Decision details

Matter for Decision:  

The purpose of the Draft Open Space and Recreation Strategy was to replace the existing Open Space and Recreation Strategy 2006.

 

The Draft Open Space and Recreation Strategy has been prepared for stakeholder consultation between July and September 2011.

 

Following stakeholder consultation and any consequent amendments, the Draft Open Space and Recreation Strategy would be presented at Environment Scrutiny Committee in October 2011.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Sustainable Transport:

(i)                Approved the Draft Open Space and Recreation Strategy for stakeholder consultation (Appendix B of Officer’s report).

(ii)              Approved the Draft Schedule of Consultees (Appendix B of Officer’s report).

 

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 Senior Planning Policy Officer regarding the Draft Open Space and Recreation Strategy.

 

The committee made the following comments in response to the report.

 

(i)                Held a general discussion on areas of land to be defined as public or private. For example, allotments, schools and urban extensions. Councillors took the view that if land had no community access, then it should be classified as private, even in the case of schools. Officers undertook to review the classification of public/private ownership on maps of protected open spaces. This would be undertaken in conjunction with individual schools, County Council etc to confirm land ownership.

 

Councillor Blencowe referred to a Labour Group motion to Council expressing concern about the lack of open space in the City. The City has green space in the centre, but less so in the suburbs. There was limited space where applications could be built, so green space needed to be protected.

(ii)              Made suggestions on contacts to be added to list of consultees set out in Appendix B of the Officers report. For example Conservators of the Cam, Romsey Action Committee and Residents of Old Newnham.

 

In response to Member’s questions the Senior Planning Policy Officer confirmed the following:

 

(i)                The intention of the Draft Open Space and Recreation Strategy was to identify priorities to address when balancing the competing land needs for housing, employment and recreation. Officers recognised that a joined up approach had not always been possible in the past when individual planning applications came forward for consideration. The review of the Local Plan should lead to a more co-ordinated approach.

(ii)              Officers undertook to liaise with Ward Councillors to ensure protected open space ward map details were accurate.

(iii)            Private gardens could be designated as protected open spaces if they met the criteria, but Officers would have to liaise with landowners (who may object to this status).

(iv)            The River Cam was not assessed as a protected open space as it was protected in other ways currently (such as the Land Drainage Act, Environment Agency bye-laws, Water Framework Directive and Anglian River Basin Management Plan). Officers could undertake a protected open space assessment on the river if Members wished. Individual sites along the River Cam bank had been assessed as protected open spaces.

 

Councillor Ward suggested undertaking a water space strategy jointly with the Conservators of the River Cam.

(v)              Gave an outline on the assessment methodology for assessment of an area as a protected open space. A questionnaire would be completed and the site visited by two officers to assess the condition of the land against set criteria.

 

The Committee resolved unanimously to adopt the recommendations in the officer’s report on the understanding that Officers would amend the Draft Open Space and Recreation Strategy in line with Member’s comments made at DPSSC.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of interest declared by the Executive Councillor (and any dispensations granted)

Not applicable.