Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision

 

To consider the Annual Monitoring Report.

 

This is an important part of the planning process, providing feedback on the performance of development plan policies in terms of their use and implementation. The Council is required to produce an Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) at least on a yearly basis.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport

 

                    i.                        Agreed the content of the AMR (Appendix A)

            ii.                Agreed that if any amendments are necessary, these should be agreed by the Executive Councillor in consultation with Chair and Spokes of Development Plan Scrutiny Sub Committee.

 

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 Officer.

 

The report referred to how comprehensive monitoring was essential in order to establish whether the Council was succeeding in promoting and managing the future development of Cambridge.  The Localism Act 2011 and Section 34 of the Town and Country Planning Act (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 had established the statutory need for monitoring reports.

 

The Planning Policy Officer highlighted the tabled amendments to paragraphs 8.26 and 8.27 of the report due to the amended data that had been received from Cambridgeshire County Council. 

 

Comments from the Sub Committee

 

     i.        Requested confirmation on how many Public Houses were on unprotected sites in the City. 

    ii.        Enquired how the figure of 23.8% (key services) under the heading of the Accessibility of Services referenced in 8.27 of the amendment sheet had been calculated.

   iii.        Asked if the £78 million spend in the local area per annum generated by Language schools referenced in 8.3 of the Officer’s report related to student spending.

 

Officers stated the following:

 

     i.        The number of safeguarded public houses currently stood at a total of 102.  The Council has produced Interim Planning Policy Guidance (IPPG) on the Protection of Public Houses, and this document is used to deal with planning applications affecting public houses.  The IPPG confirmed that safeguarded public houses are those which were operating as public houses on 21 July 2006 (when the Cambridge Local Plan 2006 was adopted). As sites came forward for Public House use, the IPPG would continue to be used, until replaced by policy in the emerging Local Plan, and the Annual Monitoring Report would be updated as any new public houses come forward or any public houses close.

    ii.        The figure of 23.8% signified the percentage of new housing developments which were within 15 minutes public transport or walking distance of six key services. The six key services included retail centre, area of employment, primary school, secondary school, GP surgery and hospital with outpatients. Information had been taken from new developments completed within the monitoring year.

   iii.        No further data could be obtained from the County Council regarding the population in Cambridge who were within fifteen minutes of the six key services when using public transport.

  iv.        The £78 million related to the fees and income generated from the Language Schools and spend in the local area generated from the presence of language schools.

 

The Committee resolved unanimously 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.