Issue - decisions

The report referred to the purpose of the draft Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which was to provide guidance on how the Council sought to apply planning obligations, through the Section 106 process, to new development proposals.

 

The SPD would supplement Policy 85: Infrastructure delivery, planning obligations and the Community Infrastructure Levy of the Cambridge Local Plan 2018 and Policy TI/8: Infrastructure and New Developments of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018, alongside other policies within the adopted development plans that sought to secure infrastructure necessary to support the needs generated by proposed developments.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure

      i.          Agreed the draft Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (attached at Appendix 1) and accompanying Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) (Appendix 2) subject to public consultation.

     ii.          Agreed that the preparation of materials and the running of the consultation be delegated to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

   iii.          Agreed that any subsequent material amendments prior to consultation be made by the Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Chair and Opposition Spokes and that any subsequent minor amendments and editing changes that do not materially affect the content prior to consultation be delegated to the Joint Director of Planning in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure.

 

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 Delivery Manager. 

 

In response to Members’ questions the Planning Policy Manager, the Delivery Manager and Deputy Director of GCSP 3C Building Control said the following:

        i.          The SPD had been in prepared in accordance with the latest Housing Strategy but would check that it was consistent with the guidance on shared ownership. 

       ii.          The introductory part of the S106 SPD dealt with viability robustly. There was a need to cross reference this within the SPD to ensure there was not an automatic assumption that the amount of affordable housing provided would reduce in percentage terms  if viability could not be meet.

     iii.          Officers were aware of problems with adopted roads, but the issue was not for this SPD but planning conditions which could deal with this area directly.

    iv.           There was a standard condition which could be implemented when dealing with private highways that outlined roads should be built to an adopted standard and charges to be fair and reasonable. This condition could be promoted with Officers.

      v.           Could look to strengthen the wording on Biodiversity Net Gain to outline the requirements and what were aspirational targets.

    vi.           The Council’s Statement of Community Involvement outlined how the Council engaged on planning matters including SPDs.

   vii.          This document was one of the more technical SPD’s, this was deliberate to try to speed up and clarify the process that was used for planning obligations.

 viii.          Officers feed into community led social media platforms through the communications strategy, both at Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, for consultation events.

    ix.           A face-to-face event was also being planned but this would be for the Cambridge Biomedical Campus as it was believed there would be more interest in that SPD.

      x.           When comments to the consultation had been received, Officers would collate the information and identify any changes. The consultation responses and the proposed changes would be shared with the Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee at a later meeting.

    xi.           Would seek to clarify the percentages of s106 sites above 15 homes to be allocated for social rent (paragraph 4.23, p107 & p108 of the agenda pack).

   xii.          Safeguards in the Housing Strategy document and the SPD were in place, so affordable housing provision mirrored market housing provisions.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure

   iv.          Agreed the draft Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (attached at Appendix 1) and accompanying Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) (Appendix 2) subject to public consultation.

    v.          Agreed that the preparation of materials and the running of the consultation be delegated to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

   vi.          Agreed that any subsequent material amendments prior to consultation be made by the Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Chair and Opposition Spokes and that any subsequent minor amendments and editing changes that do not materially affect the content prior to consultation be delegated to the Joint Director of Planning in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure.

 

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 Delivery Manager. 

 

In response to Members’ questions the Planning Policy Manager, the Delivery Manager and Deputy Director of GCSP 3C Building Control said the following:

 xiii.          The SPD had been in prepared in accordance with the latest Housing Strategy but would check that it was consistent with the guidance on shared ownership. 

 xiv.          The introductory part of the S106 SPD dealt with viability robustly. There was a need to cross reference this within the SPD to ensure there was not an automatic assumption that the amount of affordable housing provided would reduce in percentage terms  if viability could not be meet.

  xv.          Officers were aware of problems with adopted roads, but the issue was not for this SPD but planning conditions which could deal with this area directly.

 xvi.          There was a standard condition which could be implemented when dealing with private highways that outlined roads should be built to an adopted standard and charges to be fair and reasonable. This condition could be promoted with Officers.

xvii.           Could look to strengthen the wording on Biodiversity Net Gain to outline the requirements and what were aspirational targets.

xviii.           The Council’s Statement of Community Involvement outlined how the Council engaged on planning matters including SPDs.

 xix.          This document was one of the more technical SPD’s, this was deliberate to try to speed up and clarify the process that was used for planning obligations.

  xx.          Officers feed into community led social media platforms through the communications strategy, both at Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, for consultation events.

 xxi.          A face-to-face event was also being planned but this would be for the Cambridge Biomedical Campus as it was believed there would be more interest in that SPD.

xxii.           When comments to the consultation had been received, Officers would collate the information and identify any changes. The consultation responses and the proposed changes would be shared with the Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee at a later meeting.

xxiii.           Would seek to clarify the percentages of s106 sites above 15 homes to be allocated for social rent (paragraph 4.23, p107 & p108 of the agenda pack).

xxiv.          Safeguards in the Housing Strategy document and the SPD were in place, so affordable housing provision mirrored market housing provisions.

 

The Committee unanimously endorsed 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.

mittee unanimously endorsed 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.