Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

 

       i.          The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) requires that Local Planning Authorities must prepare and maintain a Local Development Scheme (LDS).   The new LDS provides information on the documents that the Councils intend to produce to form their planning policy framework and sets out the timetable for their production.      

 

     ii.          In the context of the Greater Cambridge area, the new Local Development Scheme will set out the broad timetable for the preparation of a new Local Plan and the Cambridge Northern Fringe East Area Action Plan (CNFE AAP).  This will replace the adopted LDS of Cambridge City Council (November 2015) and South Cambridgeshire District Council (December 2016). Overall the LDS is designed to help the local community and all our partners interested in development and the use of land and buildings in Greater Cambridge, to understand what plans the Council intends to produce.

 

   iii.          The potential options around the governance arrangements that could be put in place were explored in the report.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport

 

       i.          Approved the new Local Development Scheme for Greater Cambridge, prepared jointly with South Cambridgeshire District Council, as set out in Appendix A to the Officer’s report, which confirms the intention to prepare:

 

a)     a joint Local Plan for Greater Cambridge, comprising the administrative areas of both Councils,

 

b)     a joint Cambridge Northern Fringe Area Action Plan, for the area shown in the Local Development Scheme at Appendix 1, which, when adopted, will form part of the development plan for Greater Cambridge;

 

both prepared under section 28 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act with separate democratic processes to agree both plans, informed by a joint member advisory group;

 

     ii.          adopted the Local Development Scheme following the anticipated adoption of the new Cambridge Local Plan by Council on 18 October 2018 as described in paragraph 3.5 below; and

 

   iii.          agreed that the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development is granted delegated authority, in liaison with the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport, and the Chair and Spokes for the Planning Policy and Transport Scrutiny Committee, to make any editing changes prior to publication.

 

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 Planning Officer.

 

The Planning Policy Manager and Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development said the following in response to Members’ questions regarding the option of forming a Section 29 Committee:

   iv.          Cambridge and South Cambs had a long history of joint working and shared interests.

    v.          A joint body would have appointed representatives which would limit the opportunities for member engagement.

   vi.          Co-joined Local Plans demonstrate the strength of existing processes for joint working.

 vii.          The Secretary of State could direct alternative governance arrangements, such as a Section 29 Committee, should the current system fail to deliver.

 viii.          A Section 29 process would also allow the Secretary of State to appoint additional bodies to that Committee: these could include the Combined Authority.

 

The Committee sought clarification regarding the status of the Cambridge Northern Fringe East proposals should the Water Treatment Plan relocation fail to be delivered. The Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development responded to questions as follows:

         i.          The relocation process was dependent on both funding and the required consents for any alternative location and the timeline would evolve around these issues.

       ii.          The funding stream was Homes England and the Combined Authority had prioritised the project.

     iii.          The funding had been ring-fenced for this project.

     iv.          Should the project not materialise, odour from the existing facility would have a significant impact on any future use of the land in that area.

      v.          The Local Plan current list a zero sum for housing in this area and this would not be revised until more details were known about the relocation plans.

 

The Committee resolved by 7 votes to 0 with 1 abstention to endorse the recommendation.

 

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.