Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision:

To agree the consultation response to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP): Draft Plan

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

In June 2022, at a meeting of the Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee, the Committee recommended and the Executive Councillor for Planning and Infrastructure approved a response to the draft LTCP, and also approved to agree any material changes proposed by South Cambridgeshire District Council through an out of cycle decision, in consultation with Chair and Spokes.

The Executive Councillor’s decision(s):

Agreed the consultation response to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP): Draft Plan

Reasons for the decision:

Background

The original Cambridgeshire And Peterborough Local Transport and Connectivity Plan: Draft Plan consultation response was discussed at Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee on 28^th June 2022.

The papers for this meeting are available here: Agenda for Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, 28th June, 2022, 5.30 pm - Cambridge Council

The proposed response included in the meeting papers was agreed without change following that meeting by the Executive Councillor. At the same time, the Executive Councillor also agreed to consider and agree any material changes to the response to the

draft Local Transport & Connectivity Plan consultation proposed by

South Cambridgeshire District Council, in consultation with the Chair and Spokes for the Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee, and in liaison with the South Cambridgeshire Lead Cabinet Member for Planning (N.B. this should have been the Lead Cabinet Member for Economic Development – see the minutes of the meeting).

Proposed amendment arising from new information shared ahead of Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee meeting on 28^th July 2022.

The report linked above noted that at the time of writing, a number of documents supporting the LTCP had yet to be published. An update note circulated to members ahead of the meeting itself noted the following:

“The Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulation Assessment screening reports have now been published as part of the Integrated Impact Assessment. Both of these focus on the impacts of changes between the adopted LTP 2020 and the draft LTCP being consulted upon. A summary of their conclusions is set out at page I of the link above. The conclusions do not give rise to a recommendation to amend the proposed response to the LTCP. Notwithstanding, officers recommend an insubstantive amendment is made to the response to note that the Habitat Regulation Assessment wrongly identifies Cambourne to Cambridge public transport scheme as a project that is new to the LTCP.”

Proposed amendments arising from South Cambridgeshire District Council

At its Cabinet meeting held on 11^th July, members raised the following issues:

•         concern that the published LTCP response wording might support provision of development connected to a new station at Six Mile Bottom.

•         Cabinet noted the critical role of electricity grid distribution and connection in supporting new development and the shift to electric vehicles, and the identified severe constraints to its enhancement, and recommended strengthening the Council’s comments on this topic.

As per the recommendation in the report informing discussion, Cabinet agreed that the above issues would be addressed in a revised response, to be agreed by the South Cambridgeshire Lead Cabinet Member for Economic Development via an out of cycle decision, in consultation with the Cambridge Executive Councillor and in consultation with the Chair and Spokes for the Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee.

The revised proposed response attached at Appendix 1  seeks to respond to all of the points raised above. This can be viewed at the link below:

Library folder - Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee  Meeting 29.09.22 - ROD: Proposed Greater Cambridge response to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Transport and Connectivity Plan:_ draft plan consultation - Cambridge Council

Scrutiny consideration:

The Chair and Spokespersons of Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee were consulted prior to the action being authorised.

Report:

Details of the background are set out in this Record of Decision. There are no relevant financial considerations.

Conflicts of interest:

None

Comments:

No comments were received from the Chair or Opposition Spokes of the Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee.