Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision

The City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council have a history of joint working on planning matters, particularly on plan-making. As part of the duty to cooperate, the three councils have worked collaboratively and in parallel on new local plans and a transport strategy for the Cambridge area. This approach will ensure that cross-boundary issues and relevant wider matters are addressed in a consistent and joined-up manner.

 

The City Council published its Local Plan on 19 July 2013. The document is out for consultation until 30 September 2013. South Cambridgeshire District Council published their Local Plan on 19 July. Their consultation runs from through to 14 October 2013

 

In appraising the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan, the key issue for the City Council is to ensure that South Cambridgeshire’s policies are aligned with those in the City Council’s local plan and the overarching development strategy that the councils have agreed is reflected in the plan.

 

Additionally, South Cambridgeshire District Council also issued their Community Infrastructure Levy Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule. This report includes the suggested representations to the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan and their Community Infrastructure Levy Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule for agreement by Members. Once finalised, these representations will be submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council in advance of the two consultation deadlines of 14 October 2013 and 30 September 2013.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change

       i.          Agreed the representations to the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan – Proposed Submission set out in Section 7 of the report and that these are submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council as Cambridge City Council’s formal response to the consultation.

     ii.          Agreed the representations to the South Cambridgeshire Community Infrastructure Levy Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule set out Section 9 of the Officer’s report and that these are submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council as Cambridge City Council’s formal response to the consultation.

 

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 Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

 

       i.          Supported the recommendations in principle, subject to clarifications set out below.

     ii.          Policy SS/1 Orchard Park: Orchard Park needs a high quality building that is appropriate for the location. Asked for the term ‘landmark’ to be used sparingly.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Head of Planning Services and Principal Planning Officer said the following:

 

Policy S/5 Provision of New Jobs and Homes

 

       i.          The South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) listed brownfield sites SCDC had considered.

 

The Principal Planning Officer undertook to respond to Councillor Blencowe’s request for clarification on South Cambridgeshire's development strategy, particularly whether brownfield sites had been assessed in their SHLAA and subsequently allocated in their Local Plan. 

     ii.          Finding suitable sites for development was an issue for all local authorities.

 

Policy SS/4 Cambridge Northern Fringe East and land surrounding the proposed Cambridge Science Park Station

 

   iii.          Undertook to pass on Councillors’ representations regarding ‘appearance’ to appropriate SCDC Officers.

 

 

Proposed Representations on South Cambridgeshire’s Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule (July 2013)

 

   iv.          The council consulted on its own Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule in March/April 2013.  Details regarding Cambridge’s own Draft Charging Schedule, the next stage of development of the Community Infrastructure Levy approach for Cambridge would be taken to 8 October 2013 Environment Scrutiny Committee.

    v.          It was noted that a charging schedule could set out variable rates for the same type of development across a council’s administrative area. However, for Cambridge, a single mid range charging rate, not pitched too high for the lower to mid value charging areas, was considered a more appropriate solution; it better represents the mix and balance of local circumstances within the relatively small overall City area, and the blurring between very localised characteristics and values over short distances.

 

The Committee resolved by 3 votes to 0 to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.