Issue - meetings

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 A 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 and schools. Councillors took the view that if land had no community access, then it should be classified as private. Officers undertook indicate public/private ownership on maps of Protected Open Spaces within the draft strategy and confirmed that further consideration would be given to the issue of schools and whether they fell into the public or private category.  It was also confirmed by officers that all schools would be consulted in addition to the County Council, and those schools that operate on a federal basis.

 

Councillor Herbert referred to a Labour Group motion to Council expressing concern about the lack of open space in the City. The City has significant levels of green space in the centre and in the west of the City, but less so in many of the suburbs. Given that applications for development were still likely to come forward in already densely packed areas, green spaces needed to be protected and increased to reflect an increasing local population.

(ii)              Made suggestions on contacts to be added to list of consultees set out in Appendix B of the Officer’s report. For example Romsey Action and Residents of Old Newnham (RAON).

 

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 in 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 details of Protected Open Spaces within their wards were accurate and reflected Councillors’ local knowledge.

(iii)            Officers confirmed that they would assess a number of private gardens along the banks of the River Cam in response to Councillor Znajek’s suggestion. It was noted that private gardens could be designated as Protected Open Spaces if they met the criteria, but Officers would have to liaise with landowners to gain access to the sites in question.

(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.  It was agreed that this issue should be given further consideration.

(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 Members’ comments made at DPSSC.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

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

Not applicable.