Issue - decisions

The report referred to the Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which set out the approach, policies and procedures taken by Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council in respect of the use of planning obligations.

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure

      i.          Considered the main issues raised in the public consultation, agreed responses to the representations received, as set out in the Statement of Consultation (Appendix A of the Officer’s report).

     ii.          Agreed that revisions to the draft Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and additional evidence be prepared, and a decision on revisions be taken by the Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure in consultation with Chair and Spokes.

   iii.          Agreed that subsequent to those revisions, an additional public consultation be carried out in summer 2025 on the amended draft SPD and supporting evidence.

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 Manger

In response to comments from Members the Planning Policy Manager and S106 Officer said the following:

      i.          Noted the comment that the preference would be for biodiversity net gain wherever possible provided on site, or near to a site.

     ii.          Officers had been careful with the wording on the matter of biodiversity as this SPD could not to change the Council’s Planning Policy on biodiversity. There was already a separate Biodiversity SPD but would revisit the wording to ensure that the references were clear to the Council’s approach on biodiversity net gain.

   iii.          Nursey provision was a private enterprise but there were elements of the subject matter picked up in the education cost.

   iv.          No date had been set for further public consultation as outlined in the recommendation but hoped this could be achieved in the summer term. 

    v.          The premise of the S106 monitoring contribution was to ensure that the costs in relation to administration of the agreement were fully covered. It was important that only the costs were covered.

   vi.          A charging regime had been put forward to address infrastructure costs and the Council had received considerable representations on this matter which was being reviewed by Officers. It was important to ensure that developers were not paying more than was necessary.

 vii.          Noted the comment that all charges should be linked to inflation.

The Committee voted unanimously to endorse the Officer recommendations.

The Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Transport approved the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor again thanked the Officers for all their work on this document.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted).

None