Issue - decisions

PLANNING WHITE PAPER CONSULTATION RESPONSE

Decision of:

Councillor Thornburrow, Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces

Reference:

20/URGENCY/P&T/21

Date of decision:                        

28/10/20

Published:

29/10/20

Decision Type:

Non Key

Matter for Decision:

This decision relates to specific delegations to the Executive Member for Planning Policy & Open Spaces endorsed by Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee on 29 September 2020. 

The recommendations were as follows:

a) To note the initial response to the Government’s White Paper (Planning for the future) consultation as set out in appendix 1.

b) To note the initial response to the Government’s Changes to the Current Planning System consultation as set out in appendix 2.

c) Agree, for each consultation the wording of a final joint response and/or any individual response through an out of cycle decision, in consultation with Chair and Spokes

The purpose of this decision is to approve the final response to the Government’s White Paper consultation.

A copy of the report considered by the Planning and Transport Committee on 29 September and all associated documents can be viewed at the link below:

https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=475&MId=3790&Ver=4

This decision seeks to finalise the response for submission to government. The response considered by scrutiny has been refined from bullet points into formatted responses. They key concerns raised by members have been drawn out more clearly in the responses:

• Positive opportunities for Greater Cambridge to be a pathfinder in aspects like digital approaches to planning, where the Councils have already taken significant steps.
• Concern reading the impact on community involvement and engagement in the planning process, including the impact on the democratic process.
• Proposals have been developed by a small group with a relatively narrow focus. Before such significant changes to the planning system are made, they should be informed by a commission, with input from a wider range of experts and stakeholders across a wider variety of fields.
• Lack of detail regarding the proposed Levy and how it would work. Concerns how the Levy paid at the end of the development process would enable upfront delivery of infrastructure.
• Concerns regarding capacity of Local Authorities to implement and resource the proposals in the short time scales proposed.
• The focus of these proposals being on the upfront permissions process, rather than identifying measures that would actually speed up delivery.

The response has also been considered by South Cambridgeshire Cabinet, and the   Joint response is attached.

Why the decision had to be made (and any alternative options):

The consultation raises important issues that the council wishes to respond to. The decision seeks to formalise the response, following debate at the Planning & Transport Scrutiny committee.

The Executive Councillor’s decision(s):

To approve the proposed   Joint response the Planning White Paper consultation, as set out in the documents appended to this decision

Reasons for the decision:

Outlined in the report why the decision had been made.

Scrutiny consideration:

The Vice Chair and Spokesperson of Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee were consulted prior to the action being authorised on 29 October 2020.

Report:

Joint response

Conflicts of interest:

None known.

Comments:

No adverse comments were made.