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25/02/2021 - Changes to the Current Planning System Consultation Response ref: 5184    Recommendations Approved

To approve the response to the National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code.

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

Decision published: 06/04/2021

Effective from: 25/02/2021

Decision:

CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL

Record of Executive Decision

 

CHANGES TO THE CURRENT PLANNING SYSTEM CONSULTATION RESPONSE

 

Decision of:

Councillor Thornburrow, Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces

Reference:

21/URGENCY/P&T/07

Date of decision:                        

25 March 2021

Published:

06 April 2021.

Decision Type:

Non Key

Matter for Decision:

Greater Cambridge response to National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code: consultation proposals

 

1.    Background

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched an eight-week consultation on proposals to establish a new Office for Place, which would require all local planning authorities to create their own design codes in consultation with local stakeholders. These design codes would have to be adhered in the planning submission process by all developers, and would entail some alterations to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

 

Link to document: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/national-planning-policy-framework-and-national-model-design-code-consultation-proposals 

 

Deadline: 27th March

 

2. Context

The consultation follows directly from the 2021 consultations on the Planning White Paper. Last autumn, the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service (GCSP) responded to the Planning White Paper: Planning For The Future, Changes To The Current Planning System and Land Data consultations last Autumn. A copy of this joint response can be seen here: https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/documents/s51405/Planning%20future%20and%20Current%20Changes%20Response%20Report.pdf

 

The rationale, proposals and specific questions for this consultation, as well as the draft text updates to the NPPF and the annexed draft National Model Design Code can be downloaded from here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/national-planning-policy-framework-and-national-model-design-code-consultation-proposals/national-planning-policy-framework-and-national-model-design-code-consultation-proposals

 

In this consultation, the government is acting to implement some of the main recommendations from the Building Better, Building Beautiful Report.

 

3. Proposed Response from Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council

 

Overall, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service Officers consulted agree with the government that the planning system could be improved and should have more emphasis on design. This view echoes Greater Cambridge’s response to the Planning White Paper last year where proposals that simplify processes and take advantage of more digital approaches to provide more certainty, design quality, and an emphasis on sustainability were welcomed.

 

However, there are significant concerns that some of the proposed changes may undermine its stated objectives of achieving good design. This concern is centred on proposed changes to Article 4 directions and the resources to deliver the design codes in a coherent manner.

 

The full response proposed is included as Appendix which can be viewed at the link below:

 

https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13474

 

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

The consultation raises important issues that the council wishes to respond to.

The Executive Councillor’s decision():

Approved the proposed response the National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code: consultation proposals, as set out in the document appended to this decision which can be viewed at the link below:

 

https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13474

 

 

Reasons for the decision:

Outlined in the report why the decision had been made.

Scrutiny consideration:

 

Report:

https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13474

 

Conflicts of interest:

None known.

Comments:

No adverse comments were made.

 

 

Lead officer: Claire Tunnicliffe


22/02/2021 - ***ROD Interim Amendments to Cambridge City Council’s Taxicard Scheme ref: 5245    Recommendations Approved


i. Agree a proposal to allow members of Cambridge City Council’s Taxicard Scheme to use two vouchers on each trip from 1 April 2021 – 30 September 2021. This would allow the user up to £7.60 towards the cost of a taxi trip as opposed to one voucher of £3.80. Recognising members may have financial difficulties as a result of Covid or have additional health problems and are relying on taxis to get them from A to B, it would help to provide additional financial support to Taxicard members (disabled people on low incomes) to help to pay for their taxi journeys.
ii. Agree for Taxicard members to receive a book of 50 vouchers valued at £3.80 each from 1 April 2021 – 30 September 2021 and to be able to use two vouchers per trip if so choosing to whilst a review of the Taxicard scheme is progressed.
iii. Agree that a further book of vouchers will be made available to Taxicard members during this period if requested. In this event, a proportionate amount of vouchers will be issued for the remainder of 6 the month period

Decision Maker: Executive Councillor for Open Spaces and City Services

Decision published: 02/03/2021

Effective from: 22/02/2021

Decision:

CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL

Record of Executive Decision

 

Interim Amendments to Cambridge City Council’s Taxicard Scheme

 

 

Decision of:

 

Councillor Nicky Massey: Executive Councillor for Transport and Community Safety

Reference:

20/URGENCY/P&T/03

Date of decision:                                  22.02.21

 

Published on: 

02/03/21

Decision Type:

Non-Key

Matter for Decision:

Executive Councillor for Transport and Community Safety is recommended to:

i. Agree a proposal to allow members of Cambridge City Council’s Taxicard Scheme to use two vouchers on each trip from 1 April 2021 – 30 September 2021.  This would allow the user up to £7.60 towards the cost of a taxi trip as opposed to one voucher of £3.80.  Recognising members may have financial difficulties as a result of Covid or have additional health problems and are relying on taxis to get them from A to B, it would help to provide additional financial support to Taxicard members (disabled people on low incomes) to help to pay for their taxi journeys.

ii. Agree for Taxicard members to receive a book of 50 vouchers valued at £3.80 each from 1 April 2021 – 30 September 2021 and to be able to use two vouchers per trip if so choosing to whilst a review of the Taxicard scheme is progressed.

iii.  Agree that a further book of vouchers will be made available to Taxicard members during this period if requested.  In this event, a proportionate amount of vouchers will be issued for the remainder of 6 the month period

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

The Taxicard is a Scheme that helps disabled people on low incomes pay for taxi journeys.  The scheme operates by issuing members with a book of 100 vouchers running from 1 April – 31 March each year.  Each voucher is currently worth £3.70, this figure increases by 10p each year.

Officers are currently carrying out a review of the existing Taxicard Scheme with the aim of increasing usage by its members with the remit of a more flexible Taxicard scheme.  Whilst the review is being undertaken it is considered to be prudent to only issue only 6 months of vouchers at this time so that a revised scheme, if approved can then be introduced in 2021/22.

During the covid pandemic and reduced public transport provision on some routes members of the Taxicard scheme may need to use taxi’s more.  By allowing the use of two vouchers per trip it will provide more support to members but will remain within the overall provision of the scheme.  This scheme supports disabled people on low incomes to pay for taxi journeys, this decision would provide additional financial support to its members at this time. 

The renewals process for the issue of Taxicards takes place during the months of February and March and therefore a decision is required on this proposal now to link in with the renewals process.  The next Planning and Transport Committee is in March and this would be too late to make the arrangements for the new vouchers to be printed and issued and would leave the Taxicard members without provision for a period of time.  

Taxi companies will need to be made aware of any approved changes, so they are ready to take two vouchers if presented with them from 1 April.  This proposal does not affect the amount the Taxi Companies receive as their costs will continue to be reimbursed on a monthly basis.

The Executive Councillor’s decision(s):

i.  Agreed a proposal to allow members of Cambridge City Council’s Taxicard Scheme to use two vouchers on each trip from 1 April 2021 – 30 September 2021.  This would allow the user up to £7.60 towards the cost of a taxi trip as opposed to one voucher of £3.80.  Recognising members may have financial difficulties as a result of Covid or have additional health problems and are relying on taxis to get them from A to B, it would help to provide additional financial support to Taxicard members (disabled people on low incomes) to help to pay for their taxi journeys.

ii.  Agreed for Taxicard members to receive a book of 50 vouchers valued at £3.80 each from 1 April 2021 – 30 September 2021 and to be able to use two vouchers per trip if so choosing to whilst a review of the Taxicard scheme is progressed.

iii.  Agreed that a further book of vouchers will be made available to Taxicard members during this period if requested.  In this event, a proportionate amount of vouchers will be issued for the remainder of 6 the month period.

Reasons for the decision:

As detailed in Appendix 1 which can be viewed at the link below:

https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13471

 

Scrutiny consideration:

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

Report:

See Appendix 1which can be viewed at the link below:

ttps://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13471

Conflicts of interest:

None

Comments:

The decision will be reported back to the Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee.

 

 

Lead officer: Claire Tunnicliffe