Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision

As part of the proposals to improve the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon, the Highways Agency has recently undertaken preapplication consultation on the proposed improvement scheme.

Consultation started on 7 April and ended on 15 June 2014.

 

Due to the timescales of the consultation and gaps in some of the key information necessary to consider the Council’s position on this scheme, the City Council has agreed with the Highways Agency that its response will be submitted as soon as practical after the close of consultation.

 

The Officer’s report set out the background to the A14 improvements and outlined the details of the proposed scheme.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport

       i.          Agreed the Council’s interim response to the Highways Agency consultation as set out in Appendix B of the Officer’s report.

     ii.          Agreed the Council’s final response be submitted by the Head of Planning Services in consultation with the Executive Councillor and Chair and Spokes of Environment Scrutiny Committee.

   iii.          Agreed that, in the interests of expediency, delegated authority be given to the Head of Planning Services to prepare and submit reports, proofs of evidence, technical papers, statements of common ground and other such documents, undertake appropriate negotiations and make further minor additions to the councils case at the examination of the A14 scheme if in the opinion of the Head of Planning Services it is appropriate and necessary to do so and to take such other necessary steps as are conducive or incidental to the presentation of the councils case at that examination. The exercise of this delegation to be reported back to Development Plan Scrutiny Sub-Committee at the end of the examination process.

 

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 Head of Planning Services. She referred to paragraph 3.11 (P157) and said that a response was still pending from the Highways Agency.

 

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

       i.          Councillors were unable to comment on the proposal without data from the Highways Agency. Suggested Officers seek this prior to drafting a response for consideration by Councillors.

     ii.          Agreed the Council’s final response should be submitted by the Head of Planning Services in consultation with the Executive Councillor and Chair and Spokes of Environment Scrutiny Committee (as per the recommendation). Later report text only referred to consultation with the Chair and Executive Councillor.

   iii.          The location of the crematorium was close to the highway, appropriate access and noise mitigation measures were required.

   iv.          The A14 would benefit from investment/improvement.

 

In response to Members’ request the WSP Consultant outlined the following summary of the A14 improvement scheme:

       i.          It was hard to quantify the impact of the scheme on the city due to a lack of information from the Highways Agency.

     ii.          Without information on the Highways Agency transport model it was difficult to evaluate:

·       Accuracy of the model.

·       The impact on some areas if others are congested.

·       Noise impact on the crematorium.

   iii.          The current crematorium access from the A14 was not ideal.

   iv.          Welcomed the new cycle scheme.

 

The Committee unanimously resolved 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.