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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 |
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Reference: |
21/URGENCY/P&T/07 |
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Date of
decision: |
25 March 2021 |
Published: |
06 April 2021. |
Decision Type: |
Non Key |
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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 |
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Why the decision had to be made (and any
alternative options): |
The consultation raises important issues
that the council wishes to respond to. |
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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 |
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Reasons for the decision: |
Outlined
in the report why the decision had been made. |
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Scrutiny consideration: |
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Report: |
https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13474 |
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Conflicts
of interest: |
None known. |
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Comments: |
No adverse comments were made. |
Lead officer: Claire Tunnicliffe
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 |
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Decision of: |
Councillor Nicky
Massey: Executive Councillor for Transport and Community Safety |
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Reference: |
20/URGENCY/P&T/03 |
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Date of
decision: 22.02.21 |
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Published on: |
02/03/21 |
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Decision Type: |
Non-Key |
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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 |
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Why the decision had to be made (and
any alternative options):
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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Scrutiny consideration: |
The Chair and
Spokesperson of Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee were consulted
prior to the action being authorised.
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Report: |
See Appendix 1which can be viewed at the link below: ttps://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13471 |
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Conflicts of interest: |
None |
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Comments: |
The decision will be reported back to the Planning and Transport
Scrutiny Committee. |
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Lead officer: Claire Tunnicliffe