Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Monkfield Room, First Floor. View directions

Contact: Ian Senior  03450 450 500 Email: democratic.services@scambs.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

In connection with Minute no. 6 (Heritage Guardianship Sites: Landbeach Tithe Barn, East Hatley Church and Sawston Tannery Drying Shed), Councillor Kevin Cuffley (a local Member for Sawston) declared a non-pecuniary interest because he had been involved locally in seeking a satisfactory outcome for the Sawston Tannery Drying Shed.

2.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 141 KB

The Planning Portfolio Holder is invited to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2016 as a correct record.

Minutes:

The Planning Portfolio Holder signed as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2016.

3.

Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council - Playing Pitch Strategy 2016 and Indoor Sports Facility Strategy 2016 pdf icon PDF 342 KB

Appendices A and B are available online only. Please visit www.scambs.gov.uk then ‘The Council’ followed by ‘Councillors minutes and agendas’.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Planning Portfolio Holder:

 

(a)   endorsed the following strategies in their current form:

·                Playing Pitch Strategy 2016 (Appendix A to the report)

·                Indoor Sports Facility Strategy 2016 (Appendix B to the report)

 

(b)   agreed that delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning and New Communities to make any subsequent minor amendments and editing changes, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder.

Minutes:

The Planning Portfolio Holder considered the Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council Playing Pitch Strategy 2016 and Indoor Sports Facility Strategy 2016.

 

The Sustainable Communities and Partnerships Manager summarised the report, highlighting the methodology adopted in each case, and the Strategies’ significance as part of South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Development Plan process. One particular challenge was to anticipate the likely post-2031 demands as a result of population growth in such areas as Waterbeach.

 

The Portfolio Holder led a discussion on the need to recognise demand for facilities not currently available in the area, such as an ice rink and dry ski slope, and new and emerging sports and pastimes. Councillor Bridget Smith said that many recreational activities took place in locations such as community centres, and stressed the importance of the Indoor Sports Facility Strategy in providing evidence of the need for community facilities that were ‘fit for purpose’.  Councillor Kevin Cuffley called for better liaison with the Football Association, and highlighted the expense involved in complying with the latest standards. He also stressed the need to provide facilities for disabled people. Councillor Lynda Harford urged officers to be mindful of viability. It would be unfortunate if formal facilities were provided at the expense of the provision of more informal recreational pursuits, such as cycling and dog walking.

 

The Planning Portfolio Holder:

 

(a)   endorsed the following strategies in their current form:

·                Playing Pitch Strategy 2016 (Appendix A to the report)

·                Indoor Sports Facility Strategy 2016 (Appendix B to the report)

 

(b)   agreed that delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning and New Communities to make any subsequent minor amendments and editing changes, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder.

4.

Neighbourhood Planning in South Cambridgeshire pdf icon PDF 363 KB

Decision:

The Planning Portfolio Holder agreed to

 

a)             set up a Task and Finish Group consisting provisionally of four District Councillors, two Parish Councillors and two Parish Council clerks to oversee the development of a number of documents relating to the review of working with Parish Councils to include

 

                                                             i.         a revised agreement for use between the Council and any Parish Council  preparing a Neighbourhood Plan;

                                                           ii.         a standard and enhanced offer to Parish Councils preparing Neighbourhood Plans; and

                                                          iii.         Guidance to Neighbourhood Plans in South Cambridgeshire

 

b)             Consider, at a Portfolio Holder meeting in Autumn 2016, the documents referred to in a) above, submit them to consultation with Parish Councils, and then consider proposed modifications (if any) before finalising those documents; and

 

c)              conduct an annual review of how the Council works with Parish Councils on Neighbourhood Plans.

Minutes:

Against a backcloth of growing interest among local communities in preparing Neighbourhood Plans, providing an opportunity for Parish Councils to produce plans that would sit alongside South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Local Plan, the Planning Portfolio Holder considered a report examining how the district council is working with local communities.

 

 The report highlighted the statutory duty of district councils to advise, and assist, those Parish Councils preparing Neighbourhood Plans.

 

Taking care not to direct her comment at officers, Councillor Bridget Smith regretted the fact that South Cambridgeshire District Council had not been encouraging Neighbourhood Planning three years ago. She said that the consequence of not doing so was that some communities were now suffering intense development pressures. The Planning and New Communities Director highlighted that, at that time, neighbourhood plans were a relatively new concept, and parish councils were given the opportunity to include Parish-led proposals within the Local Plan as an alternative to them preparing neighbourhood plans. A number of Parish Councils had taken advantage of this alternative course.

 

Councillor Smith expressed concern about the adequacy, or otherwise, of district council resources available to provide appropriate support to Parish Councils. The Planning and New Communities Director admitted that the delay in adopting the Local Plan had caused problems by virtue of some of the district Council’s housing policies being deemed out-of-date. She pointed out that the Planning Policy Team responsible for Neighbourhood Plans was the same one striving to ensure that the emerging Local Plan passed successfully through the Inquiry stage and progressed eventually to adoption.

 

Councillor Lynda Harford said that South Cambridgeshire District Council should seek innovative ways to support local communities in preparing Neighbourhood Plans that complemented the District-wide Local Plan. 

 

 The Planning Portfolio Holder and others present discussed a proposal to set up a Neighbourhood Plan Task and Finish Group.

 

The Planning Portfolio Holder agreed to

 

a)             set up a Task and Finish Group consisting provisionally of four District Councillors, two Parish Councillors and two Parish Council clerks to oversee the development of a number of documents relating to the review of working with Parish Councils to include

 

                                                             i.         a revised agreement for use between the Council and any Parish Council  preparing a Neighbourhood Plan;

                                                           ii.         a standard and enhanced offer to Parish Councils preparing Neighbourhood Plans; and

                                                          iii.         Guidance to Neighbourhood Plans in South Cambridgeshire

 

b)             Consider, at a Portfolio Holder meeting in Autumn 2016, the documents referred to in a) above, submit them to consultation with Parish Councils, and then consider proposed modifications (if any) before finalising those documents; and

 

c)              conduct an annual review of how the Council works with Parish Councils on Neighbourhood Plans.

5.

Pilot Brownfield Register pdf icon PDF 355 KB

An unabridged version of Appendix 1 Annex B is available online. Please visit www.scambs.gov.uk then ‘The Council’ followed by ‘Councillors minutes and agendas’.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Planning Portfolio Holder:

 

a.     endorsed the Pilot South Cambridgeshire Brownfield Register and Report in Appendix 1 for submission to DCLG; and

 

b.     agreed that delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning and New Communities to make any subsequent minor amendments and editing changes, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder.

Minutes:

The Planning Portfolio Holder considered a report seeking his endorsement of the Pilot South Cambridgeshire Brownfield Register, and its submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

 

The Portfolio Holder and others present noted that the Pilot Register consisted only of sites, which either were already in the adopted Local Development Framework or in the emerging Local Plan, or which had planning permission. A major challenge for South Cambridgeshire District Council would be that of available resources once the requirement to prepare a register comes into effect. The Portfolio Holder added that, once granted, it was important to the Council that planning permission was implemented as soon as possible.

 

Councillor Lynda Harford mentioned the impact that ‘permission in principle’ could have on pre-application negotiations, and the speed of delivery. The Principal Planning Policy Officer replied that the Government’s rationale behind Brownfield Registers was to help tackle the housing crisis.  He explained that sites suggested in future would need to be tested, following a process similar to the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA). The Register would be eligible for the grant of permission in principle, but the Local Planning Authority (LPA) still needed to consider whether or not to give such consent, and any matters to be addressed. In response to Councillor Harford, the Planning and New Communities Director said that permission in principle in effect replaced the need for pre-application advice, although LPAs might still want to offer such advice and landowners might want to take advantage of it.

 

Those present reflected on what the Regulations might include, and speculated on how the LPA would deal with sites that were only partially brownfield. The Portfolio Holder requested that officers present a further report to him once those Regulations had been published.

 

The Planning Portfolio Holder:

 

a.     endorsed the Pilot South Cambridgeshire Brownfield Register and Report in Appendix 1 for submission to DCLG; and

 

b.     agreed that delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning and New Communities to make any subsequent minor amendments and editing changes, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder.

6.

Heritage Guardianship Sites: Landbeach Tithe Barn, East Hatley Church and Sawston Tannery Drying Shed pdf icon PDF 326 KB

Minutes:

The Planning Portfolio Holder received and noted a report updating him on progress with the Landbeach Tithe Barn project and, in particular, access to the barn, the Sawston Tannery Drying Shed project, and the transfer of St Denis Church at East Hatley

 

In connection with the Tithe Barn, Councillor Ingrid Tregoing (a local Member) noted that her predecessor had been a member of the Trust responsible for the Barn. Councillor Bridget Smith noted that good progress was being made.

 

In connection with St. Denis church, Councillor Bridget Smith (a local Member) expressed her gratitude to all concerned for what was proving to be a good outcome.

 

In connection with the Sawston Drying Shed, Councillor Kevin Cuffley expressed doubt surrounding the project’s value for money, and the ability to find a future use for the building.

7.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 214 KB

Minutes:

ThePlanning Portfolio Holder and others present noted the Work Programme attached to the agenda.

8.

Date of Next Meeting

Friday 9 September 2016 at 10.00am

Minutes:

The next scheduled Planning Portfolio Holder meeting was on Friday 9 September 2016 at 10.00am.

 

If required, additional Planning Portfolio Holder meetings would be convened if, but only if, required in order to considered matters arising as a result of the Local Plan Inquiry.