Agenda, decisions and minutes

To authorise the Chairman to sign as a correct record the Minutes of the special Council meetings on 20 and 21 January 2005. 

In response to a point of order raised by Councillor Mason, the Chairman stated that the process for discussing the LDF had been agreed by Council and the process for receiving minutes had been agreed by himself as Chairman. Council reaffirmed the method chosen for examining the LDF and expressed its gratitude to officers for their extra work in accommodating Council’s wishes.

The minutes of the meeting held on 20^th January 2005 were accepted as a correct record subject to the deletion of the second paragraph on page 5 under the heading “Histon and Impington”.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21^st January 2005 were accepted as a correct record subject to inclusion of Councillor SA Harangozo in the list of Councillors who had given their apologies for this meeting.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members on matters arising in this agenda.

Councillor Mrs CAED Murfitt declared a personal interest as a resident of Guilden Morden and as her pension provider was the University Superannuation Scheme, one of the joint funders of the Monsanto Site.

Councillor RMA Manning declared a personal interest as a resident of Willingham.

Councillor Dr DR Bard declared a personal interest as his pension provider was the University Superannuation Scheme, one of the joint funders of the Monsanto site.

The following appendices are attached separately:

·                      Appendix 1: Core Strategy (Index and Eleven Chapters)

·                      Appendix 2: Key and Maps

·                      Appendix 3: Sustainability Appraisal (Four Chapters)

·                      Appendix 4: Schedule of Changes of Draft Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

·                      Appendix 5: Urban Capacity Study (Study, Key and Maps)

STRATEGY

Council AGREED the Strategy Section

DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES

Council AGREED the Development Principles.

GREEN BELT

Council AGREED the Green Belt policies and boundaries subject to the above.

HOUSING

Council AGREED the Housing policies.

ECONOMY AND TOURISM

Council AGREED the Economy and Tourism policies.

SERVICES AND FACILITIES

Council AGREED the Services and Facilities policies

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Council AGREED the Natural Environment policies subject to textual amendments.

CULTURAL HERITAGE

Council AGREED the Cultural Heritage policies.

TRAVEL

Council AGREED the Travel policies

APPENDIX 1: CAR PARKING STANDARDS

Council AGREED the car parking standards.

APPENDIX 2: CYCLING STANDARDS

Council AGREED the cycling standards.

SITE SPECIFIC POLICIES

Council AGREED to include the Site Specific Policies.

APPENDIX 2

Sawston Village Framework

The Council AGREED the maps in appendix 2.

DELEGATED AUTHORITY FOR FURTHER AMENDMENTS

Council AGREED to delegate responsibility for agreeing minor amendments to the Core Strategy to the Planning Director and the portfolio holder for Planning and Economic Development.

The Planning Policy Manager reminded members that the responses to representations to the Core Strategy and the approach to drafting the Core Strategy DPD, which would replace the Structure Plan, had been agreed at the Council meeting on 20^th and 21^st January.  This meeting was to consider an emerging draft DPD in the light of those decisions. Council would be invited to agree the Core Strategy for publication at its meeting on 9^th May.

Members were warned against being too prescriptive in the setting of policies and that they should be robust but flexible. It was recognised that the Development and Conservation Control Committee would have flexibility to make decisions on a case-by-case basis within the framework of the Core Strategy. It was also understood that it was unlikely that the Government would allow the inclusion of words such as “usually”, as these weakened policy statements and could lead to more appeals.

STRATEGY

Rural Strategy

The category of Minor Rural Centres was introduced to recognise that some villages that do not meet the tests to be Rural Centres nevertheless perform a role in providing services and facilities for a rural hinterland. The location of the village was a key-determining factor, for example Duxford was not considered a minor rural centre due to the proximity of Sawston.  In recognition of the more limited service base, larger scale development was contingent on contribution towards development or improvement of the service base.

Building of New Homes

The Planning Policy Manager stated that although the Structure Plan figure of 20,000 new homes was challenging, it was achievable through major new developments and housing in villages compatible with their category.

It was noted that the Core Strategy aimed to ensure only sustainable development through the location, form and design of buildings. The number of houses coming forward would be reviewed in the Council’s Annual Monitoring Report required under the new system.  Cambridgeshire Horizons’ role was to ensure implementation of the development strategy and the Council was working in partnership with them to that end.

Amendments

It was agreed that all references to “motor car” should be abbreviated to “car”.

The first sentence of paragraph 2.35 was amended to read: “Group villages are generally less sustainable locations for new development than Rural Centres and Minor Rural Centres, having fewer services …”

The final sentence of paragraph 2.35 was shortened to read “All Group Villages have at least a primary school and limited development will help maintain remaining services and facilities and provide for affordable housing to meet local needs.” 

Council AGREED the Strategy Section

DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES

Village Frameworks

A number of members asserted that some of the village framework boundaries needed to be amended to address anomalies. Officer reminded Members that the village frameworks had been subject to considerable scrutiny including two Local Plan Inquiries and that Council had agreed at its meeting on 20/21 January 2005 to roll forward the frameworks set out in the Local Plan 2004.

It was agreed that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.