Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence. 

Apologies were received from Councillor Reid.  Councillor Stuart attended as an alternate member.

Members are asked to declare at this stage any interests, which they may have in any of the following items on the agenda. If any member is unsure whether or not they should declare an interest on a particular matter, they are requested to seek advice from the Head of Legal Services before the meeting.

 

Councillor Saunders	12/53/DPSSC 12/54/DPSSC 12/55/DPSSC	Member of Cambridge Past, Present and Future
Councillor Saunders	12/53/DPSSC 12/54/DPSSC 12/55/DPSSC	Member of Cambridge Cycling Campaign

 

To approve the minutes of the meeting of 12^th September 2012

The minutes of the last meeting were approved as a true and accurate record. 

Malcolm Schofield addressed the committee and encouraged the committee to carefully consider the options and opportunities for the north east of the city. Mr Schofield outlined a number of potential opportunities such as

 

i.        Union Place complex

ii.          Sports Lake extending to Waterbeach

iii.          Science Park Station

 

Members were encouraged to consider the options for the area in a holistic manner jointly with other relevant authorities to ensure appropriate long-term development.

 

The Head of Planning Services confirmed that the area would be subject to special attention through the local plan process.

 

In response to further comments

 

·        The area was larger and covered the area up the A14 as well as the site of proposed Science Park Station.

 

·        The Head of Planning Services assured that all the relevant issues would be considered through the Local Plan process, but that part of the area was outside of the direct control of the city council as it was South Cambridgeshire.

 

In conclusion the Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change thanked Mr Schofield for his contribution and outlined the work undertaken by the Fen Road Steering Group chaired by the Honorary Councillor Ian Nimmo-Smith.

Matter for Decision: To consider an assessment of the effectiveness of Percentage Renewable Energy (Merton rule) Policies

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change:

 

The Executive Councillor resolved;

 

i.        To consider the findings of the Merton Rule Assessment Study and to endorse its use as part of the evidence base for the review of the Local Plan.

 

 

Reason for the Decision:

 

As per the officer report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected:

 

Not Applicable

 

Scrutiny Considerations:

 

The committee received a report regarding the assessment of the effectiveness of percentage renewable energy (Merton Rule) policies.

 

The committee welcomed the report and expressed interest in receiving more information as the work progressed.

 

The Scrutiny Sub Committee considered the recommendations and endorsed them by 3 votes to 0.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

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

 

N/A

Matter for Decision: To consider the Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Employment Land Review: Update 2012.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change:

 

The Executive Councillor resolved;

 

a) To consider the findings of the Employment Land Review 2012;

 

b) To endorse the Employment Land Review for use as an evidence base for the review of the Local Plan and as a material consideration in planning decisions (Appendix A of the committee report).

 

Reason for the Decision:

 

As per the officer report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected:

 

Not Applicable

 

Scrutiny Considerations:

 

The committee received a report from the Planning Policy and Economic Development Officer, which provided an update on the Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Employment Land Review: Update 2012. 

 

i.          Clarification was requested on the nature of the proposals for Alconbury, and whether this would result in a transfer of businesses from Cambridge. The enterprise zone has been set up to avoid displacement. Businesses can only locate to the enterprise zone from within the local area if it is doing this in order to achieve growth. The Employment Land Review Update 2012 notes that for businesses in Cambridge the market view is such that firms will be reluctant to relocate there because it is isolated. It is hoped that the enterprise zone will complement the Cambridge Cluster by providing employment land that will be used for manufacturing the "ideas" from the Cluster. Officers provided further examples on potential circumstances in which business may be permitted to re-locate from Cambridge to Alconbury.

 

ii.          Further information was requested on the current thinking in relation to the provision of strategic employment land. Officers explained that the process was ongoing and that a number of options were being considered, but the committee were assured that the city was being considered as a whole.

 

iii.                In response to a question, the Planning Policy Manager confirmed that no sites had been identified at this stage for start up companies and social enterprise.

 

iv.               Members suggested it would be useful to highlight existing land commitments in the report. An update was requested on the provision of employment sites. Officers advised that the existing commitments principally those located in Cambourne and Landbeach, had experienced low levels of demand.

 

v.                 Officers were asked if there was anything that could be done to expedite the provision of the existing commitments. The committee was advised that officers were in regular discussion with the key stakeholders to bring forward developments. Officers also provided clarification on the limits proposed types of industry.

 

The Scrutiny Sub Committee considered and endorsed the recommendations by 5 votes to 0.

 

The Executive Councillor agreed the recommendation.

 

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

 

N/A

Matter for Decision:  To consider the Key issues arising from the issues and options consultation and timetable update.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change:

 

The Executive Councillor resolved;

 

i.        To note the key issues arising from the consultation on the Issues and Options Report;

                         

ii.       To note the current timetable and ongoing approach to the duty to cooperate and joint working (paragraphs 3.21 to 3.23 of the committee report); and

 

iii.      To endorse the approach to preparing the next stages of the Plan as set out in paragraph 3.11 of the committee report.

 

 

 

Reason for the Decision:

 

As per the officer report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected:

 

Not Applicable

 

Scrutiny Considerations:

 

The committee received a report regarding the key issues arising the Issues and Options Consultation and timetable update.

 

The committee congratulated officers for collating the 11,000 comments from 850 different people/organisations.

 

Members sought clarification on whether the process as outlined was expected to comply with the duty to co-operate test. The Head of Planning Services explained that the proposed process was based on best practice and was expected to meet the tests in the legislation. The committee were advised that officers were monitoring the issues arising from the earlier adopters and making amendments accordingly. The Planning Policy Manager explained that the City Council was jointly engaging with the Planning Inspectorate with South Cambridgeshire.

 

In response to questions from members the Planning Policy Manager explained that detailed responses to issues raised would be presented to the committee between November and January.

 

Councillor Hipkin addressed the committee with the permission of the Chair and made the following comments

 

i.          Congratulated the officers on the work to date

 

ii.          Stressed the importance of the process

 

iii.          Some of the responses had been prepared on behalf of residents associations and membership groups with many hundreds of members and this should be acknowledged.

 

iv.      The importance of preserving the green belt between Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire was stressed.

 

Clarification was requested on the criteria for assessing sites and ensuring that it was not simply a popularity contest. The Planning Policy Manager re-assured members that a balanced process was in place to appropriately assess sites.

 

Clarification was requested whether the duty to co-operate extended to the County Council. The Planning Policy Manager assured the committee that officers were working closely with the County Council and South Cambridgeshire to assure that the transport strategy and local plan processes were aligned.

 

The Scrutiny Sub Committee considered the recommendations and endorsed them by 5 votes to 0.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

 

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

 

N/A

Matter for Decision: To consider assessment of sites for Allocation in the New Local Plan.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change:

 

The Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change resolved

 

i.        To endorse the methodology for assessing sites to be included as allocations within the Cambridge Local Plan as set out in Appendix A of the committee report.

 

 

Reason for the Decision:

 

As per the officer report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected:

 

Not Applicable

 

Scrutiny Considerations:

 

The committee received a report regarding the assessment of sites for allocation in the new local plan.

 

Councillor Hipkin addressed the committee and stated that the impact on existing communities should be carefully considered and that the chapters should be organised to place this at the centre of the document.

 

The Executive Councillor acknowledged the suggestion, however expressed concern that re-organisation would create duplication in the document with the same issues being considered in multiple places.

 

The committee received an email from Councillor Herbert outlining a number of comments regarding the report. The Planning Policy Manager explained that a written response would be sent to Councillor Herbert outside of the meeting.

 

In response to the points raised the Principal Planning Officer confirmed that all the issues were already being considered and addressed in the proposed methodology.

 

The Scrutiny Sub Committee considered the recommendations and endorsed them by 5 votes to 0.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

 

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

 

N/A