Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Bick.

 

Councillor Dalzell was present as an alternate.

No declarations of interest were made.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26^th June 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There were no public questions.

 

The Committee noted the decision.

Matter for Decision

 

       i.          The preparation of the new Cambridge Local Plan had now reached the end of the plan making process. The Inspectors’ Report had been received, and subject to incorporating the associated Main Modifications identified by the Inspectors, they conclude that the Local Plan was sound. The Local Plan may now be presented to Council to be adopted as part of the Development Plan.

 

     ii.          During the Examination process, the Council took the decision to move forward with the preparation of a number of site specific SPDs. This was a pragmatic response to the lengthy examination process, allowing further detail to be provided and assist with the implementation of specific proposals. As a result, seven SPDs had been prepared in parallel with the Cambridge Local Plan.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport

 

       i.          Noted the Inspectors’ Report containing the Inspectors’ Main Modifications to be made to the submitted Cambridge Local Plan in order for it to be found sound (Appendix 1 of the Officer’s report);

     ii.          Noted the schedule of Additional Modifications (Appendix 2 of the Officer’s report) to the submitted Cambridge Local Plan to make factual and typographical corrections; and

   iii.          Noted the Main Modifications to the submitted Policies Map published alongside the Inspectors’ Report as a reference document to the examination (Appendix 3 of the officer’s report);

   iv.          Recommend to Council that the Cambridge Local Plan 2018 including both Main and Additional Modifications was adopted (Appendix 4 of the Officer’s report); 

    v.          Recommend to Council that the Cambridge Policies Map 2018, including Main Modifications, be adopted (Appendix 5 of the Officer’s report); 

   vi.          Recommend to Council that it authorises the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport, and the Chair and Spokes for the Planning Policy and Transport Scrutiny Committee, to make minor typographical amendments or updates in preparing the final version of the Adopted Local Plan and Policies Map; and

 vii.          Noted that the seven Supplementary Planning Documents prepared in parallel with the Local Plan, and listed in Appendix 6 of the Officer’s report, would be approved by the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport following the adoption of the Local Plan.

 

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.

 

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

       i.          Sought clarification regarding the status of an SPD that was linked to the Local Plan.

     ii.          Praised the plan for respecting the integrity of the Green Belt.

 

The Planning Policy Manager and Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          The additional SPD’s would add weight and clarity to future planning decisions.

   iii.          Confirmed that the Combined Authority had questioned the predicted growth in jobs (Table 1 of the Officers report). The figures had been based on economic forecasts and had been tested by the Planning Inspector and found sound.

     ii.          Plans for specific areas, such as Mitcham’s Corner, would be linked to wider Greater Cambridgeshire Partnerships.

   iii.          The length of time taken to approve the plan had been unusual and comments on the experience would be feed back to the Inspector.

 

Councillor Hipkin expressed concerns that the predicted growth would be unsustainable without suitable infrastructure. The Cambridge and Peterborough Independent Economic Review had concluded that the growth of jobs in South Cambs would put additional strain on housing. In addition traffic congestion could become a brake on growth. A situation could arise where a good planning application had to be refused due to the impact on traffic. The situation was not helped by the number of bodies vising for power over transport decision and the lack of collaborative working and trust.

 

Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development stated that the plan was light on specific transport proposals as it had been prepared alongside the transport plan and part of the Cambridge Bid process. Transport barriers would be identified and looking ahead, ways to reconcile transport infrastructure with the delivery of growth site would be developed. An alignment of transport goals and growth capacity would follow looking forward to 2030. The Plan review process would allow for a re-examination of the figures.

 

The Committee resolved by 7 votes to 0 and one 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.

 

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.