Decisions

 CAMBRIDGE NORTHERN FRINGE EAST FUNDING AGREEMENT APPROVAL

Decision of:

Councillor Herbert, Executive Councillor for Strategy and External Partnerships

Reference:

19/URGENCY/SR/12

Date of decision:           

16.12.19

Recorded on:  17.12.19

Decision Type:

Key

Matter for Decision:

To approve the decision for the Council to enter into the Housing Infrastructure Fund Funding Agreement and a back to back agreement with Anglian Water.

To delegate final approval of relevant documentation and management of delivery of their terms  to the Strategic Director

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

Following detailed negotiations during 2019, the draft contracts were still unavailable for final sign-off during the Autumn Committee Cycle.

The spend profile and timescales required for the HIF funding require commissioning of key studies in advance of the spring environmental window. Final sign off of the development agreement has to be completed by end of 2019 in order for this commissioning to meet the relevant window. If it doesn’t key activity could be delayed by up to 6 months.

It is therefore critical to achieve final sign off for the funding Agreement in advance of the next committee cycle. (February 2020).

The Executive Councillor’s decision(s):

Approved

Reasons for the decision:

The reasons for the decision are contained in an officer’s report which is considered to be exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

Scrutiny consideration:

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

Report:

A report detailing the background and financial considerations is considered to be exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006

Conflicts of interest:

None

Comments:

The decision will be reported back to the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee on 3 February 2020.

One query was raised on clarification of potential cost overrun risk. This is a potential risk where project partners may be asked to fund any cost overruns above the maximum HIF Fund available if these occur. Mitigations negotiated include:

-      Limitation of cost risk level and assignment of the risk to appropriate project partner

-      Rigorous planning and management and monitoring of costs at all stages

-       Claims assurance and approval by Section 151 officer

Repayment of any cost incurred through allowable costs from future development scheme

Matter for Decision:

This decision relates to specific delegations to the Executive Member for Planning Policy & Open Spaces endorsed by Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee on 7 November 2019. 

The recommendations were as follows:

Content of the Issues and Options Report

The Executive Member for Planning Policy & Open Spaces resolved, as endorsed by Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee, on 7 November: ‘To approve the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (at Appendix E) and supporting documents (at Appendices F, G and H) and consultation process (at Section VIII and Appendix B, chapter 6).

The Executive Councillor also resolved:

‘To approve consultation with the Chair and Spokes for the Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee, in liaison with the South Cambridgeshire Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and in consultation with members of the Joint Local Planning Advisory Group, to consider and agree, as is consistent with this Council’s Corporate Objectives, any material changes to the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (at Appendix E) and supporting documents (at Appendices A, B (chapter 6), F, G and H) prior to the commencement of the consultation period, including any proposed by South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Following the meetings, and in liaison with Joint Local Planning Advisory Group members, amendments have been identified to the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (Appendix E of the Planning & Transport Scrutiny agenda) responding to issues raised at the meetings and corrections and typographical errors. These amendments are highlighted in the version appended to this decision as appendix 1.

The purpose of this decision is to approve these amendments.

Local Development Scheme

Consultation on the Local Plan Issues and Options will now take place in January 2020, not Autumn 2019 as previously stated in the adopted Local Development Scheme.

The Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Open Spaces on 7 November resolved – ‘To delegate authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in liaison with the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces and South Cambridgeshire District Council Lead Cabinet Member for Planning, and the Chair and Spokes for the Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee to update the Local

Development Scheme to reflect the amended consultation

period.

Amendments to the Greater Cambridge Local Development Scheme 2018 to reflect the change in consultation dates have been made in the version attached as appendix 2 to this decision.

The purpose of this decision is to approve these amendments.

A copy of the report considered by the Planning and Transport Committee on 7 November and all associated documents can be viewed at the  link below:

https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=475&MId=3769&Ver=4

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

The delegated decision forms part of the early stages in preparing the next Local Plan for the area, being prepared jointly by Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council

The Executive Councillor’s decision(s):

To approve the proposed content of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan Issues & Options document, and update the Local Development Scheme, as set out in the documents appended to this decision which can be viewed at the following link:

(Insert link)

Reasons for the decision:

Outlined in why the decision had been to made.

Scrutiny consideration:

The Chair and Spokesperson of Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee were consulted prior to the action being authorised on (insert date).

Report:

Attached is the Member Consultation Paper.

Conflicts of interest:

None known.

Comments:

No adverse comments were made.