Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

To approve the Statement of Community Involvement and the Neighbourhood Planning support offer to Local Communities preparing Neighbourhood Plans in Cambridge, this would be published on the Cambridge City Council website

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport

Resolved: To agree the addendum to the Statement of Community Involvement 2013 (amended) attached as Appendix 1 of the Officer’s report as amended.

Resolved: To agree the Neighbourhood Planning support offer to Local Communities preparing Neighbourhood Plans in Cambridge contained within Appendix 2 of the 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 Planning Policy Manager, Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

The report referred to the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) that each Local Planning Authority had a duty to prepare and maintain a SCI setting out how they would involve and consult with the public and wider stakeholders in respect of both planning applications and planning policy matters.

The Neighbourhood Planning Act (2017) had brought into effect a requirement to review and update any SCI that was more than five years old, and with a particular requirement to include specific information around the support that is available for Neighbourhood Plan preparation. 

The Planning Policy Manager advised the Committee that in 3.5 of the Officer’s report it stated a report would be brought for agreement by both Councils in late 2018/ early 2019 with a revised SCI to cover the Greater Cambridge area as part of taking forward work relating to the preparation of the Joint Local Plan. But there was a slight amendment to recommendation as the report would be brought to Committee in 2018 and not 2019, which could be deleted.

The amendment was carried nem com.

The Planning Policy Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

     i.        The South Cambridgeshire District Council toolkit consisted of a set of guidance notes to help parish councils in South Cambridgeshire District to prepare their plans.  As Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council moved towards a shared planning service these guidance notes would be adapted to be applicable for local communities in Cambridge.

    ii.        It should be recognised that Neighbourhood Planning was not an alternative to, but should complement, the Local Plan, which would be reflected in the toolkit. 

   iii.        Would make it very clear to residents that the Neighbourhood Plan could not be used to overturn planning decisions, but should be consistent with strategic policies and the Local Plan.

  iv.        It was not the officer’s job to write the local plan but offer support and guidance.

   v.        Would advise that a planning consultant should be hired to assist with Neighbourhood Plan as it could be difficult to navigate through the process.

The Committee resolved by 7 votes to 0 to endorse the amended recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the amended recommendations.