Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Ashwood, McPherson and Taylor.

 

The Committee thanked Toni Ainley for her support as Head of Streets & Open Spaces, and wished her a happy retirement.

Members of the committee are asked to declare any interests in the items on the agenda. In the case of any doubt, the advice of the Head of Legal should be sought before the meeting.

 

Name	Item	Interest
Councillor Ashton	13/46/SAC	Personal: Chairman of Cherry Hinton Resident’s Association
Councillor Dryden	13/46/SAC	Personal: Member of Cherry Hinton Resident’s Association
Councillor Pippas	13/47/SACa	Personal and prejudicial: Lives in the same road as the application.   Withdrew from discussion and did not vote.

 

Councillor Stuart stated that she lived on the Accordia Estate but had no interest to declare regarding s106 funding (13/46/SAC).

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2013.

The minutes of the 15 July 2013 meeting were approved and signed as a correct record subject to the following amendments in bold and struck out text:

 

13/36/SAC - Councillor Ashwood said a meeting was held 15 July 2013 to review issues around the South Area Parking Review TROs and requested £2,000 funding.

       i.          13/35/SAC Policing and Safer Neighbourhoods “Action Point: Councillor Taylor to query cycle theft and abandoned cycle figures with city council officers.”

 

Councillor Taylor has received a response.

 

     ii.          13/36/SAC Environmental Improvement Programme “Action Point: Councillor Ashton (as Committee Chair) to write to County Council requesting funding for a controlled crossing on Fendon Road.”

 

South Area Committee (SAC) have received a response from Dearbhla Lawson, Head of Service for Transport and Infrastructure Policy and Funding at Cambridgeshire County Council. Councillor Taylor will follow up this issue with County Officers to ensure it remains on their agenda.

To note decisions taken by the Chair, Vice Chair and Spokesperson since the last meeting of the South Area Committee.

The decision was noted.

Refer to the ‘Information for the Public’ section for rules on speaking.

1.       A member of the public queried progress on a scooter park that had been requested for the Accordia development. She made the following points:

·       Stated that children on the Accordia Estate wanted somewhere safe to play.

·       Raised concerns regarding traffic and road safety as many children played in the road eg riding scooters.

·       The scooter park would help the existing good sense of community.

 

Councillor Stuart expressed support for the scooter park project to give children a safe place to play.

Report to follow.

The Committee received a report from the Urban Growth Project Manager.

 

The Officer’s report outlined that the four local priorities identified by the South Area Committee in the first round of devolved decision-making are moving forward:

 

       i.          Community Hub at Cherry Hinton Library.

     ii.          Nightingale Avenue Recreation Ground trim trail.

   iii.          Princess Court/Hanover Court.

   iv.          Cherry Hinton Recreation Ground.

 

The report introduced the second round of devolved decision-making. It summarised feedback from the recent consultation about local project ideas and set out details of 33 proposals that the Committee were asked to short-list to around 8 priorities for developer contributions funding. These could be prepared, appraised and implemented from spring 2014, once the first round priority projects have been completed.

 

The Urban Growth Project Manager brought the report up to date by stating that the SAC s106 budget was expected to increase by circa £300,000 due to a recent request for developer contributions that were due. The budget would be confirmed in January 2014.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Urban Growth Project Manager said the following:

 

       i.                    Consultation on the improvements to the Cherry Hinton Recreation Ground will take place in November 2013 so that these can be delivered by Spring 2014 as planned. Specifications had been written for the skate board park project with the intention of procuring facilities in conjunction with Nun’s Way.

     ii.                    In terms of developer contribution funding of completed projects since 2007, Queen Ediths had received roughly £975,000, Trumpington £650,000 and Cherry Hinton £150,000. Cherry Hinton could also receive an additional £400,000 through the phase 2 Cherry Hinton Hall ground improvements.

   iii.                    Experience from the first round of the process had highlighted the possibility of grouping several small projects into a larger one.

   iv.                    The Community Development Team liaised with community groups so they would be aware of the information Officers required to present proposals to SAC.

    v.                    A consultation occurred over Summer 2013 to seek potential schemes for s106 funding.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

 

       i.          Sought parity between funding allocated to the 3 SAC Wards.

     ii.          Asked Officers to continue to liaise with community groups to support them as required, and request details on proposals (ie specifications on how funding would be spent) so SAC could make informed decisions on how to prioritise them. Officers were asked to ensure only appropriate proposals for s106 funding came forward for consideration at SAC, other proposals could be directed to different funding where applicable.

 

Following discussion, Members resolved (unanimously):

 

       i.          To short-list the following project ideas that the Area Committee would wish to consider in more detail in a follow-up report in January 2014:

·       (1) Refurbish centre at Cherry Hinton Baptist Church.

·       (6) Extend Trumpington Bowls Club Pavilion.

·       (13) Trim trail at Accordia plus (20) Junior scooter park for younger children at Accordia to be undertaken as a single project.

·       (21) New pavilion at Cherry Hinton Rec or improve the existing one (eg changing room non-slip floor)

·       (22) Basketball court or multi-use games area at Cherry Hinton Recreation Ground.

·       (23) New pavilion at Nightingale Avenue Rec.

     ii.          The Area Committee did not highlight:

·       There were project ideas that the Area Committee would wish to prioritise now, subject to project appraisal.

·       There were project ideas on the South Area list that should be referred to another (area or scrutiny) committee for consideration.

   iii.          Noted other comments and suggestions (not eligible for developer contributions funding) made as part of the recent consultation.

The Committee received an application for partial retrospective planning permission.

 

The application sought approval for the roof and roof lights over first floor terrace, conversion of car port to a playroom and storage provision in the entrance lobby.

 

Ms Elford (Applicant’s Architect) and Mr Rudge (Applicant) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

 

The Committee received a representation in objection to the application from Mr Nichols.

 

The representation covered the following issues:

 

       i.          Spoke on behalf of several neighbours.

     ii.          The Applicant had not discussed proposals with neighbours.

   iii.          The application was out of context with neighbouring properties as its design differed noticeably. This was inappropriate.

   iv.          The terrace had attracted positive comments due to its (uniform) design.

    v.          Number 4’s parking space was protected by covenants. The Applicant should be aware of this.

 

The Committee:

 

Resolved (unanimously) to refuse the application for retrospective planning permission in accordance with the officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the officer report.

The Committee received an application for temporary permission for a change to a sui generis use at the site.

 

The application sought approval to allow for a 150 car boot fair (for second hand goods only) on Sundays between the hours of 7:00am and 1:00pm

 

The Committee:

 

Resolved (unanimously) to grant the application for permission in accordance with the officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the officer report, and subject to the conditions recommended by the officers.

Councillor Pippas withdrew from the meeting for this item and did not participate in the discussion or decision making.

 

The Committee received an application for full planning permission.

 

The application sought approval for conversion of a semi-detached house to three self-contained flats.

 

Councillor Swanson proposed an amendment to the Officer’s recommendation so that condition 3 made reference to provision of an additional parking space.

 

This amendment was carried unanimously.

 

The Committee:

 

Resolved (unanimously) to grant the application for planning permission in accordance with the officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the officer report, and subject to the conditions recommended by the officers, plus the amendment of condition 3 to read:

 

‘The car parking spaces 1, 2 and the additional car parking space shown as hatched adjacent to car parking space 1, which for the avoidance of doubt shall be hard surfaced, the turning area and vehicular cross-over shall be provided within 6 months following the grant of this permission as shown on plan 13/1354/04. The turning space (shown on the south west side of flat 2) shall not be used for parking and shall be used for turning vehicles only and kept free for such.

 

Reason: In the interests of highway safety and to ensure adequate space for parking is provided in the interests of the amenity of the surrounding area and existing parking pressures in nearby streets (Cambridge Local Plan 2006 policy 8/2).’