Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision:  To consider the Key issues arising from the issues and options consultation and timetable update.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Climate Change:

 

The Executive Councillor resolved;

 

i.        To note the key issues arising from the consultation on the Issues and Options Report;

                         

ii.       To note the current timetable and ongoing approach to the duty to cooperate and joint working (paragraphs 3.21 to 3.23 of the committee report); and

 

iii.      To endorse the approach to preparing the next stages of the Plan as set out in paragraph 3.11 of the committee report.

 

 

 

Reason for the Decision:

 

As per the officer report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected:

 

Not Applicable

 

Scrutiny Considerations:

 

The committee received a report regarding the key issues arising the Issues and Options Consultation and timetable update.

 

The committee congratulated officers for collating the 11,000 comments from 850 different people/organisations.

 

Members sought clarification on whether the process as outlined was expected to comply with the duty to co-operate test. The Head of Planning Services explained that the proposed process was based on best practice and was expected to meet the tests in the legislation. The committee were advised that officers were monitoring the issues arising from the earlier adopters and making amendments accordingly. The Planning Policy Manager explained that the City Council was jointly engaging with the Planning Inspectorate with South Cambridgeshire.

 

In response to questions from members the Planning Policy Manager explained that detailed responses to issues raised would be presented to the committee between November and January.

 

Councillor Hipkin addressed the committee with the permission of the Chair and made the following comments

 

i.          Congratulated the officers on the work to date

 

ii.          Stressed the importance of the process

 

iii.          Some of the responses had been prepared on behalf of residents associations and membership groups with many hundreds of members and this should be acknowledged.

 

iv.      The importance of preserving the green belt between Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire was stressed.

 

Clarification was requested on the criteria for assessing sites and ensuring that it was not simply a popularity contest. The Planning Policy Manager re-assured members that a balanced process was in place to appropriately assess sites.

 

Clarification was requested whether the duty to co-operate extended to the County Council. The Planning Policy Manager assured the committee that officers were working closely with the County Council and South Cambridgeshire to assure that the transport strategy and local plan processes were aligned.

 

The Scrutiny Sub Committee considered the recommendations and endorsed them by 5 votes to 0.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

 

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

 

N/A