Issue - meetings

Appendix 1 attached separately

 

Matter for Decision

To consider the approval of the Cambridge Historic Core Conservation Area Appraisal.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Transport

 

Approved the Cambridge Historic Core Conservation Area Appraisal incorporating the amendments asset set out in the Officer’s report appendices.

 

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 Principal Conservation and Design Officer which followed an initial report to the portfolio holder and Environment Scrutiny Committee, followed by public consultation on the review of the Historic Core Conservation Area Appraisal carried out in February/March 2016.

 

Resident’s groups, Colleges, public bodies, and other organisations had been consulted over a six week period and the resultant detailed comments were set-out by respondent in appendix 1 of the Officer’s report together with Officer responses and proposed amendments to the appraisal.

 

The Principal Conservation and Design Officer and Strategic Director said the following in response to Members’ questions:

 

     i.        The work on the city’s open spaces was not solely a conservation issue but covered such topics as bio-diversity, ecology and the range of uses of the open spaces which should also be taken into account.

    ii.        The Community Services Scrutiny Committee would consider a Streets and Open Spaces Service Review and Development Strategy in July which would take into account open spaces in the city. 

   iii.        Officers would be working with a variety of outside bodies and members of the public on the planned review of public parks where conservation and preservation of the parks would be considered. 

  iv.        The Conservation Area Appraisal should be seen as being alongside the Local Plan which also made reference to the city’s open spaces.

   v.        Believed that the Conservation Area Appraisal should be kept separate due to size and level of detail of the document.

  vi.        Reference had been made in the Conservation Area Appraisal to the city’s open spaces and referenced Parkers Piece, Christ Pieces, Coe-Fen and Jesus Green as examples.

 vii.        Acknowledged the importance of the river which the Local Plan already referred to and acknowledged there were river related stake holders who needed to be consulted on a Conservation Area Management Plan.

viii.        Expected work to be undertaken on the Conservation Area Management Plan and the Spaces and Movement Strategy later in the year.

  ix.        The Spaces and Movement Strategy document would be an integral part when looking at parks and open spaces that would take planning into consideration.

 

Councillor Bick proposed and Councillor Tunnacliffe seconded an additional recommendation:

 

    ii.        Given the public affection for the City’s open spaces, to request individual conservation appraisal of the City’s major public open spaces to be subsequently incorporated into this and other applicable conservation area appraisals.

 

The additional recommendation was lost by 2 votes to 5.

 

The Committee resolved (unanimously) to endorse the original recommendations as set out in the Officer’s report.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

 

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

 

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.