the Joint Development Control Committee rather than the Greater Cambridge Joint Planning Committee and reflect this throughout the terms of reference document.

 

Councillor Baigent proposed and Councillor Smart seconded the following amendment:

iii.            Confirm that the Chair and Vice-Chair positions rotate between Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council each municipal year.

 

The Committee approved the amendments unanimously.

 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the amended recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the amended recommendations.

 

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.