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23/09/2019 - Kings Parade ref: 5017    Recommendations Approved

Whether to provide funding for a temporary barrier, and associated installation and signage works, to close King’s Parade during an experimental period. £35,000 will be allocated from reserves, and the remaining 50% of the funding will be met by the Greater Cambridge Partnership

Decision Maker: Executive Councillor for Transformation

Decision published: 26/09/2019

Effective from: 23/09/2019

Decision:

Matter for Decision:

Whether to provide funding for a temporary barrier, and associated installation and signage works, to close King’s Parade   during an experimental period. £35,000 will be allocated from reserves, and the remaining 50% of the funding will be met by the Greater Cambridge Partnership

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

See details detailed in Cambridge Joint Area Committee report 5 March 2019 paragraphs 2.1 – 2.8

https://cambridgeshire.cmis.uk.com/ccc_live/Meetings/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/819/Committee/11/Default.aspx

As specified under Part 4C 6.1.1 and 6.1.2 of the Councils Constitution, It was not deemed practical to convene a quorate meeting of Council to take these decisions.

The Executive Councillor’s decision(s):

To provide funding for a temporary barrier, and associated installation and signage works, to close King’s Parade during an experimental period. £35,000 will be allocated from reserves, and the remaining 50% of the funding will be met by the Greater Cambridge Partnership.

Funding is on the understanding that the 10 disabled parking spaces which will be lost have been accepted by the county council officers for relocation on Trumpington St though there is no absolute certainty that they will be possible to provide in the locations outlined in the report.

Reasons for the decision:

As stated in Part 4C section 6.1 of the Councils Constitution, individual members of the Executive ‘may take a decision which is contrary or not wholly in accordance with the budget approved by the full Council if the decision is a matter of urgency’.

It was deemed not practical to convene a quorate meeting of Council to take these decisions.

 

Scrutiny consideration:

The Chair and Spokesperson of Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee were consulted prior to the action being authorised.

 

The Chair of the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee agreed the decision was a matter of urgency as required under paragraph 6, Part 4C Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rule

 

Report:

A Member consultation briefing paper and report detailing the background and financial considerations is attached.

Conflicts of interest:

None

Comments:

This decision will be reported back to the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee on the 07 October 2019.

 

Lead officer: John Richards


17/07/2019 - Acquisition of long leasehold interest in Units 1-10, Nuffield Close, Nuffield Road Industrial Estate, Cambridge, CB4 ref: 5016    Recommendations Approved

Acquisition of long leasehold interest in Units 1-10, Nuffield Close, Nuffield Road Industrial Estate, Cambridge, CB4

Decision Maker: Executive Councillor for Transformation

Decision published: 18/09/2019

Effective from: 17/07/2019

Decision:

CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL

Record of Executive Decision

 

 

 

Decision of:

Councillor Robertson, Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources

Reference:

19/URGENCY/SR/6

Date of decision:            

17 July 2019

Recorded on:  17 July 2019

 

Decision Type:

Key Decision

Matter for Decision:

 

Consider the acquisition of long leasehold interest in Units 1-10, Nuffield Close, Nuffield Road Industrial Estate, Cambridge, CB4 1SS

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

 

The vendor, required the transaction to complete within 20 working days from receipt of contract documentation and has only offered exclusivity for this period.

The Executive Councillor’s decision(s):

 

Approve the purchase of Units 1-10 Nuffield Close, Cambridge, for £5.0m plus acquisition costs.

Reasons for the decision:

As detailed in the Officers report.

Scrutiny consideration:

The Chair and Spokesperson of Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee were consulted prior to the action being authorised.

Report:

A briefing note was submitted to the Executive Councillor (Chair and spokes) and will be reported t the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee on 7 October 2019.

Conflicts of interest:

 

None

Comments:

The decision will be reported back to the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee on 7 October 2019.

 

Lead officer: Philip Taylor


06/09/2019 - Housing Trajectory, Five Year Supply and Statement of Common Ground ref: 5015    Recommendations Approved

1. To agree for the Greater Cambridge Housing Trajectory and Five Year Housing Land Supply – Main Document and Annex to be published on the Council’s website and subject to public consultation for 4 weeks from 16 September to 14 October 2019. The Greater Cambridge housing trajectory and five year housing land supply calculations have been prepared jointly with South Cambridgeshire District Council.
2. To agree a Statement of Common Ground with South Cambridgeshire District Council on the Housing Delivery Test, that will be published as an Appendix to the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan for South Cambridgeshire.

Decision Maker: Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control, and Infrastructure

Decision published: 16/09/2019

Effective from: 06/09/2019

Decision:

Matter for Decision:

1.    To agree for the Greater Cambridge Housing Trajectory and Five Year Housing Land Supply – Main Document and Annex to be published on the Council’s website and subject to public consultation for 4 weeks from 16 September to 14 October 2019. The Greater Cambridge housing trajectory and five year housing land supply calculations have been prepared jointly with South Cambridgeshire District Council.

2.    To agree a Statement of Common Ground with South Cambridgeshire District Council on the Housing Delivery Test, that will be published as an Appendix to the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan for South Cambridgeshire.

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

In January 2019, the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport agreed that the Greater Cambridge housing trajectory and five year supply calculations would be agreed by the Executive Member for Planning Policy at Cambridge City Council via a decision outside of a meeting (together with the Cabinet Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire Council).

 

The Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces decision(s):

 

a.    Agreed to the publication of, and consultation on, the Greater Cambridge Housing Trajectory and Five Year Housing Land Supply – Main Document and Annex;

b.    Agreed the five year housing land supply calculation of 5.3 years for 2019-2024 should be used when making planning decisions from 16 September 2019; and

c.    Approved the Statement of Common Ground with South Cambridgeshire District Council on the Housing Delivery Test, that will be published as an Appendix to the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan for South Cambridgeshire.

Reasons for the decision:

The Greater Cambridge housing trajectory is used by the Councils to calculate their five year housing land supply and to demonstrate that anticipated housing delivery will meet or exceed the housing requirements set out in their Local Plans. The two Councils have an established five year housing land supply until 31 October, as a result of the adoption of the Local Plans in autumn 2018. Ahead of 1 November when the Councils five year housing land supply will no longer be established, the Councils have reviewed and updated their housing trajectory and five year housing land supply calculations, which will be used when making decisions from 16 September 2019, and will also be subject to public consultation as required by national planning policy and guidance for Annual Position Statements.

 

The adopted Local Plan establishes a five year housing land supply until 31 October under national planning policy. A new trajectory is required to establish the five year supply position from that date for the purposes of making planning decisions. In addition, South Cambridgeshire District Council has three planning appeals where the appellants are challenging the Councils’ five year housing land supply and / or the implications of the Housing Delivery Test results. South Cambridgeshire District Council’s statement of case for one of these appeals must be submitted by 17 September 2019, and there are hearings scheduled for autumn 2019. If the Councils’ updated Greater Cambridge housing trajectory and five year housing land supply calculations are not published before the 17 September, South Cambridgeshire District Council would need to submit its statement of case based on the previously published housing trajectory and five year supply calculations (from November 2017) which were prepared based on the previous definition of a deliverable site, and the Councils are already aware from the appellants’ statements of case that the assumptions made by the Councils’ previously on the deliverability of sites will be challenged through these appeals. By publishing the updated Greater Cambridge housing trajectory and five year supply calculations on 16 September, the Councils will be able to use the most up-to-date information for these appeals.

 

As a result of the publication of the Housing Delivery Test results in February 2019, South Cambridgeshire District Council is required to publish a Housing Delivery Test Action Plan. As part of the Action Plan, the Councils have agreed a Statement of Common Ground on the Housing Delivery Test.

Scrutiny consideration:

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

Report:

The Greater Cambridge Housing Trajectory and Five Year Housing Land Supply – Main Document and Annex are attached.

 

The Housing Delivery Test Action Plan for South Cambridgeshire, including the Statement of Common Ground, is attached.

Conflicts of interest:

None known.

Comments:

No adverse comments were made by the Chair and Spokes within the five day consultation window.

 

Lead officer: Caroline Hunt


16/07/2019 - Greater Cambridge Local Plan Inception and Joint Planning & Transport Advisory Group Terms of Reference. ref: 4981    Recommendations Approved

Greater Cambridge Local Plan inception:
- To note information regarding the inception of the Local Plan; and
- To agree the terms of reference for the proposed Greater Cambridge Local Plan joint member advisory group: a non-statutory joint member group intended to ensure a shared policy position that will allow the timely development of the new Greater Cambridge Local Plan, coordinated with transport policy.

Decision Maker: Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee

Made at meeting: 16/07/2019 - Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee

Decision published: 12/09/2019

Effective from: 16/07/2019

Decision:

Matter for Decision

 

To agree the terms of reference for the proposed Joint Planning & Transport Advisory Group.

 

Decision of Executive Councilor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces

 

          i.             Noted information regarding the inception of the Local Plan.

         ii.             Agreed the terms of reference for the proposed Joint Planning & Transport Advisory Group as outlined in Appendix A (amended).

       iii.             Agreed that Cambridge City Council representation on the Joint Planning & Transport Advisory Group should comprise two nominations from the Labour group and one from the Liberal Democrat group.

 

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 Strategy & Economy Manager.

 

The report referred to the proposed Joint Planning & Transport Advisory Group: a non-decision making joint member group intended to facilitate the development of a shared policy understanding to allow the timely preparation of the new Greater Cambridge Local Plan, coordinated with transport policy.

 

The Committee was informed of the following amendments to the terms of reference (additional text underlined and deleted text struck through).

 

Joint Local Planning and Transport Advisory Group Draft Terms of Reference

 

Outline

The Group is non decision-making and will offer a steer at Member level for the development of land use plans, and integrated with transport strategy. It will meet in public. The group will facilitate cooperation between the authorities and better decision making through the relevant processes.

 

The Group will report its recommendations to the respective Local Planning Authorities, for decision-making to be completed through each Council’s existing democratic processes.

 

Purpose

The group will provide efficient and effective coordination of spatial planning including land use and integrated transport strategy for the Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire districts.

 

The group will provide opportunity for three-way discussion on other strategic and cross-boundary issues, at the discretion of the Chair in discussion with Vice Chairs.

 

The group will provide high level oversight of the Greater Cambridge growth strategy. There will be liaison with bordering authorities when appropriate.

 

Outcomes

The outcomes from the group will be:

(a)   to ensure facilitate a shared policy position that will allow the timely development of the new Greater Cambridge Local Plan, coordinated/integrated with transport policy; and

 

(b) to ensure facilitate a shared policy position that will allow the timely development of other key planning policy and transport documents within the Greater Cambridge area.

 

Membership

The group will consist of three Members from each of Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, and one from Cambridgeshire County Council. The membership of the group will be determined by each authority.

 

Each authority should also nominate substitutes should the core participants not be able to attend particular meetings.

 

Frequency of meetings

Every two months or as necessary, hosted on a rotating basis.

 

 

 

Secretariat

The secretariat for the group will be provided by either Cambridge City Council or SCDC South Cambridgeshire District Council. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman will be from Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council and will alternate annually.

 

Chairmanship and vice chairmanship will be determined each year on the anniversary of the first meeting.

 

Winding Up of the Group

The Group will be wound up by any one of the following means:

 

(a)        (i) five years from today’s date; or

 

(iiib) adoption of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan by the authorities, with no other Development Plan Documents still in preparation;

 

(cb) on withdrawal from the Advisory Group of by one of Cambridge City Council or South Cambridgeshire District Council; or

 

(de) on a simple majority vote by Members of the Advisory Group.

 

The Committee unanimously agreed the amendments.

 

In response to Members questions the Strategy & Economy Manager said the following:

     i.        Would look at the wording of the winding up of the group.

    ii.        Advice had been taken on the political proportionality from both of the  democratic services teams.

   iii.        The make-up of the JLPAG was comparable to the Joint Strategic Transport and Spatial Planning Group (expired) in preparation of the last separate but aligned Local Plan and Area Action Plans; both local authorities had rejected the suggestion of a statutory joint committee.

  iv.        Officers had found the previous JSTSPG to be very useful as there was a close relationship between the historical city of Cambridge (Cambridge City Council) and the surrounding area (South Cambridgeshire District Council).

   v.        The JLPAG was intended to provide an opportunity for both councils to meet in advance of their formal decision making meeting; members could identity issues which affected each local authority, and suggest a way forward before their relevant decision making meeting. This should allow a resolution in the decision making meeting and reduce the need for decisions to be taken away outside of the meeting under delegated authority.

  vi.        The first stage of the new Greater Cambridge Local Plan would be for members to look at a draft issues and options document. If the document was brought to each local authority separately it would be only natural to heavily focus on their relevant geographical areas; the JLPAG would allow the documents to be looked at holistically as a whole.

 vii.        The JLPAG would vote on a recommendation which would be taken to each local authority’s decision making meeting; JLPAG representatives would be present with the benefit of knowing what the other council’s view were.

viii.        It was the gift of both local authorities to determine if representatives from the County Council should sit on the advisory group.

  ix.        It was the task of the officers to undertake the technical work and development of documents. It was not unusual to have a high-level officer group assisting those officers working on these documents.

   x.        A joint high-level officer group comprising representatives of both councils, Greater Cambridge Partnership, Cambridgeshire County Council and the Combined Authority had been set up and would meet on a monthly basis to help steer the development of the forthcoming Local Plan. Ultimately it is Members who make the decisions.

 

The Committee endorsed the Officer recommendations with amendments by 8 votes to 0.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations as amended.

 

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

 

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.

 

* Committee Managers Note: There has been a minor amendment to the JLPAG terms of reference as recommended by the South Cambridgeshire District Council Portfolio Holder and agreed by the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Open Spaces on 13 August 2019..

 

The change can be seen under the title Purpose of the attached document: last paragraph/sentence: There will be liaison with bordering authorities when appropriate. The word bordering to be changed to "neighbouring authorities and other relevant bodies".

 

Lead officer: Caroline Hunt