Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision:  

              i.      The City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council have a long and effective history of joint working on planning matters, particularly on plan-making.  As part of the duty to cooperate, the three councils have agreed to work collaboratively and in parallel on new Local Plans and a transport strategy for the Cambridge area.  This approach will ensure that cross-boundary issues and relevant wider matters are addressed in a consistent and joined-up manner.

            ii.      On 12^th July 2012, South Cambridgeshire District Council published their Local Plan – Issues and Options Report for consultation, hereafter referred to as Issues and Options.  This consultation forms the first stage in preparing an updated Local Plan for South Cambridgeshire that will set out the vision for the district for the period up to 2031.

          iii.      The report sets out the Council’s suggested consultation response to the Issues and Options to be submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council.  The representations are set out in Appendix A of the Officer’s report.   

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Sustainable Transport:

The Executive Councillor agreed the comments as set out in Appendix A of the Officer’s report and that these are subsequently submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council as Cambridge City Council’s formal response to the consultation.

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 Senior Planning Officer regarding draft consultation response to the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan – Issues and Options report. She confirmed that cross-boundary issues had been taken into account in drafting representations and officers would remain engaged in working with South Cambridgeshire District Council to progress both Local Plans.

Members welcomed the quality of the representations and suggested the following additions:

                i.      Q57 Gypsy and Traveller provision. The wording would be strengthened to reinforce a positive approach to closer working with South Cambridgeshire on shared provision, possibly in the boundary areas.

              ii.      Q75 Retail Provision. Highlight the need for smaller, independent units to be encouraged in new development sites as per the policy option in the Cambridge Local Plan Towards 2031 – Issues and Options report.

            iii.      Q103 Cycle Parking. A comment encouraging cycle parking provision should be added.

The Committee resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

Conflicts of interest declared by the Executive Councillor (and any dispensations granted)

Not applicable.